South Sudan, experts design Boma-Jonglei landscape roadmap
By Julius N. Uma
June 17, 2010 (JUBA) — A roadmap for the conservation and land-use management of Boma-Jonglei landscape; East Africa’s largest savannah ecosystem has been designed, courtesy of international natural resources experts working in collaboration with the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS).
The plan was the outcome of a technical planning workshop held in Juba between May 25-28. It was hosted by the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to the WCS, the designed roadmap seeks to ensure effective zoning and will devise management strategies to conserve biodiversity and encourage eco-tourism and other economic development in the region.
“Wildlife conservation and protected area management can contribute directly and indirectly to improving security, creating economic opportunities, and conservation of the great natural savanna and wetland ecosystem and cultural heritage of our region,” Lt. Gen Frazer Tong, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism said.
“The Boma-Jonglei land-use planning process now can reconcile and balance competing needs to optimize development opportunities and ensure conservation of our tremendous wildlife and habitat areas forming the basis for wise natural resource use and development of the ecotourism sector,” he added.
Mr. Bill Hammink, the USAID/Sudan Mission Director acknowledged the organization’s strong commitment towards supporting the semi-autonomous government in its natural resource management, conservation, land-use and planning.
“USAID congratulates the leadership of the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, the Natural Resource Management Group, and WCS in working toward an integrated land-use and conservation plan for the Boma-Jonglei Landscape,” Mr. Hammink said.
Currently, USAID, WCS and the GOSS are reportedly working in partnership to put in place the necessary policies and practices to sustainably manage natural resources, conserve biodiversity, and secure the livelihoods of local people of the Boma-Jonglei landscape.
The program, Sudan Tribune has learnt, focuses on strengthening institutional capacity, participatory land-use planning and resource management, establishing protected area management, improving community livelihoods, promoting ecotourism, and developing other incentives for sustainable land use to conserve this remarkable ecosystem and its magnificent wildlife migrations for the benefit of the people of southern Sudan and the world.
Meanwhile to address anticipated challenges, the technical workshop identified steps needed to develop zoning and management strategies for various land uses in the landscape, including national parks, community development areas, extractive industry concessions, and wildlife movement corridors.
ABOUT BOMA-JONGLEI LANDSCAPE
Stretching some 200,000 km2, the Boma-Jonglei landscape encompasses Boma and Badingilo National Parks, broad pasturelands and floodplains, the vast swamps and internationally recognized wetlands of the Sudd, including the Zeraf Game Reserve and the proposed Loelle protected area.
The landscape covers parts of Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria, and Central Equatoria states, supporting an abundance of wildlife species, including elephants, giraffe, elands, oryx, lions, wild dog, buffalo, and the endemic, endangered antelope species Nile Lechwe.
In addition, the Boma-Jonglei landscape further supports the livelihoods of 17 ethnic groups, has rangelands for livestock production and the potential for agriculture development, holding a base of oil reserves critical for economic development of Southern Sudan.
(ST)
Mabior Ayuen Dengajok
South Sudan, experts design Boma-Jonglei landscape roadmap
I can simply congratulate the South Sudan government effort on bringing the improvement to the regions of inter-links states that shares the newly designed National park.
Many people will find their job and in this it could change the way we think because it will open tourist attractions for all of us, internationally and nationally. As the results of setting the tourism it will be employing tourist graduates including hotel managers, hospitality, and so many more. As results of that, locals could definitely find opportunities to earn t a living in many ways as well.
If the Goss will be doing thing like this in some years to come, our country will be better off than Kenya, Uganda, just to mention few since we got untouched natural resources that can faster improved our economic, oil, mining, tourism, agriculture and other means of economic will absolutely bring up this young country into world stage. Also by tackling and bring down the threats of security concern can also motivate other foreigners by bring many investments overseas and by minimizing the security the youths needs to get employments and they can avoid making crimes.
Thanks Goss, you deserve a credit for the wonderful achievement you are encountering every single times, in those few years since the signing of peace accords, the South is more better than in decades of ruling by Khartoumers.
Akuma
South Sudan, experts design Boma-Jonglei landscape roadmap
It is a good outcome, if there will be delay in running the project. GOSS and Ministry of Wildlife conservation should work hard in do these development in order to create employment opportunities to young Sudanese graduates who can managed very well. I wish there will be no foreign recruitment in such affairs because once you employ foreigners, they fails to do things in time expected.
GOSS and Jonglei State should need to be honest because it is may be for individuals interest and benefits, as i witness in certain project, that should not happen in country. Our country is the richest country in Africa continent compare with Arabs countries of Libya, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. If we need to develop nation Southern Sudan, then avoid discrimination, clan tribes, ethnicity and other delusive facets.
”Transparency is the way forwards in developing the Nation”
Dr. Akuma
USA