UN lists South Sudan wildlife site as endangered

PARIS (AFP) — UNESCO has placed South Sudan’s Boma-Badingilo migratory landscape on its World Heritage in Danger list, marking the country’s first World Heritage designation.

The listing recognizes the 37,500-square-kilometer (14,500-square-mile) expanse of grasslands and woodlands, which supports one of the world’s largest wildlife migrations but faces threats from conflict and climate change.

About 1 million animals, including antelopes and gazelles, migrate across the landscape each year between the White Nile and the Ethiopian border.

“The Boma–Badingilo migratory landscape is home to one of the greatest wildlife migrations on Earth and stands as a powerful symbol of our country’s resilience, beauty and potential,” Tourism Minister Denay Jock Chagor told AFP.

He added that its designation “as South Sudan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site is a proud and historic moment for our nation.”

UNESCO’s World Heritage listing can help attract tourism and unlock international funding for conservation efforts. South Sudan has faced repeated conflicts since gaining independence in 2011, putting the landscape and its wildlife at risk.