By James Innocent
A new initiative to restore Lantoto National Park is set to begin in August 2024.
A team from the National Ministry of Wildlife Conservation, African Wildlife Park, and Wildlife Incubation Development met with Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa, Commissioner of Yei River County, to provide an update on the project’s funding progress and achievements so far.
Commissioner Kanyikwa was informed that the Lantoto National Park restoration project will cover areas from Tokori, Ibba, and Moroko Forest.
It will also fund community conservation and food production projects.
The Commissioner welcomed the project, stating that it aligns with the government’s environmental conservation policies and should be led by the local people.
He announced plans to form a Boma Conservation Committee to guide, supervise, and monitor the project’s activities in Tore and Tokori.
The current Lantoto Conservation Project will integrate human activities, including farming, tree planting, and settlements, as part of the conservation efforts to protect the environment, increase food production, and create a sustainable ecosystem within the Lantoto Wildlife Conservation Park.
Boma Conservation Committee will be consulted on the recruitment and training of local participants.
The county and partners will also work together to develop community-driven rules and regulations to govern the management of the Lantoto Wildlife Conservation Project.
The project is planned to be implemented in phases over 10 years, with the first phase focusing on establishing a base and the second phase on comprehensive community and government institutional building and engagement.