Once Upon a Game Reserve: Sambisa and the Tragedy of a Forested Landscape

Abstract

This article focuses on the loss of the Sambisa Forest as a game reserve. It is essentially a study of the transformation of a forested landscape from a tourist haven to a den of terrorists. The transformation of the erstwhile game reserve was largely possible due to state absence that gave room for an invasion by violent elements who converted it to a deadly enclave. Efforts to stamp out the rebels have further resulted in ruin to the landscape. The paper concludes that the conversion of the forest to military training camps signals the tragic end of the game reserve.