Dzanga-Sangha Day 2025 in the Central African Republic

The Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas – a mosaic of forests, wetlands and clearings that host rare forest elephants, chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas – are one of the world’s most important ecoregions and part of the transboundary Sangha Trinational (TNS) protected area, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Story

12/03/2025

CAR, WWF and HIOH celebratie a unique nexus of nature, health and development

On 18–20 November 2025, the Central African Republic (CAR) celebrated its first-ever Dzanga-Sangha Day (La Journée des Aires Protégées de Dzanga-Sangha). Conceived as a three-day national event, the celebration aimed to shine a spotlight on the country’s unique natural heritage and raise awareness of the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas (DSPA)—an extraordinary conservation landscape in CAR’s remote southwest. Held under the theme “Reconciling Nature, Health and Development”, the event underscored how biodiversity protection, community wellbeing, and scientific research intersect in DSPA. It was co-organized by the Government of the Central African Republic in partnership with WWF and the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH).

HIOH researchers have been active in DSPA for more than a decade, and today the institute supports WWF’s local One Health coordinator and maintains a strong on-site presence with staff and a research laboratory. HIOH is a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI).

High-level opening ceremony in Bangui

The festivities opened on 18 November in the capital Bangui with a formal ceremony attended by the President of the Central African Republic, Prof. Faustin-Archange Touadéra, senior government officials, international partners, NGOs, and numerous representatives from science and civil society.

In his address, HIOH director Fabian Leendertz highlighted the uniqueness of this biodiversity hotspot and the long-standing collaborations that link wildlife conservation, research and public health. In the future, the DSPA will serve as one of HIOH’s first One Health Exploratories – long-term, evidence-based “weather stations” to continuously collect and integrate data and samples on human, animal, and ecosystem health – creating unique knowledge, building resilience and providing ample opportunities for training, especially for Central African students and scientists.

The ALERT Game, developed by the World Organization for Animal Health, strengthens disease surveillance capacities in local communities by raising awareness about animal diseases that could potentially be transmitted to humans.

In the afternoon, an interactive One Health workshop hosted by HIOH and WWF introduced current activities in the DSPA, such as the ZooSursy and INFORBIO projects, and included a presentation on the One Health Exploratories by Fee Zimmermann, head of HIOH’s One Health Surveillance research group. Productive discussions on disease surveillance arose during a session of ALERT, a game developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Throughout the day, visitors could explore booths and information stands showcasing research, conservation initiatives and ecotourism efforts that have been developed in DSPA over the years.

Community celebrations and inauguration in Bayanga

opening ceremony Lab — On 19 November, 2025, the festivities continued in Bayanga in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas with the official opening ceremony of the new molecular diagnostics lab – jointly operated by HIOH and WWF. Cutting the ribbon (from left to right): Frédéric Singa, One Health Coordinator of WWF in the DSPA; Prof. Fabian Leendertz, director of HIOH; Prof. Emmanuel Nakouné, director of Institut Pasteur Bangui; Prof. Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the President of the Central African Republic; and Matheiu Simplice Sarandji, the President of the Parliament.

On 19 and 20 November, the Dzanga-Sangha Day celebrations continued in Bayanga, within the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas. President Touadéra participated here as well—alongside CAR’s President of Parliament, the Prime Minister, 14 ministers, the EU Ambassador, long-term scientific collaborators of HIOH, international WWF colleagues, and the entire Bayanga community.

A major milestone of the Bayanga program was the inauguration of the newly equipped molecular biology field laboratory, jointly established by HIOH and WWF. The lab—fully solar-powered, which enables the operation of specialized equipment such as a –80 °C freezer—marks an important step for local research capacity and long-term One Health monitoring in the region. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted by the President himself, together with representatives from HIOH, WWF and Institut Pasteur Bangui.

A new tradition for the future

The first Dzanga-Sangha Day successfully showcased the rich biodiversity of DSPA, the achievements of long-term research and conservation partnerships, and the value of One Health approaches. Going forward, DSPA Day will become a recurring event with changing themes, continuing to highlight the global importance of this remarkable landscape.

Further Information

‘Central African Republic launches the first-ever Dzanga-Sangha Day’ – Newspost of WWF announcing Dzanga-Sangha Day, 17 November, 2025