Conservation, Land and Natural Resource Management for Resilience, Conflict Mitigation, and Improved Livelihoods in the Boma-Badingilo Landscape South Sudan

The program aims to ensure effective conservation of key wildlife species and habitat, improve security and mitigate conflicts, enhance sustainable and resilient livelihoods for local communities, and build partnerships with other programs and initiatives. The program is implemented under a USAID-WCS cooperative agreement award No. 72066818CA00001, with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) as the prime implementing partner. The program's geographical focus is the Boma-Badingilo Landscape, which covers 95,000 km² of largely intact habitat and is among the most outstanding biodiversity areas in South Sudan. During Quarter 2 of FY21 (January-March 2021), the program made significant progress in various components. In Component One, Increased Capacity, Plans and Systems in Place to Sustainably Manage Land and Natural Resources and Mitigate Resource-Based Conflict, WCS continued to provide coaching and technical support to park authorities in Boma and Badingilo National Parks. The organization also completed a desk assessment reviewing current staffing and personnel and defined staffing needs across the BBL. In Component Two, Effective, Participatory, and Broadly Supported Wildlife Conservation and Protected Area Management in Place, WCS teams systematically collected, reported, and collated security and law enforcement information in existing databases. The organization also continued to use social media networking tools to disseminate conservation messages and information. In Component Three, Community Resilience and Improved Livelihoods, WCS climate change team updated its REDD+ strategy, and the development of Boma-Badingilo Landscape One Health Strategy is underway. Contracts for three partner Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the Livelihoods Small Grants Program have been finalized, with implementation ready to begin. In Component Four, Partnerships for Natural Resources Management and Community Resilience in the Boma-Badingilo Landscape, Community Natural Resource Management Group Plans have been revised, and internal training has been done to prepare for re-engagement with natural resource management groups in Itti and Pochalla and establish new groups in Nyat, Lafon, and Pibor. Quantitative results achieved in Quarter 2 of FY21 include: * 4,050,000 hectares of biologically significant areas under improved natural resource management * 127 direct beneficiaries, representing a total of 762 direct and indirect beneficiaries * 0 people trained in sustainable natural resources management and/or biodiversity conservation * 3 rangers, 5 community members, and 0 court cases applying improved conservation law enforcement practices The Boma-Badingilo Landscape Program continues to make solid progress in achieving its goals and objectives.