Peace Parks registers fastest growth in conservation

From the newsletter

The Peace Parks Foundation, a mid-size conservation organisation, has experienced the highest growth rate in senior staff over the past year among African peers. Our analysis indicates a workforce increase of 20%. This is expected to continue, especially following the recent launch of Africa’s largest community forest carbon project, the Kafue Zambezi Community Forest Project, on March 14, 2025, in partnership with various stakeholders.

• The project aims to conserve 1.9 million hectares of indigenous forest by 2028. By integrating local leadership, it empowers 280,000 people to adopt sustainable livelihoods while preserving the vital forest catchments of the Kafue and Zambezi rivers.

• Peace Parks’ mature workforce has an average work experience of 15 years, surpassing the Nature Conservancy with 13 years.

More details

• In our review of ten companies, the Nature Conservancy (TNC) ranks second for senior employee growth, achieving a 19% increase, which equates to 47 new employees. This growth is largely due to several projects undertaken in 2024. Notably, TNC partnered with the Zambian government to enhance natural resource management across 6.8 million hectares surrounding Kafue National Park. In Angola, TNC’s research has catalysed a transition to solar energy, thereby protecting vital ecosystems. In East Africa, TNC is assisting Indigenous communities with rotational grazing practices to improve soil carbon, resilience, and livelihoods.

• In Tanzania’s Greater Mahale landscape, home to 90% of the country’s chimpanzees, TNC has supported local communities in establishing seven new Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFRs). These reserves cover 44,090 hectares and safeguard an additional 208,000 hectares of forest. On a regional scale, TNC launched the Africa Forest Carbon Catalyst 2.0 initiative to scale up small carbon projects. This programme now supports blue carbon and soil carbon initiatives in grasslands and peatlands, helping communities secure project verification and sell carbon credits.

• BirdLife International ranks third in growth, with a 17% increase in senior staff. The organisation recently made headlines following a landmark ruling by South Africa’s High Court on 18 March 2025, which resulted from years of community advocacy. The court ruled in favour of BirdLife South Africa and its partners, establishing 10-year no-fishing zones around six critical penguin breeding colonies, including Dassen Island, Stony Point, and St Croix Island. These zones protect essential sardine and anchovy feeding grounds vital for penguin survival.

• African Parks, with a 13% increase, closes the list of companies with over 10% growth. The organisation is renowned for its effective conservation strategies in Africa, employing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that ensures long-term ecological, social, and financial sustainability. African Parks enters into long-term agreements with governments and communities to manage parks while allowing landowners to retain their rights. This inclusive approach benefits local communities and enhances conservation efforts, providing ecosystem services, improving livelihoods, and fostering peace and development in surrounding areas.

• The strategy is grounded in three pillars: Mandates, Management, and Money. Mandates grant African Parks full management authority, while local legal entities oversee each park's operation. Park teams adhere to national laws and rigorous procedures. Funding is derived from tourism, ecosystem services, donors, and government contributions. The organisation's activities emphasise Conservation, Community Development, and Revenue Generation, supported by robust governance and infrastructure. This model effectively protects nature, empowers communities, and paves the way for a sustainable conservation future.

• Interest in hiring staff with master’s degrees remains high across the sector. BirdLife International leads with 64%, followed by Conservation International at 60%. The World Wide Fund for Nature has 50%, while both the Wildlife Conservation Society and the African Wildlife Foundation stand at 47%. On average, 49% of staff across these ten organisations hold a master’s degree, indicating a strong preference for advanced academic qualifications.

Our take

• Sales and business development data indicate that conservation funding in Africa is increasingly connected to professional fundraising and revenue strategies.

• Organisations such as Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society have allocated up to 10% of their staff to sales roles. This shift highlights a move towards sustainability through partnerships, eco-tourism, and donor engagement, rather than depending solely on traditional grant funding.