A vast transboundary UNESCO World Heritage complex of Sudano-Sahelian protected landscapes shared by Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Complexe W-Arly-Pendjari
The Complexe W-Arly-Pendjari, widely known as the WAP Complex, is a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site that links together some of the most important protected natural areas of West Africa's Sudano-Sahelian zone. Spanning Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, it unites the W National Park, the Pendjari National Park, and the Arly National Park into a single conservation landscape at the heart of the region.
The broader complex encompasses roughly 1.5 million hectares of connected savanna, woodland, river valley, and rocky escarpment habitats. Its ecological value was first recognized by UNESCO in 1996 and was significantly extended in 2017, while in October 2020 the surrounding areas were jointly designated as a transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that covers more than 94,000 square kilometers and is home to around four million people.
The WAP region is best known for its populations of large mammals, especially elephants and lions, which have long made the area one of the most important strongholds for savanna wildlife in West Africa. At the same time, the complex has become a focal point for regional conservation efforts because transboundary management is essential to maintaining viable populations across the interconnected protected zones.