The awareness-raising campaign for local communities on the protection of elephants in the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park launched on Tuesday, November 9 in Hèzoudè, 30 km southwest of Sotouboua, ended yesterday Sunday.

The populations living near Fazao-Malfakassa National Park were made aware of the impacts of beekeeping, the breeding of small ruminants, hunting and tourism activities and the valorization of shea butter.

They were also informed of the various stages of the process of registering the park in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Initiated by the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources with the technical support of UNESCO, this campaign is financed by the India-UN Fund.

It is involved in the framework of the project “Support for the integration of local communities in the management of elephants in the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park and support for the process of registering the Fazao-Malfakassa National Park in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves”.

The objective was to highlight the relationships between green economy activities under way to conserve biodiversity in order to reinvigorate the local economy. It is also about strengthening the capacities of communities in order to ensure the sustainability of biodiversity businesses and reduce human pressure on forests.