Safeguarding Ecosystem Services Amid Threats: Stakeholder-driven Prioritization of Conservation Measures for the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Bénin

Abstract

The Pendjari National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in northern B & eacute;nin, West Africa, constitutes one of the last refuges for African megafauna in the region. It is threatened by many factors, such as ecosystem degradation, insecurity and poaching. Getting insights into the perceptions of all stakeholders having an interest for and/or an influence on the park is key to inform an effective management of the protected area and its unique biodiversity. We therefore identified priority conservation and management measures through a participatory approach adopting elements of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. A structured priority-setting exercise involving scientists, local authorities, park managers and representatives of local communities led to the formulation of over 70 conservation and management measures addressing prioritized threats on three priority ecosystem services provided by the Pendjari ecosystem: food supply, water supply and tourism. A group consensus was reached on measures implying more organic farming in the area (both to preserve food and to secure water supply), improved land use planning, soil fertility improvement practices, reinforcement of water supply through pumps, maintenance of tracks, advocacy towards private lodges, and promotional communication. The study concludes that conservation outcomes can be enhanced through stronger local stakeholder ownership and the implementation of practical measures based on the long-term provision of a diverse set of ecosystem services. It also highlights the multiple benefits of participatory decision-making in the context of a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, which serves as living laboratory to foster sustainable human-nature relationships.