Chinko is a vast tract of intact savannah and tropical forest spanning over 64,000 km2 in the Central African Republic (CAR). When African Parks partnered with the Government of CAR to manage Chinko in 2014, climate change effects and unsustainable natural resource use had heavily degraded the ecosystem. A 2017 survey estimated that big cat populations as well as most large wildlife in Chinko had declined by more than 80% over a five-year period, with fewer than 100 elephant remaining. In addition, tension between local sedentary communities and transhumant herders was mounting.
To create a mutually beneficial solution for the park, participatory land-use planning was initiated, and Transhumance Engagement Officers (TANGO agents) recruited from local herding communities to work with the transhumant herders. Understanding the needs of the herders, the TANGOs work with pastoralists to encourage and promote sustainable grazing practices and respect of the protected area boundaries and corridors.
Through this programme, the corridors and park boundaries have been adhered to and both herders and sedentary communities report improved safety for their families and livestock. The area free of habitat degradation has expanded from roughly 5,000 km2 to nearly 25,000 km2, with increasing numbers of species such as elephant, lion and hyaena.
