conservation landscapes

Africa’s vast network of protected areas includes some of the world’s most iconic landscapes and species. These protected areas - with biodiversity spanning rainforests to deserts and miombo forests to savannahs - provide clean air, clean water, carbon-sequestering soils and forests, and hold the keys to climate resiliency and sustainable development.

For most countries across Africa, the cost of maintaining and enhancing ecosystems often exceeds the resources available. As a result, governments managing protected areas often need to choose between short-term economic gain and long-term conservation goals. 

By working through an integrated management approach with national wildlife authorities and conservation partners in a given landscape, we can support the effective and active management of these protected areas and ensure they are sustained in the long term.

How do we do this?

Through collaborative management partnerships (CMPs), we partner with national governments or private sector partners to enable a flexible and agile approach to provide financial, technical, and managerial support to ensure the protection and restoration of key landscapes.

We are in discussions with several government partners to establish multiple CMPs. The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has approved Space for Giants’ application to enter negotiations to co-manage Pian Upe Game Reserve as a collaborative management partnership. This is a significant milestone for us. It will be the first public-private partnership undertaken by Space for Giants as we scale our vision to protect Africa’s remaining natural ecosystems.

Impact

  • Protecting biodiversity at scale, helping combat the species extinction crisis

  • Preventing wildlife from entering the illegal wildlife trade 

  • Supporting livelihoods of local people and wider countries

  • Maintaining ecosystem services for sustainable development

  • Combating climate change by protecting carbon sinks

  • Supporting African governments to effectively and efficiently manage protected area networks

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