Pendjari
Added to UNESCO’S World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1986
The Pendjari Biosphere Reserve lies in northwest Benin, near the border with Burkina Faso.
The reserve covers a diversity of plant formations such as grass, shrubs, woodland and forested savannahs, as well as open forests and gallery forests. These formations provide a varied habitat to many species of fauna.
Lions, elephants and buffalos can be easily found, while leopards are harder to observe. Other species include cheetahs and African wild dogs. The reserve is also home to 10 species of antelopes, including the topi antelopes and sable antelopes, as well as other species such as hippopotamuses. In addition to these mammal populations, the reserve hosts over 460 species of birds. The Nile crocodile is also to be found in the reserve.
The population living in the reserve is estimated at around 28,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are agriculture, small-scale animal husbandry and fishing, as well as tourism in the National Park, as a result of investments made in promotion since 2000. In fact, according to a research, tourism-related incomes increased 63% between 2006 and 2010.