APAD - Africa Protected Areas Directors

Positioning Africa’s protected
and conserved areas as the
backbone of natural infrastructure

Empowering Africa’s
Conservation
Leaders

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Promoting the effective management
and good governance of protected
and conserved areas.

Empowering Africa’s
Conservation
Leaders

VIEW EVENTS

Protecting biodiversity and natural
habitats through well-managed
protected areas

Empowering Africa’s
Conservation
Leaders

VIEW EVENTS

Protected and conserved areas as
drivers of Africa's commitment to global
conservation targets.

Empowering Africa’s
Conservation
Leaders

VIEW EVENTS

Explore the newly launched Second Africa Protected Area Directors (APAD) Conference 2024 Report, spotlighting high-level conference outcomes and key discussions from over 150 participants representing a diverse pool of stakeholders.

Explore the newly launched Second Africa Protected Area Directors (APAD) Conference 2024 Report, spotlighting high-level conference outcomes and key discussions from over 150 participants representing a diverse pool of stakeholders––with the involvement of 30 African countries.

About APAD

The Africa Protected Area Directors (APAD) is a network open to the representatives of national authorities of Protected and Conserved Areas (PCAs) operating throughout Africa. APAD aims to develop a common agenda for Africa’s protected areas, foster information sharing, and facilitate collaboration and collective responsibility among Africa’s protected areas directors.

39 Countries Engaged

2 Key Surveys

4 Years in Existence

2 In-person Conferences

9 Virtual Meetings

Protected & Conserved
Areas in Africa

Discover Africa’s protected and conserved areas on maps. Explore diverse landscapes and uncover regions dedicated to conservation efforts.

APAD’s Formation

The Africa Protected Area Directors (APAD) network was formed in 2020 in response to the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the management and operations of Africa’s protected and conserved areas that led to a notable decline in tourism revenue and threatened the socio-economic welfare of local communities. Its inception was further motivated by the need to articulate aligned priorities and needs of Africa’s protected area directors at the inaugural Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC) 2022.

Founding Partner & Secretariat

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has served as the secretariat for the Africa Protected Area Directors (APAD) network since its inception in 2020. Investing in APAD as a network aligns with AWF’s commitment to elevate African conservation leadership by granting these leaders the agency to set the conservation agenda on the continent and beyond.