Benin is committed to establishing a functional system of Protected Areas through the signing in 1992 and the ratification in 1994 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This commitment was reaffirmed through the creation in 1996 of the National Center for the Management of Wildlife Reserves (CENAGREF) and the development of a number of policy and strategy documents. These are the strategy for the management and conservation of protected areas in Benin developed in 1995, the document of Growth Strategy for Poverty Reduction (SCRP, 2007), the national strategy and the action plan for the conservation of biological diversity. In addition to these documents, there is the Work Programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity on Protected Areas adopted by the State Parties in 2004. The initial analysis of ninety-two (92) activities of this program in Benin in 2008 enabled it to identify thirteen (13) priority activities.In addition, initiatives must be taken to facilitate the establishment of a coherent and functional network of wildlife reserves both nationally and sub-regionally.
Therefore, the Government of Benin, aware of the contribution of wildlife reserves to the development process and to the well-being of present and future generations, makes available to managers of wildlife reserves, this document is the report of the national strategy for the conservation and management of wildlife reserves in the Republic of Benin. That all national actors and Technical and Financial Partners interested in the sustainable management of biodiversity appropriate it and contribute effectively to its implementation.