CARPOCARPOA quarterly publication of WWF Central African RegionalFOCUSFOCUS Programme Office N° 007 April-June 2006 PreservingPreserving pristinepristine landscapeslandscapes inin thethe CongoCongo BasinBasin Contents Editorial

Making bold commitments for Are we winning the race to stop biodiversity loss? 4 conservation Tales from Virunga 6-8 n his opinion note to the The Elephant : Preserving one of nature’s 8th Conference of Parties remaining wonders 9-13 of Convention on IBiological Diversity (CBD) Western Lowland gorillas 14-15 which was held in Curitiba, Brazil from the 20th to the Central African Poverty Alleviation Programme*: 31st of March 2006, James P. From nightmares to real aspirations 16-17 Leape (WWF Director General) said it all: “the Wildlife sanctuary found in Nki National Park 18-19 conservation and sustainable management of forests and Rotterdam to Bayanga*: Switch to conservation the species that live in them engines 20 are critical for the survival of local, rural and indigenous communities in the developing world, many of whom are poor Journey to Virgin Land 21 and have been marginalized by poorly designed development strategies of the past. Bold commitments and ambitious part- Un nouveau Point Focal du programme CARPE nerships are the secret to achieving successful conservation”. en République Démocratique du Congo 23 In the Central African sub region which is host to the world’s second largest tropical forest area, there is need to keep the momentum moving forward ever. Bold commitments are needed to protect animal and plant species that are an essential source of food, materials and shelter for over 20 million people in the sub region. The forests are also important cultural values as they play an important role in many forest societies’ belief systems. Bold commitments will only go on to secure the extremely rich natural resources of the sub region whose timber and non- timber forest products form an important source for their eco- nomy. Maintaining the integrity of the entire Central African Forests should be a global priority for ecological services such as clean water, protection from floods and global climate stabili- Coordonateur: zation. Laurent Somé These commitments sometimes call for difficult choices to be made; for example in deciding whether a logging company Directeur de Publication: should or should not operate around a biodiversity hotspot. As Peter Ngea much as the government concerned will want to count on the Ont collaboré à ce numéro : expected taxes and also the nearby communities on the jobs and other smaller fall outs, there is such a threat to biodiver- Augustine NDIMU, Carine KANYEBA; Ken Cochrane; sity that make other gains pale and short lived. Jane MOLISA; Yolente DELAUNOY; WWF encourages partnerships in the sub region as a cushion Fidelis PEGUE MANGA; Véronique TSHIBALANGA to ensure proper conservation of forests and species for the good of the local, rural and indigenous communities. With the Conception et réalisation : commitments already made by Heads of State in the sub Peter NGEA et Fidèle Perrier O. region in favour of preserving large portions of their tropical Impression ; forests, one may say with optimism that the Central African Colorisprint - Yaoundé region is in the race to protect what’s left of the world’s forests. WWF CARPO, Rue Citronel, Immeuble Panda House, BAT Compound, Bastos Yaoundé – Cameroon, Laurent Somé B.P. : 6776. Tél +237 221 70 83 E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.panda.org

Front page photo : Loxodonta africana cylotis forest Elephants saline at Dzanga-Sangha reserve © WWF-Canon / Frederick J. WEYERHAEUSER Events CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 3 Protocol agreement : Cameroon Ministry of Forests and Wildlife and WWF

n pursuit of joint actions on the ground between WWF - Capacity building, training and research and the Cameroon Ministry of Forests and Wildlife - Amelioration of policy, legislative and institutional fra- I(MINFOF) a protocol agreement was signed in mework and the development of finance mechanism Yaoundé on April 28, 2006 by the Minister, Mr. Egbe for conservation and sustainable use of forest and Hillman and WWF CARPO Regional Representative, wildlife resources. Laurent Somé. The accord lays down a strategic frame work of collaboration on the following main issues: The ceremony was attended by the US and Dutch - Sustainable forest management and certification Ambassadors to Cameroon, the COMIFAC Executive - Management of protected areas and species conser- Secretary as well as a couple of other personalities and vation partners.

