Gambella - Machar Transboundary National Park Environmental Protection Project

Gambella National Park (GNP) (5,060 km²) – the largest protected area in Ethiopia – is located in southwestern Ethiopia adjacent to the border with South Sudan. The park consists of a vast collection of savannahs, rivers and associated flood plains, riverine forests and grasslands and has a number of wildlife species like the Nile lechwe and white-eared kob not found in other protected areas in Ethiopia. The Machar Marshes to the northwest and west of South Sudan consist of vast areas of swamps and seasonal flood plains interlaced by an intricate reticulate system of water courses. The marshes extend over the border into Ethiopia. The whole area plays a key role in the livelihood strategies of local groups living in the area.

The Gambella – Machar Transboundary National Park Environmental Protection Project is one of several priority projects identified by the Eastern Nile states under the Eastern Nile Multi-Sectoral Investment Opportunity Analysis (MSIOA). This project will develop an institutional framework for the management of the proposed Gambella-Machar Transboundary National Park (GMTBNP) and develop a Management Plan for the GMTBNP.

The project identification was completed in 2015 with funding from the World Bank under the Nile Cooperation for Results Project (NCORE).

Gambella National Park (GNP) (5,060 km²) – the largest protected area in Ethiopia – is located in southwestern Ethiopia adjacent to the border with South Sudan. The park consists of a vast collection of savannahs, rivers and associated flood plains, riverine forests and grasslands and has a number of wildlife species like the Nile lechwe and white-eared kob not found in other protected areas in Ethiopia. The Machar Marshes to the northwest and west of South Sudan consist of vast areas of swamps and seasonal flood plains interlaced by an intricate reticulate system of water courses. The marshes extend over the border into Ethiopia. The whole area plays a key role in the livelihood strategies of local groups living in the area.

The Gambella – Machar Transboundary National Park Environmental Protection Project is one of several priority projects identified by the Eastern Nile states under the Eastern Nile Multi-Sectoral Investment Opportunity Analysis (MSIOA). This project will develop an institutional framework for the management of the proposed Gambella-Machar Transboundary National Park (GMTBNP) and develop a Management Plan for the GMTBNP.

The project identification was completed in 2015 with funding from the World Bank under the Nile Cooperation for Results Project (NCORE).