MAF flew a six-person team from African Parks Network to the north-east of Labe to explore options for conservation and management of one of West Africa’s most important ecological sites.
Story by Joel Conte
“African Parks collaborates with MAF in many countries,” said Pierre-Armand Roulet, director of the Incubation program of the African Parks Network.
With an area of 6,426 km2, Middle Bafing National Park is recognised as the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in West Africa, and several species of large vulnerable mammals. Guinea validated the creation of the Middle Bafing National Park at the end of 2017.
African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities.
“We go on the ground, in contact with the authorities and local communities, and also with the physical realities of the protected area,” said Mr Roulet.
“It was up to us to understand what the stakes were, the constraints but also the potentialities to make this park a development tool at the service of Guinea, a tool for protecting this incredible ecosystem that contains the sources of the Fouta Djallon, the ‘water tower’ of West Africa.
“Negotiations are under way between the Guinean state and the NGO Noé. We hope that in the coming months, an agreement will be reached, and that the partnership will be able to start the management of the park according to the established terms.”
The national park contains almost 20 per cent of the remaining population of West African chimpanzees, which were classified as critically endangered and awarded UN special status in recognition of their unique behaviour.
Mr Roulet said MAF’s ability to take the team into the heart of a remote region was essential to their work.
“On the occasion of this mission, for us, it was imperative to be able to fly over the park to very quickly reach places that would have taken us days by vehicle or on foot,” he said.
“So, we turned to an operator who had a suitable machine and the required skills. And obviously, we turned to MAF in Guinea with the Cessna 208 and their experienced crew.
“I had the opportunity to work with MAF in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo for the Kahuzi-Biega National Park and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, but also in Chad. We have been very close for the last ten years. MAF has contributed to African Parks in many ways - also with medical evacuation flights.
“MAF is a very important tool for the development of territories.
“Guinea has decided to open up this model of management delegation to its Middle Bafing National Park with the many current partners, including donors."
“In this context, we are accompanying Noé here, hoping that they will be able to do a good job in the service of Guinea.
