The Turing Foundation - Nature Conservation

Below is a list of older nature conservation projects. More recent projects can be found on our nature project page.

Older nature conservation projects :

July 2009	Preservation of Natural Resources, Timbuktu, Mali, 2009 Because of years of draught and a fast population growth, the natural vegetation of the Timbuktu region is under pressure. Because of this... more	October 2008	Establishing Lubombo Transfrontier Marine Protected Area, Mozambique/Zuid-Afrika The Peace Parks Foundation is devoted to protecting those natural areas that are located across the... more
July 2008	Sustainable Agricultural Programmes, Burkina Faso, 2008 In Burkina Faso, the Hunger Project is working on the improvement of sustainable agricultural methods, the protection of affected parcels of forest, the... more	May 2008	Preservation of Natural Resources, Timbuktu, Mali, 2008 Because of years of draught and a fast population growth, the natural vegetation of the Timbuktu region is under pressure. Because of this... more
July 2007	Dungonab Bay and Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park, Sudan, 2007-2011 African Parks helps the Sudanese government in managing, conserving and restoring two national parks. The Turing Foundation contributes 1 million euros to the Sanganeb Atoll Marine... more	July 2007	Sustainable agriculture/forestry in the Missahoe Forest Reserve, 2007-2009, Togo The IUCN is recovering part of a rainforest that has been seriously impoverished due to human activities, but still houses... more
July 2007	Sustainable management of wetlands around Lake Doro, 2007-2009, Mali 9,500 people live in eight villages in the tidal area within the project region in South-West Mali: farmers, cattle-breeding nomads and fishermen. These people... more		Project Overview on World Map

Nurseries of the sea

Establishing Lubombo Transfrontier Marine Protected Area, Mozambique/Zuid-Afrika
The Peace Parks Foundation is devoted to protecting those natural areas that are located across the borders between countries. The foundation's main goal is to establish sustainable economic development, biodiversity, peace and stability in the region surrounding the park. The final responsibility for the parks remains with the countries.

The Lubombo Transfrontier Park is located by the coast and on the borderline of Mozambique and South Africa. It offers a wealth of coral reefs, wetlands, whales and tortoises, which give it great tourist potential. Now that the situation in Mozambique seems to become more stable, tourist development is conceivable again - even more so given the fact that the park is located between Mozambique's capital, Maputo and the economic powerhouse of South Africa, Gauteng. It is important that prompt action is taken, so that a sustainable park can be established, with respect for nature. Apart from that, the marine area must be protected against threats such as poachers and large fish trailers.

The area is home to no more than 800 people, who fully depend on the sea for their daily sustenance. They will be trained in sustainable fishing practices, coast guarding and tourism.

In the coming four years, the Turing Foundation donates € 635,000 to the establishment and protection of the first African 'Transfrontier Marine Protected Area'.

The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation and resource Area - Mozambique

Dungonab Bay and Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park, Sudan, 2007-2011
African Parks helps African governments in managing, conserving and restoring seven National Parks. The foundation raises funds during the initial phase (sometimes lasting decades), sets up a financially sustainable park management and supports the economically sustainable development of the communities in and around the parks.

Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park is the only Atoll in the Red Sea, located approximately 23 kilometres off the coast, near Port Sudan. Relatively unspoiled coral reefs can be found here, including the fauna associated with them. The park covers roughly 25 km2 (and 250 km2 including the buffer zone surrounding it). The area has been nominated twice to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Dungonab Bay National Park, located on the West coast of the Red Sea, consists of 800 km2 of coast, coral reefs and islands. The park offers a great diversity of habitats and animal species, amongst which important endangered species such as the Dugong. Two villages (one of which is Dungonab) are located within the park boundaries. The commitment of the population and their sustainable economic development therefore form a very important part of the management plan for the park.

During the coming five years, the Turing Foundation contributes € 1,000,000 to the protection and establishment of a sustainable management of these two national parks.

Update October 2008
Unfortunately African Parks Network has had to withdraw from Dungonab and Sanganeb Marine Parks in Sudan as a result of the lapsing of their initital three-year agreement.
The Turing Foundation contribution of € 100.000 in 2007 to the Parks in Sudan was largely invested in two important components of the project, namely infrastructure and capacity building. The field station was built near Mohammed Qol and will hopefully continue to be used for park management like field monitoring by the Sudanese authorities. Also the Turing Foundation invested in capacity building of staff. Some 18 rangers received training in car mechanics, welding techniques and electricity, first aid and fire fighting skills. Others received SCUBA training. These young staff members are now much better prepared for their future and hopefully they will be used in a manner that benefits their training.
The principal lesson learnt for African Parks is that it has reinforced their own approach in that they will not take on any future project unless Government commits to a full, long term mandate up front that allows them to manage the park.
The Turing Foundation understands and respects the withdrawal, and wishes to thank African Parks for the good cooperation and excellent reports we received during the project. Consequently the Turing Foundation withdraws its commitment of the remaining € 900.000, which was dependant on the conslusion of a new, long term agreement with the Governement of Sudan.
The Turing Foundation will continue to invest in other marineprojects to protect and sustain nurseries of the sea around the world. It is to be hoped that the numerous fish and very important coral reefs in the marine parks in Sudan can be preserved in the near future.