From conflict to conservation: Protecting South Sudan's wildlife

Summary

The video by Fauna & Flora delves into the efforts of conservation in South Sudan. The country, rich in wildlife, faces challenges due to past conflicts that have left its national parks undeveloped and its animal populations threatened by hunting. However, with the commitment of organizations like Fauna & Flora, along with local communities, significant progress has been made. Ranger posts have been established, infrastructures improved, and community involvement increased, leading to a resurgence in wildlife populations. The integration of local knowledge and respect for indigenous culture are key elements steering conservation efforts towards success.

Highlights

• South Sudan boasts an incredible yet underutilized wildlife population, drawing potential global attention. 🌿
• Past conflicts devastated infrastructures and economies, pushing locals to hunt for survival, threatening wildlife. ⚔️
• Fauna & Flora have strengthened conservation by supporting ranger operations and improving infrastructure. 🚧
• Community Wildlife Ambassadors play a significant role, helping guide conservation efforts with their local expertise. 🌳
• Conservation initiatives are now perceived as a bridge to peace and stability among communities. ☮️

Key Takeaways

• South Sudan, though conflict-ridden, holds vast wildlife potential thanks to its rich biodiversity. 🌍
• Conservation efforts are bridging gaps between communities, helping mitigate conflicts. 🤝
• The combined efforts of local communities and international organizations are reviving the national parks and wildlife populations. 🐘
• New infrastructure, like Ranger posts and patrol boats, aids in wildlife protection efforts. 🚤
• Respecting and integrating local culture into conservation strategies are proving successful. 🎉

Overview

South Sudan, a nation with a rich tapestry of biodiversity, is opening its doors to the world through concerted conservation efforts. Despite the shadow of past conflicts, which left many of its national parks in disarray and wildlife populations threatened, South Sudan’s wildlife stands as a beacon of hope. Organizations like Fauna & Flora are central players, working alongside local communities to nurture and protect this natural treasure.

Through the durable deployment of ranger stations, enhancement of essential infrastructure, and promotion of community-based conservation, a remarkable revival of wildlife populations has taken root. Fauna & Flora, hand in hand with South Sudanese communities, have leap-frogged hurdles by innovating conservation methods respectful of societal values and local traditions, ensuring sustainable practices. These efforts are not only conserving biodiversity but also nurturing communal cohesion.

Crucially, the role of Community Wildlife Ambassadors has proven indispensable. These Ambassadors, deeply familiar with the landscapes, are essential in guiding ranger patrols and bridging the gap between conservation efforts and community needs. Such grassroots involvement fosters peace-building, as conserving nature emerges as a unifying factor. With optimism and persistent efforts, South Sudan is aiming to restore its national parks to their former glory, ensuring a flourishing ecosystem for future generations.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to South Sudan's Wildlife The introduction highlights the remarkable wildlife population in South Sudan, describing it as a 'gifted' and 'unbelievable' natural asset that is expected to attract global attention. The narrator reflects on their experience arriving in South Sudan, observing the vast, park-covered landscape from a mountain viewpoint and appreciating the natural beauty that spans as far as the eye can see.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Impact of Conflict on Wildlife The chapter discusses the impact of conflicts, particularly in South Sudan, on wildlife within the JY Reserve. It highlights the urgency of addressing humanitarian needs as tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced. Despite these challenges, there is a special emphasis on preserving wildlife, suggesting that maintaining peace is crucial for the survival of various animal species in the region.
• 01:00 - 02:00: Challenges of Conservation Efforts The chapter 'Challenges of Conservation Efforts' discusses the impact of war on wildlife conservation. It highlights how the introduction of firearms during conflict led to widespread hunting of animals due to economic hardship and lack of alternative livelihoods. As a result, many animals, such as elephants, have seen a drastic reduction in their numbers.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Infrastructure and Anti-Poaching Efforts The chapter discusses the lack of development in a national park, especially emphasizing that there were no headquarters or infrastructure in place. This was largely attributed to a period of conflict that had reduced everything to a 'zero level,' implying a need for significant rebuilding and development efforts.
• 02:30 - 03:30: Biodiversity and Discoveries The chapter titled 'Biodiversity and Discoveries' discusses the discovery made by rangers who found a lioness responsible for a kill, as observed when they approached her near a carcass. The setting is in South Sudan, described as the least developed country in terms of infrastructure, particularly highlighted during the rainy season, which poses significant challenges.
• 03:30 - 04:30: Community Involvement in Conservation The chapter discusses the initial challenges faced with a piece of vacant land that was plagued by poaching and local communities struggling to survive. The lack of infrastructure hindered communication, posing both difficulties and risks for field operations. The Southern management efforts are mentioned as part of addressing these challenges.
• 04:30 - 05:30: Conservation as a Conflict Reduction Tool The chapter titled 'Conservation as a Conflict Reduction Tool' discusses a National Park program focused on flora conservation over a period of three years. The program involves collaboration with South E Wildlife Services and has successfully established four Ranger posts, an office space, and acquired two boats for patrolling. Additionally, a 200 km road network has been developed in South Sudan, highlighting the involvement in areas with minimal human presence. The program underscores the role of conservation efforts in reducing conflicts by building infrastructure and supporting wildlife services.
• 05:30 - 07:00: Future Hopes and Community Impact The chapter titled 'Future Hopes and Community Impact' discusses the unique biodiversity of South Sudan, which lies within a transition zone. This results in a diverse range of species, including forest, savannah, and woodland species. It also highlights the opportunity for these vast landscapes to be protected, despite low human population density in some areas. This unique biodiversity presents future opportunities and impacts for the community.

