COTONOU, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A joint-financing of 26 million U.S. dollars will be invested to transform Benin's Pendjari national park complex into the largest ecosystem of protected savannahs in West Africa.
The investment is part of a five-year business plan, a government statement said on Thursday in the economic capital Cotonou.
Keeping with that goal, the investment will be used to renovate and enrich the Pendjari national park complex as well as its peripheral areas expected to be integrated then after.
Benin's government will provide domestic funding of 5.97 million U.S. dollars and the shortfall will be sought as support from technical and financial partners.
"The rehabilitation of the complex involves efficient and modern management adjusted to conservation objectives while contributing to the development of tourism," the release said.
The document added the management should also "stimulate a new momentum of economic and social development" in Benin.
Together with another park in the country, Pendjari national park hosts significant fauna and flora as well as high value cultural sceneries as tourist destinations.
Benin's government explained the two biosphere reserves are the last refuges for the great West African fauna and currently register about 7,000 tourists per year.
"Pendjari biosphere reserve alone receives over 6,500 visitors per year," the government said.
