Sandscript

As the Sahara Conservation Fund’s twice-yearly newsletter, Sandscript is packed with the latest information of SCF’s projects and other newsworthy topics concerning the conservation of the biodiversity of the Sahel and the Sahara.

In this issue we focus on the regrettable but unfortunately very real threats to some of the region’s most endangered species: the addax antelope in Niger, the dama gazelle in Chad, and the elephant in Mali. All of them are suffering from the direct threats of illegal hunting, pressure on their vital habitats, and the impacts of the political problems and lack of security afflicting the entire region.

On the bright side, however, and thankfully there almost always is one, we highlight the great work underway by Marwell Wildlife and its partners in Tunisia to conserve that dynamic nation’s desert biodiversity. Also extremely positive the recent training program Maimounatou Ibrahim, our ostrich manager in Niger, undertook in Germany thanks to the support of several SCF partners.

Finally, a brief word about our new Business Plan & Strategy that builds on the achievements of the past decade to chart SCF’s development over the next 3-5 years.

Never before has the wildlife of the Sahel and Sahara faced such significant threats to its survival. Victims of forces often way beyond the remit or outreach of the conservation community we must still do our best to conserve imperilled species. Communications is an important part of this and in closing I sincerely hope Sandscript can in its own way contribute, inform, motivate and inspire the work we are all doing.

John Newby
Editor of Sandscript