From conflict to conservation: Protecting South Sudan's wildlife Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 we are A Gifted country and we should we should thank God for that the population of animals we have in South Sudan is unbelievable unbelievable it is amazing it is going to attract the whole world to come to South Sudan to see what is going on here when I arrived here stood at the mountain at pandela and I just overlooked this vast expanse and knowing that's as far as you can see is all Park there's nothing except a few rang post
• 00:30 - 01:00 um that is something very special to me if we continue to have P like how it is now we will have a lot of animals so will be within our JY Reserve tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed and millions displaced over the past there is an urgent effort underway to get food and
• 01:00 - 01:30 Aid into a country that knows [Music] War so when the SPM came in now everybody had a gun the good numbers of gun now turned into hunting hunting animals because there were no economic activities there were no salaries everybody could go to the bush to hunt animal randomly sell them to S to to satisfy D living I'm sure most of the animals like elephant almost the number is reduced
• 01:30 - 02:00 uh also our national park was not developed all the Six National par go no headquarters no nothing you know the period of fighting uh everything was brought to zero level
• 02:00 - 02:30 the Rangers actually found the Lioness who killed this this El um she was on the carcass I think they about 10 m from her when it just opened and the Fest line on this island so South Sudan it's the least developed country in the world and um when I started here it was in the rainy season uh the lack of INF infrastructure in uh roads uh thus far it's been a massive challenge
• 02:30 - 03:00 when we started here there was nothing it was just a vacant piece of land which was overrun by poachers and uh also just local communities just trying to make ends meet the lack of infrastructure also leads to um things like a lack of communication which is also not just a a difficulty but it's also a risk for us in the fields so I managed the Southern
• 03:00 - 03:30 National Park program for 49 Flora so that entails working together with the uh South E wildlife services within the 3 years now we've got four functioning Ranger posts that we support we've got an office space now we've got two boats that Rangers use for transportation and to go on patrol we've got a road Network now over 200 km South Sudan has vast areas where isn't human
• 03:30 - 04:00 population where there aren't people living um for for a variety of number of reasons and that really really provides an opportunity for vast Landscapes to still be under some form of protection the biodiversity within South Sudan is quite unique in that it falls within a transition zone it means you get a vast array of different species you get Forest species Savannah species uh Woodland species and protect these
• 04:00 - 04:30 species is really important and the habitat within which they Thrive when I first started there we um had our first uh camera trap photo of a of a line and then this year when we uh discovered an additional eight lines so we essentially confirmed that we have a breeding population of of lines in Southern National Park so the Rangers on a regular basis do hear lines roaring uh at night some of the other exciting species is we also um captured on on cam
• 04:30 - 05:00 trap uh chimpanzee which no one expected to find and for me to have this meeting plays of your Forest species with your Savannah species it's it makes it a very interesting combination of a species we cannot have a successful Project without the support of the communities CAA stands for Community Wildlife Ambassador um each range of Po has got a respect amount of CW that go
• 05:00 - 05:30 on patrol with the rangers they know the area very well so often they would be leading the uh the Rangers and escorting them towards the direction that they want to go it just gives that connection that tie to the community and I think without that we won't be able to have the success that we have in southern fore
• 05:30 - 06:00 [Music] [Music] there is there is a
• 06:00 - 06:30 role conservation can play in reducing conflict if we have a conflict between two communities conservation will act more as a facilitator because we always have meetings that we call the the various communities together and some communities have benefits that they are deriving from conservation so with this they not want to jupiz those benefits that they are
• 06:30 - 07:00 receiving ffi approach to conservation which is building the capacity of stakeholders like the local communities and then they are at the Forefront of conservation with funa and Flora we ensure that even though there are conflict instability within the state within the country we are able to go on with our activities because they are the people living around the area that are like in leadership
• 07:00 - 07:30 ffi are bringing new ideas new skills new knowledge new understanding about our life to our community I've seen that there's a change in the mindset of the people towards animal before we used to cut the jungle and B but now I think gradually the community are looking at the forest itself like one of its resources that can also generate fund we have reached a turning point we have starting to see an increase inrease in in
• 07:30 - 08:00 wildlife and for me the long-term hope for southern is that we once again see 75,000 Buffalo and 15,000 elephants roaming this this National Park everything that we do is informed by local people we don't come in thinking we know everything being able to listen respect um cultures values that's where our future can look really bright because I think if we can listen adapt it will just yeah go from strength to strength
• 08:00 - 08:30 [Music] [Music]