Posted on November, 17 2025
Where Forest elephants gather on open mineral clearings and lowland rainforest stretches like a green sea, Dzanga-Sangha stands as one of Africa’s most breathtaking conservation landscapes. To honor this natural heritage, the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR), in partnership with WWF and HIOH, will inaugurate the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas (DSPA) Day with a high-level ceremony in Bangui on 18 November, followed by community celebrations in Bayanga on 19–20 November. Central African Republic President, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, will preside at the event, alongside senior officials, national and international partners, and community representatives, underscoring the national and global importance of DSPA.
A living model of One Health and conservation
Nestled in the heart of the Congo Basin, the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas are a symbol of biodiversity and cultural heritage. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, DSPA forms part of the Tri-National Sangha (TNS) transboundary landscape shared by Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and CAR. Globally celebrated as a living One Health model, Dzanga-Sangha links human, animal, and environmental health.
As the world’s second-largest tropical forest system and a critical climate regulator, the Congo Basin is home to DSPA’s emblematic and threatened species—including forest elephants and great apes, while sustaining the livelihoods, identity, and well-being of local and Indigenous communities.
“Dzanga-Sangha is a national pride and a global treasure, where conservation, community well-being, and science meet,” said Laurent Somée, WWF Regional Director for the Congo Basin.
“Dzanga-Sangha Day showcases this story, strengthens One Health collaboration, and mobilizes support for the people and nature that make this place irreplaceable,” added Stéphane Youfeina, WWF-CAR Country Director.
A legacy of protection and innovation
Since 1990, CAR has safeguarded this ecological jewel through the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve. Its 2012 UNESCO inscription confirmed its Outstanding Universal Value. In 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government, WWF, and HIOH strengthened One Health surveillance in the protected areas, placing prevention, resilience, and community well-being at the heart of conservation.
“Investing in Dzanga-Sangha is investing in climate resilience, health security, and sustainable development, for CAR, the Congo Basin, and the world,” noted a partners’ representative, highlighting DSPA’s growing role in science, tourism, job creation, and national pride.
About the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas
DSPA is a pioneering conservation landscape that integrates biodiversity protection, community development, scientific research & training, and One Health. Governed through co-management between the Government and partners, and within the TNS regional collaboration, Dzanga-Sangha exemplifies high-impact conservation—locally rooted, globally relevant.
