The Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism is urging lawmakers to embed wildlife protection laws into the nation's upcoming land policy.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism has formally requested the Transitional National Legislative Assembly to integrate wildlife protection laws into the country’s pending land policy and related legislation. The plea was made by the ministry’s Land Use Planning Committee during a meeting with the parliamentary wildlife committee and representatives from African Parks. The committee stressed that protected areas, wildlife corridors, and buffer zones require land policies that clearly recognize their status and management needs.
The ministry’s Land Use Planning Committee Secretary General, Bennet Bojo Nicholas, stated that parliament should advocate for the incorporation of the Wildlife Conservation and Protected Areas Act into the forthcoming Land Policy. He also called for improved coordination among government bodies involved in mining, infrastructure, agriculture, and land development, especially where their activities impact protected areas and surrounding communities. The committee, established in March, aims to strengthen land-use planning and protected-area governance.
Martin Ring Malek, deputy chairperson of the ministry’s Land Use Committee, highlighted the importance of identifying land designated for wildlife to protect animals and support the national economy. He noted that community encroachment into protected areas creates challenges and called for closer cooperation. Parliamentary committee chairperson Wilson Lodiong advocated for broader consultations, including a workshop with relevant ministries and stakeholders, to clarify responsibilities and improve coordination with communities near major wildlife areas.
Why it mattersThe Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism is affected because its ability to protect wildlife and manage land designated for conservation depends on the integration of its laws into the national land policy.
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