About Our Conservation Projects

Protection of Nature through Private Initiatives

The Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) was initiated in August 2006 by the South African National Parks (SANParks), Gold Fields Limited and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has since been actively involved in 16 African countries.

In line with the LCA Vision we work in close collaboration with governments and various conservation organisations to influence, accelerate and bring about the protection and development of selected parks and reserves in Africa. The LCA typically assists, as per agreement, with conceptual development, zoning and land-use concession plans. Within a legislative context we support governments with the forming of foundations and help seek agreements with possible investors and donor organisations through the establishment of concession-agreements and/or PPP’s. Conservation commerce is a particular niche-area of the LCA

The LCA recognises that the local communities bordering on parks and reserves are crucial stakeholders to ensure the long-term protection and survival of such eco-systems. On the other hand these communities, who normally live in very remote rural areas, are very often the poorest of the poor.

There is huge pressure and high expectations on the custodians of parks and reserves to contribute significantly towards the livelihood strategies of the local communities, while such parks can hardly sustain themselves.

Special efforts are therefore made by the National LCA Chapters to involve the local communities, but also to influence socio-economic development within the buffer-zones of these parks – and to find ways to enhance the livelihood strategies of these communities.

Republic of Congo: Odzala Kokoua National Park

Odzala is the flagship project of the LCA. The LCA, in collaboration with the Sabine Platter African Charities, has significantly influenced the long-term protection of this 1.3 million hectares pristine rain forests.

Nouabalé Ndoki National Park

In collaboration with WCS, The LCA influenced bringing about a Foundation (PPP) which strategically manages the Park also focusing on a destination tourism marketing strategy.

Senegal: Niokolo Koba National Park

Permission was granted by H.E. President Macky SALL to the LCA to investigate ways to manage Niokolo Koba as a PPP and to find ways to commercialise park activities.

South Africa: Kruger National Park

Due to the generosity of Mr Howard G. Buffet (member of the LCA Board) and his drive to reduce human suffering in Africa, often funded by the proceeds of wildlife crime, a donation of US$ 55 mil was made to SANParks for anti-Rhino poaching in Kruger.

Uganda – Friend a Gorilla

In collaboration with Thompsons Travel and under the leadership of the late Mr Moses Mapesa, former CEO of UWA and member of the LCA Board, the LCA was actively involved in initiating, initial funding and bringing about the “friend-a-gorilla” campaign.

Central African Republic - Dzanga Sangha Reserve

This Park forms part of the World Heritage Tri-Nation de la Sanga (TNS). The LCA has signed an agreement with the Ministries of Forestry and Tourism to work towards a PPP in managing the park.

Tanzania

The LCA has high regard for the work of the PAMS Foundation and contributes in a small way to the mammoth role PAMS play in anti-poaching, by supporting their community environmental education programmes.

Central African Republic - Sangha Lodge

The LCA works in close collaboration with Rod and Tamar Cassidy, concession holders of the Sangha Lodge, with the aim to bring about regional tourism in support of conservation in this area.

Ethiopia

Working in collaboration with the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), the LCA is assisting in the search for the development of tourism activities, specifically with regard to high-end tourism.

Ghana: Shai Hills Reserve

In collaboration with the Forestry Commission and Gold Fields, a PPP was established for the Shai Hills Reserve. The Nature Conservation Research Centre (Ghana) will contractually manage and develop it in the future.

Burkina Faso / Ghana: Elephant Corridor

In collaboration with the Nature Conservation Research Centre Ghana (NCRC), attempts are made to maintain the elephant migration route between Mole National Park (Ghana) and the Ponasi Complex (Burkina Faso) using a commercial approach, by seeking ways to support the economic growth through community-based tourism activities

Other Projects

Reaching out to the youth of Africa through ShareScreen Africa

ShareScreen Africa is a digital initiative launched in August 2021 by the LCA. Academics, researchers, conservation specialists and practitioners, from all over the world, are requested to freely “donate their time” to share their knowledge with others within the African context. Such donors are called contributors. On the other hand, universities, colleges, training institutes and conservation organisations, could then link through the ShareScreen platform with the above contributors. Virtual presentations are shared in the classrooms, on selected topics.

All presentations are captured on YouTube. Once captured on YouTube, time is donated by the presenter for Q&A sessions in classrooms about the relevant topic. Having captured audiences of conservation students, future student leaders for conservation in Africa will be trained.

Our main partners include SAP (Africa), SPAC, Standard Bank, SANParks, various African based universities and conservation organisations.

Enriching Country Curricula through
EduConservation

In collaboration with the Sabine Plattner African Charities (SPAC), we are piloting curricula-enrichment programs in six Africa countries.

By seeking a natural fit within the existing curriculum, Afro-centric nature conservation content is developed, evaluated, tested and re-tested within the local schools, in collaboration with the Department of Education.

Teacher tool-kits are developed, empowering them to be able to convey the conservation message to the learners

All will be made available on an open platform to be freely used by educational professionals, specifically in the African context.

Countries involved are Gabon, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Republic of Congo and Senegal.

Supporting Community Conservation through MyPlanet.green

In collaboration with the PAMS Foundation, Myplanet.green has developed a pioneering platform to ensure that those people who stay in or around protected areas become the true conservationists, protecting their own natural assets and heritage. Through Myplanet.green, even the smallest of donors could contribute to community-based nature conservation projects.

How does it work?

(a) Community projects are defined.
(b) Job-creational opportunities and achievable millstones per project, within the community, are defined.
(c) Through blockchain technology and mobile Apps, donors donate per project.
(d) Funds are transferred (using blockchain technology into the personal wallets (phone) of individual community workers.
(e) The donor gets weekly reports via an App and when goals are achieved the donors are encouraged to keep on donating.
(f) Designed to scale to millions