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Good practice Imported

Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape — Africa's Largest Land-Mammal Migration Under New Park Management

South Sudan · Boma · See the South Sudan profile

Evidence: Observational / pre–post Top 40% 47/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

In a 12-million-hectare South Sudan landscape, a 2024 aerial survey counted six million migrating antelope — Earth's largest land-mammal migration — now a 2026 UNESCO World Heritage Site under an African Parks-government partnership, though poaching persists outside its core.

~12 million hectares
Landscape area (n/a)
~6 million animals
Estimated migrating antelope (2024 aerial survey)
Boma–Badingilo Migratory Landscape — Africa's Largest Land-Mammal Migration Under New Park Management

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
African Parks (in partnership with the Government of South Sudan)
Period
2022–ongoing (UNESCO inscription 2026)
Keywords
wildlife conservation, protected areas, ecotourism

Context

The Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape spans nearly 12 million hectares of savanna, floodplain, wetland and woodland in South Sudan's Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states, linking Boma National Park, Badingilo National Park and the community-held corridors between them. Since 2022, African Parks has held a long-term, renewable management partnership with the Government of South Sudan, working with Rainforest Trust and local communities to re-establish park boundaries and designate unprotected corridor land as Community Conservancies.

Results

A 2024 aerial survey counted an estimated six million migrating antelope — white-eared kob, tiang, Mongalla gazelle and Bohor reedbuck — moving seasonally between the two parks and into Ethiopia's Gambella and Omo landscapes, alongside African savanna elephants, lions, cheetahs and the Critically Endangered Nubian giraffe. This is documented as the largest land-mammal migration on Earth and was the primary evidence base for the landscape's inscription as South Sudan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site on 29 July 2026.

Conclusions

UNESCO simultaneously placed the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing unsustainable bushmeat poaching of migratory herds outside the formally protected core, particularly in Jonglei State during the dry season — an acknowledged governance gap the partnership is still working to close.

Implementation
Indicative cost
High (€500k–€5M) — No public total budget figure is reported for the management partnership; funded through African Parks and Rainforest Trust conservation financing.
Time to results
Long (> 3 years) — Long-term, renewable management partnership since 2022, culminating in UNESCO World Heritage inscription in July 2026.
Staffing & skills
African Parks, park management partner, Government of South Sudan, sovereign partner, Rainforest Trust, conservation NGO partner, local communities, co-managers of Community Conservancies

Conditions for success

  • Long-term, renewable management partnership between African Parks and the national government since 2022
  • Re-establishment of formal park boundaries paired with new Community Conservancies on unprotected corridor land
  • A rigorous 2024 aerial survey providing the evidence base for UNESCO World Heritage inscription

Common failure modes

  • UNESCO simultaneously listed the site as 'World Heritage in Danger', citing unsustainable bushmeat poaching of migratory herds outside the formally protected core
  • Poaching pressure is particularly acute in Jonglei State during the dry season, an acknowledged governance gap

Where it fits

Governance type
NGO park-management partnership with national government
Scale
landscape (nearly 12 million hectares)
Income level
low-income, conflict-affected (South Sudan)

Commonly funded by

Philanthropic / foundation funding

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

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