JUBA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said Tuesday it will leverage the recent inscription of the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List to promote tourism, strengthen wildlife conservation, and create economic opportunities for local communities.
Sarah Nyanath Elijah Yong, minister of culture, museums and national heritage, said the recognition of the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site marks a new chapter in safeguarding South Sudan's natural and cultural heritage while unlocking broader development opportunities.
Nyanath said the designation is expected to strengthen biodiversity conservation, promote scientific research, attract sustainable investment, create jobs, improve local livelihoods and advance national peacebuilding efforts.
To safeguard these gains, the minister said, "It is time for us to act now and do peaceful things." She added that every citizen has a role to play in safeguarding the country's newly recognized World Heritage Site.
Florington Aseervatham, African Parks country representative for South Sudan, welcomed the landmark inscription, saying a 2025 aerial wildlife survey showed that the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape continues to sustain around six million migratory antelopes, underscoring its outstanding global ecological significance.
Aseervatham said the UNESCO designation would further strengthen collaboration among the government, conservation partners and local communities to protect one of Africa's last remaining large-scale wildlife migrations.
The Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape, encompassing Boma and Badingilo national parks, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 26.
The inscription marks South Sudan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing the country's extraordinary biodiversity and ecological significance. ■