South Sudan is celebrating the second anniversary of its landmark conservation achievement, the Great Nile Landscape initiative, which brought the world’s largest land mammal migration into the spotlight.
Since its inauguration in June 2023, the Great Nile Landscape project has safeguarded a sprawling ecosystem covering Boma and Badingilo National Parks and the broader Jonglei region. The centerpiece of the initiative is the annual migration of roughly six million antelope—including white-eared kob, Mongalla gazelle, tiang, and Bohor reedbuck—making it the planet’s largest terrestrial migration.
Over the past two years, the landscape-management partnership between the South Sudanese government, African Parks, the Wilderness Project, and local communities has focused on anti-poaching patrols, wildlife monitoring, and infrastructure improvements such as ranger stations, observation posts, and conservation education programs.
On Monday, President Salva Kiir and conservation leaders honored local rangers during a ceremony in Juba, acknowledging their commitment to preserving the region’s biodiversity while ensuring community safety. Kiir praised the migration as “South Sudan’s gift to the world” and reiterated the government’s dedication to turning the landscape into a premier ecotourism destination.
“This anniversary is a celebration of nature’s resilience and of collective action,” he stated. “We will continue strengthening our protections and investing in the communities that have long safeguarded these lands.”
Local community representatives highlighted the benefits of the conservation program, citing improved livelihoods through eco-friendly agriculture training and emerging job opportunities in tourism and wildlife monitoring.
Despite persistent challenges—ranging from seasonal floods to security issues—the partnership has recorded measurable successes: increased wildlife presence, road and camp upgrades, and expanded anti-poaching efforts. Environmentalists note that preserving migratory corridors remains crucial as human encroachment and shifting weather patterns intensify.
Looking ahead, the initiative plans to broaden its scientific research, launch cross-border conservation efforts into Ethiopia’s Gambella National Park, and develop sustainable tourism infrastructure—such as lodges, campsites, and guided safari trails—to harness the migration’s economic potential.
As South Sudan celebrates this milestone, stakeholders agree that the next phase hinges on continued investment, stronger security, and long-term collaboration to ensure the Great Nile Landscape remains a beacon of conservation and community progress.
