From Gbele to New Gbele: The Community’s Story of Relocation

The story of the Gbele Resource Reserve is intertwined with the history of a community that once lived within the protected area before being relocated to a new settlement.

The Gbele community, located in the Sisaala West District, is understood to have given its name to the reserve after residents once lived within the area.

In November 2020, residents were relocated to a new settlement known as New Gbele, located closer to Desima in the Sisaala West District.

The history provides an important human dimension to the conservation story of the Gbele Resource Reserve, which was established in 1975.

Today, the reserve stretches across parts of the Sisaala East Municipality, Sisaala West District and Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District and covers approximately 565 square kilometres.

It is surrounded by 25 fringe communities and contains diverse natural resources.

Rangers say the reserve is home to about 34 mammal species, more than 30 bird species and about 39 tree species. Animals found in the area include baboons, patas monkeys and antelopes, while the Rhon antelope is regarded as the iconic animal of Gbele.

The Kwulpun River, which flows from Burkina Faso, also runs through the reserve.

The area now includes the Tented Luxury Camp, which provides opportunities for visitors to experience the natural environment through hiking, safari and other outdoor activities.

However, conservation challenges remain, particularly persistent poaching and the absence of mobile telephone network coverage.

Tourism stakeholders believe the future of Gbele will depend on maintaining a balance between conservation, tourism development and the interests of surrounding communities.

The story of New Gbele therefore remains an important part of understanding how conservation and human settlement have evolved around one of the Upper West Region’s protected areas.

By Haruna Kuri Kaayi