These projects have directly contributed to the conservation, research, and sustainable management of Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay–Mukkawar Island Marine National Park — Sudan's first UNESCO Marine World Heritage Site. Each project advances the parks' Integrated Management Plan objectives, World Heritage obligations, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
7
Conservation projects
12+
Partner organisations
>US$5M
Investment mobilised
8+
Species monitored
Status
Theme
Funding
Showing all 7 projects
Nature-Positive Patrols: Strengthening Marine Protection Through Local Ranger Leadership
Sudan's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site faces a critical enforcement gap: WCF's monitoring capacity has been severely constrained by fuel and equipment shortages since April 2023.
Objectives
- 1. Active Patrols and Management Infrastructure: Implement a regularised patrol schedule sustained by fuel provision and vessel rehabilitation, supported by the installation of permanent boundary and closed-zone signage to enable clear demarcation for enforcement and community awareness.
Key Results
- ~72 patrols conducted per year (6/month, up from near-zero)
- 100% of existing patrol vessels rehabilitated and operational
- 15 permanent signs installed at closed zones and prominent sites
- 100% of patrol logs completed and submitted monthly across all 72 patrols
- 500 community members/fishermen reached through Arabic-language awareness and legal orientation sessions
Funder(s)
Conservation Allies Conservation Action Fund for Africa (CAFA) — US$15,812
Implementing Agency
Sudanese Development Initiative (SUDIA) – Sudanese conservation NGO, IUCN Member since 2018
Partners
Marine Fisheries Administration (MFA) · Local Women's Center (Mohamed Qol) · Local Schools (Mohamed Qol/Dungonab)
Geographic Scope
Dungonab Bay and Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (DBMNP), Red Sea State, Sudan — a 2,800 km² MPA and Sudan's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.
WH Management Plan
Supports the DBMNP Integrated Management Plan (2017–2021, extended pending update) under the Governance and Infrastructure pillars. Directly corresponds to Activity G.2.6 (durable signage at key attraction/boundary sites, with maintenance schedule) in the 2026 WCF–SUDIA Annual Planning Matrix agreed under Article 19 of the 2025–2030 MoU.
Kunming-Montreal GBF Targets
GEF/UNDP – Strengthening the Management Effectiveness of Sudan’s Protected Area System
This project covers four protected areas across Sudan. The activities and results summarised here relate specifically to Sanganeb Atoll Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay–Mukkawar Island Marine National Park.
Objectives
- Strengthen management effectiveness of both marine national parks through METT assessments and adaptive management
- Develop and enforce dive operator regulations, a permit system, and code of conduct for SMNP
- Support livelihood diversification for Beja communities in Dungonab and Mohammed Qol (Component 3)
- Deploy reef mooring buoys at Sanganeb key dive sites to eliminate anchor damage to corals
- Gender mainstreaming and monitoring & evaluation framework across protected area management (Component 4)
Key Results
- Project launched October 2021 at signing ceremony in Port Sudan
- Dive operator code of conduct and permit system in development
- Community ecotourism pilots active in Dungonab Bay
- Mooring buoy deployment at Sanganeb planned (2025)
- GEF grant: US$4.1M | UNDP TRAC: US$500K | Total UNDP-administered budget: US$4.6M across four Sudan protected areas
Funder(s)
Global Environment Facility (GEF) GEF grant: US$4.1M (total UNDP-administered budget: US$4.6M)
Implementing Agency
Partners
WCGA · Ministry of Environment · Red Sea State Government · SUDIA
WH Management Plan
Management effectiveness; community livelihoods; zoning & enforcement; gender mainstreaming
Kunming-Montreal GBF Targets
Strengthening MPAs and Marine Ecotourism in Sudan
A key scientific output of this project was Kessel et al. (2017), "Conservation of reef manta rays (Manta alfredi) in a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Large-scale island development or sustainable tourism?" published in PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185419
Objectives
- Strengthen the operational capacity of the WCGA Marine Protected Areas Division (WCGA-MPAD)
- Develop a sustainable ecotourism framework for both marine parks
- Deliver park boundary and informational signage for SMNP and DMNP
- Support gender-sensitive community engagement with Beja fishing communities in Dungonab and Mohammed Qol
- Contribute data and analysis to the UNESCO World Heritage Integrated Management Plan 2017–2021
Key Results
- Procurement and delivery of two patrol boats and safety equipment to WCGA-MPAD
- Design and installation of park boundary signage and entrance signboards for SMNP and DMNP
- Community ecotourism feasibility framework produced
- Data contributed directly to the UNESCO World Heritage Integrated Management Plan 2017–2021
- "Did You Know?" Sudan Red Sea public awareness campaign launched (2017)
- Dungonab community children participated in UN General Assembly World Ocean Day event (2017)
Funder(s)
Darwin Initiative / UK Aid £300,000, Round 20 (2014–2017)
Implementing Agency
Partners
The Deep Aquarium (UK) · University of Windsor (Canada) · SUDIA (Sudan) · WCGA
Lead Scientists
Tarik Chekchak · Rebecca Klaus · Nigel Hussey · Steve Kessel
Geographic Scope
Both parks; community work focused on Dungonab and Mohammed Qol villages
WH Management Plan
Ecotourism planning; park infrastructure; community engagement; MPA patrol capacity
