Salonga National Park: Africa’s Largest Protected Area

Larger than Belgium—DRC’s former colonial power—Salonga National Park (SNP) remained virtually unknown, even after it was established in 1970. In response to increasing reports of elephant poaching in the Park, WCS became involved with surveys in Salonga in 1989. In early 2002, WCS conducted the first systematic and complete survey of elephants across the entire Park. Based on these MIKE (Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants) inventories, WCS decided to become more involved in SNP, working in close collaboration with the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature  (ICCN), other NGOs and local communities. Apart from elephant research and conservation, WCS also focuses on the endemic pygmy chimp, or bonobo (Pan paniscus), as well as hunting and wildlife trade threatening biodiversity along all the many large, navigable rivers.  We are also working in close collaboration with local communities in an effort to delimit certain Park borders where conflict currently exists with those communities.

The Human Aspect
Because of Salonga’s size and permeability along numerous waterways, and its unmarked borders, human encroachment has a huge impact on the survival of wildlife in this Park. WCS has undertaken a human census and conducted a questionnaire-based survey throughout the most heavily populated buffer zone of the Park in order to obtain important data on human activities in and around SNP. WCS recognizes the importance of the local population for the conservation of SNP, and works closely with community-based committees towards a resolution of disputed boundaries and traditional land-rights.

Threats
The main direct threats include poaching for ivory and bushmeat, but these are complicated by the unmarked boundaries and inadequate acceptance of the Park amongst local communities. WCS is dedicated to resolving the issues of poor border definition and of human populations living within the Park.

WCS Activities
Salonga National Park’s vast area, coupled with the acute threats it faces, requires an approach based on adaptive management planning and progressive implementation. WCS strategy has been to work closely with the Congolese Park Service (ICCN), in a partnership with WWF and other NGOs, to buttress capacity and gather the information necessary to formulate and implement sound conservation strategies. Our biological and socio-economic surveys are providing key data required to understand the problems facing Africa’s largest protected area. Participatory mapping exercises with local communities in some areas around the park are beginning to bear fruit and reduce tension concerning park boundaries.

Important Next Steps
WCS activities include:
1. Improve ICCN’s surveillance capacity through construction of a guard post, along with close mentoring of ICCN staff and training in law enforcement monitoring methods.
2. Survey and monitor the density and distribution of bonobos and other large mammals in keys areas inside of and adjacent to the park. This information will contribute to the preparation of a management plan for Salonga, along with a much larger land use plan for the surrounding landscape.
3. Solve park boundary disputes by working with community committees and clarifying legal ambiguities.
4. Discover and disclose the networks of the illegal bushmeat trade originating in the park, and strengthen overall law enforcement in and around the protected area.