PAPACO is dedicated to the preservation of the biological diversity in the region, and therefore deals with protected areas which are a fundamental tool for conservation.

The main aspects of its action are the following:

•  Assessing the effectiveness of sites management: this is the core target of the APAO project which aims to measure the strengths and weaknesses of sites management and propose ways and means to improve it.

•  Supporting small scale local initiatives: with a financing of FFEM , PAPACO contributes in the implementation of small conservation projects called PPI which objective is to help local conservation associations go forwards.

•  Training protected areas managers: this is a priority of the programme; it deals with all aspects of management and is presented at the page training

•  Communication and notably the publication of a monthly newsletter

•  Supporting World Heritage sites: in partnership with the African World Heritage Fund , PAPACO grants a special attention to these exceptional sites.

•  Measuring the vulnerability of protected areas to climate change: with the World Conservation Monitoring Centre , PAPACO develops a multi-country programme for the monitoring of climate change impacts in order to better understand and anticipate modifications.

•  Financing protected areas sustainably: recurrent and transversal subject, it is the subject of a special programme financed by the German Cooperation KfW on the setting up of a foundation for Benin parks in collaboration with the Fauna Reserves National Management Centre (CENAGREF).