Nahouri: The eco-guards and foresters of the PONASI complex are strengthening their skills on the SMART software. The Director General of the National Office of Protected Areas (OFINAP), Phillipe Tamini, initiated a training session aimed at enhancing the capabilities of eco-guards and foresters across the Nando, Nazinon, and Nakambe regions. The training, which commenced on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in Po, Nahouri province, focuses on utilizing the SMART software to manage patrol activities within the PONASI complex more effectively.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the training's primary goal is to bolster the operational capacities of the eco-guards and foresters in the Po-Nazinga-Sissili complex (PONASI) by equipping them with skills for collecting, analyzing, and utilizing ecological monitoring data. Organized by OFINAP and financially supported by the PONASI/UNDP Project, the training underscores the importance of synchronizing agents with contemporary challenges to ensure quality service delivery.
Thirty participants from the regions of Nando, Nazinon, and Nakambe engaged in sessions covering ecological monitoring, conservation area configuration, SMART data analysis, and the production of standardized reports. The training will conclude with practical field exercises, after which participants will be equipped with essential tools and data collection methods to enhance their field activities.
Diakouba Sirima, the coordinator of the PONASI/UNDP Project, expressed satisfaction with the participants' enthusiasm and the quality of discussions during the session, highlighting the agents' commitment to delivering quality field services.
The Integrated and Sustainable Landscape Management Project of the Po-Nazinga-Sissili Protected Area Complex (PONASI), funded by the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to safeguard wildlife habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystem services within the PONASI protected area. Through integrated landscape management, the project seeks to generate multiple benefits for sustainable development in the Nazinon region.