Kunming-Montreal GBF Targets
Publication
↗ Darwin Initiative Final Report (21-019)
Sudan Sharks & Rays Conservation Programme
2012 – 2017 ·Both Parks ·
Funder: Darwin Initiative / UK Government / The Deep Aquarium
·
Lead: Cousteau Society
Objectives
- Establish baseline data on shark and ray movements, behaviour, and population structure in Sudanese Red Sea waters
- Deploy a 38-monitor passive acoustic array across 130 km of coastline from Sanganeb to Abington Reef
- Conduct satellite telemetry of reef manta rays (Manta alfredi) to assess home range and MPA boundary effectiveness
- Build national scientific capacity through training of WCGA staff and Red Sea University researchers
- Run the "Divers Aware of Sharks" (DAS) citizen science programme with Sudanese dive operators
Key Results
- 22 manta rays tagged — first acoustic implantation and dorsal satellite-tag attachment in manta rays globally
- 35 genetic samples collected; first confirmation of both Manta alfredi and Manta birostris co-existing in DMNP
- 98.5% of satellite-tracked manta ray locations fell within MPA boundaries — confirming spatial appropriateness of DMNP designation
- Acoustic array operational for multi-year passive monitoring across both parks
- Peer-reviewed publication: Kessel et al. (2017) PLoS ONE — confirming MPA boundaries protect manta ray habitat
Funder(s)
Implementing Agency
Partners
University of Windsor (Canada) · The Deep Aquarium (UK) · Red Sea University (Sudan) · WCGA · SUDIA
Lead Scientists
Dr. Nigel Hussey (University of Windsor) · Dr. Steven Kessel (John G. Shedd Aquarium)
Geographic Scope
DMNP manta aggregation area (Dungonab Bay / Mohammed Qol) · SMNP offshore reef acoustic array
WH Management Plan
Species monitoring & research; MPA management effectiveness
Kunming-Montreal GBF Targets
Publication
↗ Kessel et al. (2017) — PLoS ONE — Open Access
PERSGA Strategic Ecosystem-Based Management (SEM) Project
Objectives
- Conduct a legal review of Sudan's MPA governance and regulatory framework
- Prepare an updated management plan for Dungonab Bay–Mukkawar Island National Park (Klaus 2016)
- Produce the Integrated Management Plan 2017–2021 for the serial UNESCO World Heritage site
- Support coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove habitat monitoring through Red Sea University
- Build the capacity of WCGA staff in MPA monitoring and management methodologies
Key Results
- Updated management plan for DMNP completed and adopted (Klaus 2016)
- Integrated Management Plan 2017–2021 for the SMNP–DMNP World Heritage site delivered — the foundational park management document currently in force
- Comprehensive monitoring data on coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, and macroinvertebrate communities produced
- Legal and governance framework review completed
- Data informed the IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment
Funder(s)
Implementing Agency
PERSGA – Regional Organisation for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Partners
WCGA · Red Sea University · Red Sea State Ministry of Tourism and Environment · Federal Ministry for the Environment
WH Management Plan
Legal and governance framework; management planning; habitat and species monitoring
Kunming-Montreal GBF Targets
SWOT Small Grant – Sea Turtle Nesting Research, Mukkawar Island
2021 – Ongoing ·Dungonab Bay–Mukkawar Island MNP ·
Funder: SWOT – State of the World's Sea Turtles
·
Lead: SUDIA / Sudan Marine Parks
Objectives
- Document sea turtle nesting activity on the sandy beaches of Mukkawar Island
- Establish a quantitative baseline nest count for green (Chelonia mydas, EN), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata, CR), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta, VU) turtles
- Contribute nesting data to the global SWOT (State of the World's Sea Turtles) monitoring database
Key Results
- Nesting survey methodology established at Mukkawar Island
- Data actively being contributed to the SWOT global monitoring database
- Mukkawar Island confirmed as a sea turtle nesting site of regional significance
Funder(s)
SWOT – State of the World's Sea Turtles Grant: ~US$1,000
Implementing Agency
SUDIA / Sudan Marine Parks
Partners
WCGA
Geographic Scope
Mukkawar Island eastern beaches, DMNP
WH Management Plan
Flagship species monitoring; sea turtle conservation
Kunming-Montreal GBF Targets
UNIDO / IMR Norway – Surveys of Renewable Marine Resources, Red Sea State
2012 – 2013 ·Both Parks (regional survey) ·
Funder: Government of Canada (via UNIDO)
·
Lead: UNIDO / IMR Norway
Objectives
- Survey renewable marine resources in Red Sea State waters, including areas within and adjacent to the marine national parks
- Provide fisheries baseline data to support sustainable resource management planning for coastal communities
Key Results
- Survey completed 2013; fisheries and marine resource data produced for Red Sea State
- Data contributed to the broader Red Sea State marine resource management knowledge base, informing subsequent MPA planning
Funder(s)
Implementing Agency
UNIDO – in partnership with Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway
Partners
Red Sea State Government · WCGA
Geographic Scope
Red Sea State coastal and marine waters including park zones
WH Management Plan
Sustainable fisheries; renewable marine resource baseline data
Kunming-Montreal GBF Targets
Have a project to add?
If your organisation is implementing or funding conservation work in Sudan's marine national parks, contact us to have your project listed here as part of the parks' conservation portfolio.
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