WACN Lame-Burra Game Reserve Project
Some of the world’s most successful conservation stories began with landscapes that had been overlooked, under-resourced or in decline. With the right vision, committed partnerships and sustained investment, those landscapes have been transformed into places where wildlife is recovering, ecosystems are functioning once again and conservation is creating lasting benefits for people.
West African Conservation Network (WACN) believes Lame-Burra Game Reserve has the potential to become one of those success stories.
Working in partnership with the Bauchi State Government, WACN is supporting the long-term restoration, protection and sustainable management of Lame-Burra Game Reserve as part of our commitment to strengthening biodiversity conservation and protected area management in Nigeria.
Covering approximately 205,900 hectares (2,059 square kilometres / 795 square miles), Lame-Burra is a vast protected landscape characterised primarily by Northern Guinea Savannah woodland, with areas of transition towards Sudan Savannah in the northern part of the reserve. Riparian forests associated with rivers and seasonal watercourses add further ecological diversity, creating habitats capable of supporting a wide range of native plant and animal species.
For many years, however, the reserve has not received the level of investment, management and long-term conservation support needed to realise its full potential. As a result, both wildlife and habitats have faced increasing pressure.
WACN believes that this can change.
With effective management, scientific research, strong community partnerships and sustained conservation investment, Lame-Burra has the opportunity to become a healthier, more resilient landscape that safeguards biodiversity while contributing to education, research, sustainable livelihoods and nature-based tourism.
The WACN Lame-Burra Game Reserve Project represents a long-term commitment to helping achieve that vision.
Why Lame-Burra?
Conservation is not simply about protecting places that are already thriving. It is also about restoring landscapes that still possess the natural foundations needed for recovery.
Lame-Burra remains an extensive protected landscape with diverse natural habitats and significant ecological potential. Protecting and restoring these habitats will help conserve biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience and ensure that future generations continue to benefit from the environmental services that healthy ecosystems provide.
For WACN, Lame-Burra represents an opportunity to demonstrate how collaboration between government, conservation organisations, local communities and development partners can help restore a protected landscape through practical, science-based conservation.
Our Approach
The WACN Lame-Burra Game Reserve Project is founded on a simple principle: lasting conservation requires long-term commitment.
Our work focuses on supporting the Bauchi State Government to strengthen protected area management while building the partnerships, knowledge and capacity needed for long-term success.
Our priorities include:
- Strengthening protected area management.
- Supporting biodiversity conservation and wildlife recovery.
- Restoring natural habitats.
- Supporting ranger development and conservation capacity.
- Promoting scientific research and ecological monitoring.
- Working alongside neighbouring communities to encourage shared stewardship of natural resources.
- Supporting sustainable nature-based tourism as a tool for conservation and local economic development.
Every activity contributes towards a single objective: restoring ecological health while creating lasting environmental, social and economic benefits.
Looking to the Future
Landscape restoration takes time.
Healthy wildlife populations recover over years. Habitats regenerate over decades. Strong conservation institutions are built through patience, partnership and consistent investment.
WACN is committed to that long-term journey.
As the project develops, we will continue to work with government, communities, researchers and conservation partners to strengthen management, expand scientific knowledge, improve biodiversity conservation and create new opportunities for sustainable development.
Our ambition is not simply to protect Lame-Burra as it exists today, but to help realise its full potential as a resilient protected landscape that benefits both people and nature.
Let's collaborate
Meaningful conservation is built through partnership.
Send us an email at info@westafricanconservation.org
WACN welcomes collaboration with governments, conservation organisations, universities, research institutions, philanthropic foundations, responsible businesses and individuals who share our commitment to protecting biodiversity and strengthening conservation in Nigeria.
Whether through technical expertise, research, funding or long-term collaboration, every partnership helps move Lame-Burra closer to a more secure and sustainable future.
If you would like to learn more about the WACN Lame-Burra Game Reserve Project or explore opportunities to work with us, we would be pleased to hear from you.