In recent decades, livestock has intruded into almost every protected area in Central Africa's savannahs, with cattle now more numerous than wildlife (Scholte et al., 2021, Conservation Biology, 36, e13860). Insecurity as a result of the activities of Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria has spread into Cameroon since 2010, causing pastoralists to move south-eastwards. The 2003–2007 conflict in Darfur and the 2013 civil war and ongoing instability in the Central African Republic also caused changes in pastoral movements.

In January 2019, a conference was held in N'Djamena, Chad, uniting ministers in charge of livestock, wildlife and security from northern source countries (Chad, Niger, Sudan), transit countries (Cameroon, Nigeria), and southern destination countries (Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan). The conference launched a call for regional and international cooperation to address the challenges and opportunities associated with transhumance. During 10–12 July 2023, a follow-up ministerial conference took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, taking stock of conservation activities, compiling lessons learnt and presenting country investment plans. We were keynote speakers at both conferences and preparatory sessions, and here present our impressions of the progress of conservation actions (for policy and other matters, see pfbc-cbfp.org/news-partner/Prsentations-blocks-PIP.html).

Transhumance originally signified regular seasonal movements of livestock with their herders, distinct from long-term migration. Sahelian countries generally see transhumance as a productive mainstream economic practice. Southern countries perceive transhumance as destructive, alien to their culture, associated with armed non-state groups, and dominated by absentee owners, complicating the dilemma of pastoralists as both perpetrators and victims.

Amongst field achievements, surveillance has been strengthened with the assistance of aerial monitoring, including small planes, reinforcing anti-poaching operations in an increasing number of protected areas, including Chinko (Central African Republic) and Bouba Ndjida (Cameroon). Arguably, the biggest recent achievement has been the establishment of dialogue with pastoralists through fora with their leaders in Bouba Ndjida and Faro (Cameroon), and sensitization and engagement teams in Chinko, Faro and Zakouma (Chad). With these Transhumance Engagement Officers or TANGO agents (africanparks.org/chinko-creating-solution-coexistence), parks have been able to convince pastoralists to divert from core protection zones. Yet, despite successes, sustainability remains an issue, with efforts to date focusing on short-term pastoral problem displacement rather than long-term grazing alternatives (Brottem et al., 2023, Transhumance and Conservation at a Crossroads Project). Investments in pastoral economies that support employment (especially for youth), offering an alternative to lucrative illegal activities, are lacking. The ministerial conference called for investment in pastoral mobility (schooling, pastoral infrastructure) and integration of this in territorial planning/cross-border law enforcement; the proposed investment plans amount to USD 500 million over the next 5 years.

We recommend that conservation organizations develop partnerships with pastoralists in support of integrated landscape management, promoting mobility of livestock and wildlife. Governments should include transhumant representatives in security consultations, taking the lead on territorial planning while ensuring measured representation of pastoralists, and the international community should strengthen coordination across conservation, security and development sectors and ensure continuity of integrated financial and technical assistance.