Agreement for the Management of Akagera National Park is signed

It is with great pleasure to announce that the Rwandan Government and African Parks signed the long term management agreement for Akagera National Park on December 9th, 2009. This is a process which has taken nearly three years to conclude. In September 2007 we flew into Kigali to sign the agreement only to find that Dubai World had concluded a $300m investment deal in the four days prior to our arrival which included taking over Akagera. In April this year, after little to no progress, the Rwandan Government approached African Parks and requested our assistance with the management of the park. The agreement that has been concluded shows a real commitment by the Government in that from the outset they cede all existing income, will make an additional contribution of $250,000 per annum to operational costs, and they will pay for the bulk of the fencing of the Western boundary of the park. This sets a new standard in park management agreements. We are also happy to announce that Mr and Mrs Walton, long time friends of African Parks, have made a significant contribution to the start up costs of Akagera over the next five years, without which it would be impossible for African Parks to make this commitment to the Rwandan Government. African Parks has already started the process of registering the legal entity and is in the process of procuring some of the key equipment such as vehicles and radio equipment. Peter Fearnhead, CEO December 10th, 2009 Akagera National Park - Aerial view Akagera National Park - Plain