GRAND MAKA YOP CONSERVATION PROJECT
Restoring Senegal’s biodiversity and improving livelihoods by creating the premier Big 5 wildlife reserve in West Africa
GRAND MAKA YOP CONSERVATION PROJECT
Restoring Senegal’s biodiversity and improving livelihoods by creating the premier Big 5 wildlife reserve in West Africa
Summary
The Grand Maka Yop Conservation Project is a 35,000 ha wildlife reserve designed to restore and protect Senegal’s elephants, lions, leopards, rhinoceroses and buffalos (collectively known as the “Big 5”) populations, amongst numerous other species.
The Project will make Senegal a premier safari destination similar to South Africa or Kenya, in a location only 4 to 6 hours’ flight from most European capitals and 8 hours from the eastern United States.
West Africa needs well-managed, accessible conservation spaces in order to protect regional subpopulations of Critically Endangered large mammals, such as West African Lions, Giraffes, and Western Derby Elands. This is crucial as security challenges in the Sahel complicate conservation efforts – for example, in the W-Arly-Pendjari complex, which holds 85% of the region’s savanna elephants and 90% of its lions.
Our communities are central to Grand Maka Yop. The Project offers major benefits: revenue sharing, high-paying jobs, irrigation, agroforestry training, a ranger school, funding for national research on protected species, and scholarships for local students.
Like in the Senegalese national anthem, the Grand Maka Yop Conservation Project aims to make the Red Lion roar once more.
Summary
The Grand Maka Yop Conservation Project is a 35,000 ha wildlife reserve designed to restore and protect Senegal’s elephants, lions, leopards, rhinoceroses and buffalos (collectively known as the “Big 5”) populations, amongst numerous other species.
The Project will make Senegal a premier safari destination similar to South Africa or Kenya, in a location only 4 to 6 hours’ flight from most European capitals and 8 hours from the eastern United States.
West Africa needs well-managed, accessible conservation spaces in order to protect regional subpopulations of Critically Endangered large mammals, such as West African Lions, Giraffes, and Western Derby Elands. This is crucial as security challenges in the Sahel complicate conservation efforts – for example, in the W-Arly-Pendjari complex, which holds 85% of the region’s savanna elephants and 90% of its lions.
Our communities are central to Grand Maka Yop. The Project offers major benefits: revenue sharing, high-paying jobs, irrigation, agroforestry training, a ranger school, funding for national research on protected species, and scholarships for local students.
Like in the Senegalese national anthem, the Grand Maka Yop Conservation Project aims to make the Red Lion roar once more.
About Lion Rouge
Photo Credit: Antelope Conservation
Lion Rouge is a conservation project developer, dedicated to protecting green spaces and threatened species.
In Senegal, our flagship “Grand Maka Yop” Conservation Project is being developed with the support of Senegalese and international conservation actors.
Our projects are financed from various sources, including our own funds, carbon credits and other green finance mechanisms.
About Lion Rouge
Photo Credit: Antelope Conservation
Lion Rouge is a conservation project developer, dedicated to protecting green spaces and threatened species.
In Senegal, our flagship “Grand Maka Yop” Conservation Project is being developed with the support of Senegalese and international conservation actors.
Our projects are financed from various sources, including our own funds, carbon credits and other green finance mechanisms.
Key Project Objectives
Restore the West African Big 5 to Senegal
Protect threatened species
Create a world-class international tourist attraction
Become a key research center for West Africa
Improve livelihoods through direct payments
Our Team
Christophe Dering
PRESIDENT
Adrian Mill
Managing
Director
Robert Scalia
Project
Manager
Pascaly Sarr
Project
Coordinator
Tracy Petersen
conservation
lead
Rachel Tunya
Grants
specialist
Contact
For more information on the Grand Maka Yop Conservation Project, our project pipeline, or opportunities for collaboration, please get in touch via the channels below.
Address
Rue YF 488 x Rue YF 498
Virage, Dakar, Senegal
Phone
Project Manager:
+221 78 463 09 19
Contact
For more information on the Grand Maka Yop Conservation Project, our project pipeline, or opportunities for collaboration, please get in touch via the channels below.
Address
Rue YF 488 x Rue YF 498
Virage, Dakar, Senegal
Phone
Project Manager:
+221 78 463 09 19