U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service USFWS supports the continued protection of forest elephants, gorillas and other wildlife in one of the most spectacular protected areas in the world, Dzanga-Sangha.

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a land- locked country in the heart of Central Africa. Home to more than five million people, the majority of CAR’s population represent seven main ethnic groups. More than 60% of CAR’s population lives in rural areas, where most rely on subsistence agriculture, forestry, or mining as their main source of income. Since its independence from France in 1960, CAR has been plagued by civil and political instability, low economic growth, and unequal wealth distribution.

Despite difficulties and continued conflict, CAR is making advances A female gorilla at Bai Hoku, Central African Republic. Credit: Dirck Byler/USFWS. towards protecting its rich biodiversity: In May 2013, in collaboration with the habitat. They also represent an indirect Wildlife Conservation Society, World undetected in the dense Congo Basin threat by attracting new human Wildlife Fund, and the U.S. Fish and forests are partly to blame for the settlements which lead to increased Wildlife Service (USFWS), CAR escalating pressure on Central Africa’s agricultural land conversion and entered into a bilateral agreement elephants. Lack of adequate law hunting. This also increases with Gabon to improve management of enforcment coupled with corruption the risk of disease transfer between CAR’s wildlife and biodiversity. and poverty represent even larger humans and wildlife. factors. This agreement was a response to 26 elephants being poached at the Dzanga- Commercial bushmeat trade Sangha Protected Area in southern The commercial bushmeat trade is the CAR in early May 2013. Currently, over-hunting of wildlife for their meat CAR has designated five national parks and income. The commercial bushmeat which have valuable species of concern, trade is fueled by a growing market including the forest elephant, that includes urban consumers, where antelope, western lowland gorilla, bushmeat is associated with class and central and eastern . and culture. Unsustainable bushmeat Dense forests cover approximately hunting is the single greatest threat 36% of CAR and its wildlife is facing to the majority of wildlife in CAR’s increasing threats from logging, small- forests. Unless appropriate policies are scale agriculture and unsustainable enforced, logging concessions and other bushmeat hunting. work camps will continue to contribute to this problem by providing access to Current threats to Biodiversity in previously remote forests and also to Central African Republic urban markets.

Elephant poaching Extractive industries Poaching for ivory is the biggest threat Extractive industries – including to the survival of African elephants. logging and mining for diamonds and A gorilla arm is sold for bushmeat. Credit: The quality of ivory of forest elephants gold – pose a direct threat to CAR’s Richard Ruggiero/USFWS. and the ability of poachers to remain wildlife by destroying or degrading Since 2006, USFWS has supported conservation in the Central African Republic (CAR) through 12 grants, totaling more than $867,400 which was leveraged with $1.06 million from other donors. Gorilla Habituation at Bai Hoku of forest elephants and represents the Network (APN), the In 2007, USFWS started supporting the first site where researchers have Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), one of the most successful western the ability to systematically study and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to gorilla tourism and research programs and monitor elephants on a regular strengthen the ecological integrity and in Central Africa. From 2007 to 2013, basis. Many forest clearings exist connectivity in and around TNS. USFWS awarded a total of $417,041, throughout the Congo Basin, but which was leveraged by $579,774 Dzanga-Sangha is the only clearing The Chinko Project in matching funds, to the World that attracts high densities of forest The Chinko Project, supported in Wildlife Fund to support operations elephants (between 50 and 200 2013 with $99,780 in USFWS funds, of the Primate Habituation Program individuals) each day. Consistent visits leveraged by $213,248 in matching in Dzanga-Sangha Protected Area by elephants have allowed scientists funds, is implementing an anti- (DSPA) in southern CAR. This project to gather valuable data on this elusive poaching plan as a first step to its has increased the economic value of species’ demographics, behavior, and long-term goal of ensuring sustainable DSPA by generating revenue for local population structure. The presence nature management of the Chinko communities through gorilla tourism of the permanent research camp Project area, a 17,000 square kilometer and patrol activities. The project near the clearing also reinforces wooded savanna and forest zone with also promoted research and sharing consistent protection from poachers high levels of biodiveristy located in of results with the wider scientific and illegal hunters. Furthermore, this southeastern CAR. Initial activities community. By raising awareness clearing has been a popular tourist include training, equipping, and about the species and region, the destination, generating income for the supporting at least six teams of anti- project helped to inspire local and local population and helping to raise poaching rangers, and conducting global support for gorilla conservation. awareness of this vital forest elephant participatory workshops and Though this project succeeded in habitat. Tourism has been suspended informational sessions with seasonal habituating and leading tourism with since the May 2013 elephant poaching livestock herders and local community two gorilla groups, in May 2013 the in Dzanga-Sangha. members to build their support for escalating political crisis led to a future conservation efforts. suspension of tourism until further Sanga Trinational (Dzanga-Sangha notice. Since then, a newly elected National Park) interim government is in place, which The Sangha Trinational, or Tri- is expected to bring increased security National de la Sangha (TNS), one of over time. the largest blocks of pristine tropical lowland forest in the world, is the first Dzanga-Sangha Elephant Bai three-country transboundary area to Monitoring become a World Heritage Site. TNS is USFWS has supported elephant comprised of Lobéké National Park in protection and monitoring at the Cameroon, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Dzanga-Sangha forest clearing since Park in Congo and Dzanga-Ndoki 1994. USFWS funds totalled $698,024 National Park in the Central African to the Wildlife Conservation Society Republic. USFWS has supported for this project which was leveraged the efforts of Ebola virus disease by $820,834 in matching funds. This monitoring, great ape habituation for project is the longest ongoing study ecotourism, awareness-raising among local communities, and elephant bai monitoring through the administration of 78 grants, totaling nearly $7 million, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service leveraged by an additional $7.7 International Affairs million in matching funds. In order Division of International Conservation to build on these investments, in 2013 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: IA Forest elephants gather at Dzanga- USFWS entered into a 5-year, $10 Falls Church, VA 22041 Sangha Bai in CAR. million cooperative agreement with 703-358-1754 Credit: Richard Ruggiero/USFWS. 703-358-2115/fax [email protected] http://www.fws.gov/international USFWS Support to CAR FY2006-FY2013 twitter.com/USFWSInternatl Grants Awarded 12 Facebook.com: USFWSinternationalaffairs Amount Awarded $867,468 September 2014 Amount Leveraged $1,067,329 Total $1,934,797