Parliament urged to protect Wildlife habitats in national land policy
Author: Madrama James | Published: 4 hours ago
A herd of Tiang is seen here, part of the millions of wildlife in South Sudan that hosts one of nature’s most spectacular events: the Great Nile Migration, the largest land mammal migration on Earth. — Courtesy of Marcus Westberg
The Land Use Planning (LUP) Committee at the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism (MWCT) has called on the National Legislative Assembly to integrate conservation and Protected Areas Acts into South Sudan’s upcoming National Land Policy.
The call was made during a consultative meeting held at the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) in Juba, which focused on promoting cross-sector land use planning, community involvement, wildlife legislation, and the demarcation of protected areas. The discussions also covered enforcement mechanisms, wildlife regulations, and international agreements.
Hon. Wilson Lodiong Sebit, Chairperson of the TNLA Specialized Committee on Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, pledged following the meeting to expedite all pending wildlife-related legislation before the house.
“Land issues involve everyone, so when we’re invited to this kind of forum, let’s ensure we all attend together so we can address the matters effectively,” Hon. Lodiong stated. “The land policy also needs to be finalized, as there are certain responsibilities in wildlife management, including taking care of aquatic life. Whatever agreements we reach, we will do so collectively to make a positive impact.”
Speaking at the same event, Gen. Paul Thac Chiek, Deputy Director General of the National Wildlife Service, emphasized that the initiative aims to build awareness across government agencies to prevent infrastructural developments from harming natural ecosystems.
“Land use is a cross-cutting issue involving communities and various government departments. For instance, when constructing a road corridor that wildlife migrates through, it’s important that the construction does not disrupt their movement,” Gen. Chiek said. He added that the committee plans to expand engagements with the Ministry of Environment, mining, and agriculture sectors.
Established under Ministerial Order No. 003/2026, the LUP Committee serves as the primary technical body for land use planning, protected area management, and inter-sectoral coordination across South Sudan.
The workshop was supported by African Parks South Sudan and brought together members of the MWCT Land Use Planning Committee, lawmakers from the TNLA Wildlife and Tourism Committee, and media representatives.