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Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Chad is distinguished into 3 large bioclimatic zones: 1) The Saharan zone which covers 600,350 km2. The vegetation in this zone is typical steppe type and is only present in the plains and the oasis. 2) The Sahelian zone which is characterized as shrubby savannah, and marked with very open, woody formations. 3) The Sudanic zone which has a surface area of 193,080 km2. Vegetation here is comprised essentially of 2 formations: the clear forest and the planted forest. Chad’s surface water is comprised mainly of 2 main rivers, the Chari (1200km long) and the Logone (1000km long), as well as several small, semi-permanent and temporary waterways and several lakes. A species of blue-green algae (Spirulina platensis), which is sought after worldwide, is found naturally in the Lake Chad basin. According to the interim report on biodiversity, conducted at the national level, we estimate in Chad: 4318 plant species, with 71 endemic and 11 threatened species, 15 mammal species, 4 bird species and the crocodiles all integrally protected. In addition, 21 mammal and 8 bird species are partially protected. Of the 772 animal species, endemics include the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), the African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), the Oryx gazelle (Oryx gazelle dammah), the domesticated cattle without humps (Bos taurus typicus) and the River Prinia (Prinia fluviatilis).

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Chad has 2 National parks (414,000ha), 7 wildlife reserves (11,675,300ha), 1 biosphere reserve (195,000ha), 10 ranked forests and 10 game reserves (11,250,800ha) that comprise 10% of the total, national surface area. The Zakouma Park, which has a surface area of 300,000ha, has maintained its biological diversity and is one of the richest protected areas in the country, despite all the climatic and anthropogenic hazards. Manda Park, classified in 1965, with an area of 114,000ha, was once rich in flora and fauna species, but today is a small forest island with the flora relatively well conserved, but with a largely reduced fauna. The wildlife reserves of the Sudanic zone (Barh Salamat, Siniaka-Mini) have a surface area of about 426,000ha and play an important conservation role, in spite of the demographic pressures placed on them. The Sahelian zone wildlife reserves (Ouadi Rimé, Ouadi Hachim) have a surface area of 80,000ha, but have lost a majority of their species due to lack of protection from anthropogenic activities, as well as dramatic climate changes.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Several strategic focus points were developed in order to meet the primary objective, which is the conservation and sustainable management of the biological diversity of Chad. These focal points are as follows: increased knowledge and surveillance of the biological diversity; threatened ecosystems and species inventoried, protected and/or restored; usage of substitute resources increased; sustainable use practices adopted and fair and equitable use of biological resources. Each of these points has a list of several actions to be taken in order for these objectives to be met. Several priority actions include: protection and restoration of local gene pool; complete research on ecosystems and species, especially those that are threatened; improve the productivity of carbonization techniques; adapt and apply legislation concerning biological resources and accelerate the reform and application of land tenure.
 

• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (French)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan on Belgian CHM (French)

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

One of the major initiatives was to have a minimum of 10% of national land designated as protected area. This initiative began with the development of PIDR (Plan d’Intervention pour le Développement Rural) whose programmes include natural resources management and preservation of the environment. The two main indicators used in attaining this objective were the surface area of already designated protected areas and the number of potential areas for future preservation. Several legal and regulatory texts on protected species/ecosystems were adapted. These include: Law 014/PR/98 defining the general principles of environmental protection; ordinance 14/63 of 28 March 1963 banning the hunting and capture of wild species; decree 673/PR/MTEP/85 of 12 October 1985 protecting all fauna on the reserves and legislation for forest, wildlife and fish systems. Since the adoption of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan there have been several reports and workshops on the status of both zoo and plant gene resources.

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Recently, important work has been carried out, through financing by the European Union, the French Cooperative and the German Cooperative, for the restoration of the National Parks of Zakouma and Manda, and the natural resources of Mayo-Kebbi. Two programmes of work have been initiated: reintroduction of the giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus gigas) and the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the creation of a new ecological corridor between Manda, Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks. Despite several loopholes, two major projects, the Petroleum Project and the Ngaounéré-Moundou transborder route, have integrated impact assessments in their implementation.

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

In what concerns this article there are several socioprofessional organizations in the area of traditional medicine, as well as the development of legislature concerning material and evaluation measures on the traditional knowledge in the National Strategy. There are currently programs in place to help increase awareness on the conservation of biological diversity among traditional practitioners. The Association of Traditional Practitioners initiated workshops on the conservation of medicinal plants that are threatened or endangered. As part of the implementation of the SNPA/DB several sensitization workshops were conducted; and an increase in the number of non-governmental organizations involved in biological diversity issues was noted.