CONSERVATION, LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR RESILIENCE, CONFLICT MITIGATION, AND IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS IN THE BOMA-BADINGILO LANDSCAPE SOUTH SUDAN

The program is implemented under a USAID-WCS cooperative agreement award No. 72066818CA00001. The program's goal is to be achieved through four components: Component One, which focuses on increasing capacity, plans, and systems in place to sustainably manage land and natural resources and mitigate resource-based conflict; Component Two, which aims to establish effective, participatory, and broadly supported wildlife conservation and protected area management; Component Three, which targets community resilience and improved livelihoods; and Component Four, which focuses on partnerships for natural resources management and community resilience in the Boma-Badingilo Landscape. In Quarter 4 of FY19, significant progress was made in all components. Component One saw the completion of a month-long advanced law enforcement monitoring training for 25 park rangers of the Special Ranger Unit in Boma National Park. The training covered key aspects of patrol reporting, prosecution of suspects, and handling of seized wildlife products, as well as WCS Community Conservation strategies and the Community Conservation Security Partnership. Component Two achieved notable results, including the coverage of 3,171 patrol kilometers, resulting in three arrests and the seizure of ivory weighing 54.8 kg in Juba and approximately 20 kg of bushmeat in Boma National Park. The K9 wildlife anti-trafficking team searched 651 vehicles and 4 boats, with none found to carry any illegal wildlife products. Two bushmeat wildlife cases were heard in Boma, resulting in the conviction of the suspects, and three ivory wildlife cases were opened in Juba. Component Three saw the implementation of livelihoods activities by four WCS Livelihoods Small Grants Program sub-grantee CSOs, reaching a total of 485 direct beneficiaries. The Boma-Badingilo Landscape Community Climate Change Adaptation Plan has been finalized. Component Four focused on partnerships, with WCS engaging with various organizations, including CRS, UNEP, EU, FAO, Internews, Radio Miraya, VSF Swiss, and partner CSOs, to advance the BBL Program. WCS also started to engage with the Partnership for Recovery and Resilience (PfRR) in Torit to explore opportunities and benefits for WCS to join the PfRR. Quantitative results achieved in Quarter 4 of FY19 include the improvement of 4,050,000 hectares of biologically significant areas under improved natural resource management, with 522 direct beneficiaries and a total of 3,132 direct and indirect beneficiaries. Additionally, 514 people were trained in sustainable natural resources management and/or biodiversity conservation, with 45% being women.