Labour Day H R at Mount Cameroon slopes

WWF CARPO staff in charge of human resources mana- gement and operations from field projects and national WWF staff in the sub region joined in the celebration of offices were brainstorming at the slopes of Mount Labour Day on May 1. On behalf of staff, Delegates in Cameroon in a bid to lay down a road map for CARPO in Yaoundé called on management to have a closer and this domain. clean look at human resources and staff capacity and An important component of the April workshop in Limbe growth. Regional Representative, Laurent Somé said was to offer participants the life time opportunity of clim- progress was being made and called for redoubled bing the 4070 M high mountain. Joined by colleagues efforts especially as CARPO was in to the Congo basin from Gland, it was difficult to say who did not finish or Keystone Initiative. start the climbing. 4 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 Opinion Editorial

Partial view of Nki National Park Photo : WWF CARPO / Peter Ngea

AreAre wewe winningwinning thethe racerace toto stopstop biodiversitybiodiversity loss?loss?

By James P. Leape*

With the natural forest loss rate at 13 million hectares a year - about 25 hectares a minute - the race is on to protect what's left of the world's forests. Opinion Editorial CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 5

f the world's governments want to ring is no easy task, but the multi- significantly reduce the current stakeholder initiative has been living Irate of biodiversity loss by 2010, up to expectations and delivering as they have signed up to do under extraordinary conservation results. the United Nation's Convention on Nearly 16 million hectares of protec- Biological Diversity, they are going to ted areas have already been crea- have to stem the tide of deforesta- ted. And, just last month Brazilian tion, and increase protection efforts President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva and sustainable uses, such as certi- signed a decree creating new pro-

fied forest management. tected areas in the Amazonian State Photo : WWF CANON / Klaus-Henning GROTH of Para. Comprising an area of 6.4 Protecting earth's lungs million hectares - twice the size of Forests are the lungs of the earth, Belgium - the designation includes regulating the earth's climate, and two new national parks and the are our storehouses of biological major expansion of a third, four diversity, hosting over two-thirds of national forests, and an environmen- known terrestrial species and nume- tal protection zone where develop- rous plants and herbs, some of which may hold the secrets to curing Forests are the lungs cancer and other diseases. It is esti- mated that some 1.6 billion people of the earth, regula- worldwide depend on forests, inclu- ting the earth's clima- ding 60 million indigenous people te, and are our store- who call them home. James P. Leape But, only about 12%, or 480 million houses of biological rainforest in Borneo - the world's hectares, of the planet's forests have diversity third largest island - through a net- been formally protected. WWF, the work of protected areas and sustai- global conservation organization, nably-managed forests. has been part of the drive to increa- ment is strictly regulated. This se protection, helping to safeguard mosaic of new protected areas The Congo Basin case large tracts of forests and pristine opens genuine prospects for halting And in Africa, WWF helped bring landscapes in the Amazon, Borneo, deforestation, conserving biodiversi- together African heads of states to the Congo Basin, Russia, Canada, ty, and promoting sustainable local sign an agreement to protect and China and beyond. WWF aims to and regional development. sustainably manage over seven per see another 75 million hectares of cent of the Congo Basin, the second the world's most outstanding forests The people angle largest area of tropical forest in the brought under protection by 2010. Hundreds of indigenous communi- world after the Amazon. These ties living in the Amazon account for forests are home to more than half of Succeeding with partners the region's rich, cultural diversity. the continent's animal species, inclu- With such a timeline just several Protecting forest areas helps these ding most of the forest elephants left years away, the only way to accom- communities protect their land and in Africa and the entire world's popu- plish these ambitious - but achie- culture from external threats and lation of lowland gorillas. They also vable - goals is through creative development, and in some areas, provide food, materials, and shelter partnerships. allows them access to the forests to to some 20 million people. The single most ambitious partner- sustainably harvest such important The conservation and sustainable ship to date is the Amazon Region commodities as Brazilian nuts. It is management of forests and the spe- Protected Areas initiative, led by the critical for local and indigenous cies that live in them are critical for Brazilian government in collabora- groups to be part of the conservation the survival of local, rural and indige- tion with the World Bank, Global process. Without them, biodiversity nous communities in the developing Environment Facility, the German would surely be lost. world, many of whom are poor and Development Bank (KfW), WWF and This large-scale conservation vision have been marginalized by poorly together with local communities. in Brazil based on good science, designed development strategies of Through this initiative, some 50 mil- strong public and private partner- the past. Bold commitments and lion hectares of the Amazon's diver- ships, and community involvement is ambitious partnerships are the se habitats and species will be pro- a recipe for success and must be secret to achieving successful tected in a system of well-manage replicated elsewhere. conservation. and well-financed parks and In fact, half way across the world, reserves - surpassing the size of the WWF is working with the govern- * James P. Leape is Director General of WWF, the entire US National Park system. ments of Brunei, Indonesia and global conservation organization, based in Switzerland. This opinion editorial was written on the Protecting the Amazon from high Malaysia to conserve 22 million hec- occasion of the 8th Conference of Parties of rates of deforestation and land clea- tares of inter-connected equatorial Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)-Brazil 6 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006

TalesTales fromfrom VirungaVirunga Photo : WWF / PEVI CARPO

The most difficult part of the evacuation was ... crossing the Senliki River

Evacuation of livestock from Karuruma sector of Virunga NP : A conservation partnership achievement

major evacuation of Cattle at all cost Free Virunga Ugandan settlers and over Vehicles were rented to transport the The northern part of Virunga NP is 4,000 cattle started on 17th families along with their belongings now largely free of illegal settlers, Aof March in the north of to the Ugandan border. The most dif- while there were 48,000 of them 5 Virunga National Park. Since the ficult part of the evacuation however, years ago. After the second civil war, second civil war these families had was crossing the Semliki River: about 10 percent of Virunga National illegally occupied the savannas near because of the high water levels Park was occupied by civilians as Karuruma, on the foot of the during this rainy season, the settlers well as the military. Since evacua- Ruwenzori Mountains. The agree- insisted that their cattle be transpor- tions started in 2002 more than half ment between the Congolese autho- ted on a pontoon bridge. The total of the occupied land has already rities and the Hima graziers for the costs of the whole operation are over been recovered. With the departure departure of the latter was establi- 15,000 $, most of this being covered of the Hima, two main areas remain shed in the beginning of March. Park by WWF and ZSL through EU fun- to be recovered: the western coast authorities (ICCN) coordinated the ding. This conservation success is of Lake Edward and the site of operation which took place in a pea- the result of two years of negotia- Kilolirwe, on the foot of the active ceful way, as witnessed by the CICR, tions by ICCN with support from Nyamuragira volcano. the Red Cross International WCS, WWF and ZSL. Committee. Tales from Virunga CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 7 Demarcation of the park's boundaries: Norbert Mushenzi: a man devoted to conservation a work of sweat and negotiation. Norbert Mushenzi is the chief officer rucial in the protection of representatives on the exact position of ICCN for the northern sector of Virunga National Park is the of the park's boundaries." Virunga National Park. He's had an Cdemarcation of its bounda- enormous ries, a joint activity of ICCN and No easy task contribution WWF that started in 2002. So far, The work of demarcation is no easy in the eva- more than 300 km of the park's limits task. Often, the team has to cross cuation of have already been demarcated with swamps, brooks or nearly impene- settlers in this part of the park. "The depar- ture of the Hima is the result of very long term lob- bying. The people have not been chased, but efforts have been done to come to an agreement with them," declared the chief officer. Unfortunately a lot of garbage has been left by the settlers. With the support of WWF, ICCN will organise cleaning operations in the area. Mr Mushenzi was also involved in the evacuation of 5,000 families from the boards, stone walls and a green belt trable forest patches, carrying heavy Mavivi area which took place in of trees in certain areas. boards and equipment to install December last year. It's now been them. reported that wildlife already starts Consulting the local people Given these often harsh field condi- coming back to this recovered area. The participation of local communi- tions, the help of the villagers in car- ties is a key factor in the success of rying this material is highly apprecia- play an important role as well. "We this operation. According to Pyther ted by the demarcation team. cannot just enter an area where a Banza, WWF agent responsible for The work of demarcation is not only military group is active without nego- demarcation, "if we would just go physically hard, but also dangerous tiating with them first. It is generally and put the boards without consul- because of the presence of armed the villagers again who help us loca- ting the population these boards bands in and around the park. To te these groups," says Pyther would simply be removed immedia- assure the security of the demarca- Banza. By 2008, WWF is hoping to tely afterwards. A demarcation action tion team, identifying the areas help demarcate 500 km of Virunga's always starts in the nearest village: where a group is active is of vital boundaries. in the field we agree with the local importance. In this process villagers Chimp terrorizes villagers near Kalikuku forest remarkable story comes from the even started getting used to. villages near the forest reserve of Unfortunately the animal has showed AKalikuku,. