Understanding the conservation challenges of armed conflicts in protected areas: Insights from the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger)

Armed conflicts in biodiversity hotspots across Africa significantly threaten conservation efforts. The incursion of armed groups since 2017 in the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex located in Benin, Niger, and Burkina Faso, poses a severe threat to conservation efforts in one of West Africa's largest transboundary natural World Heritage sites. Being prepared to respond to such a conflict requires a better understanding of its key drivers and quick adaptive management responses for conservation managers, who are often unprepared and have no clear strategies to address such threats. How does the ongoing armed conflict affect the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex? What possible solutions can conservation managers implement to address the challenges of armed conflict in protected areas? This paper uses the participative Delphi technique to identify the drivers, the key players contributing to insecurity threatening the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex and the actors who can contribute to solving the conservation-related issues linked to this insecurity. Our results show that the main drivers of the insecurity identified by the experts are political, economic, and social (precariousness and marginalization of local communities). This insecurity persists due to weak state control and limited resources. Violent extremist groups, particularly Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, pose significant threats to conservation efforts. Responses include military actions and regional cooperation to combat terrorism. A community-focused strategy by conservation managers is essential to reduce the vulnerability of forest-dependent communities and counter local alliances with Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin. Finally, this case contributes to understanding the growing threat of violent extremist groups affecting other protected areas.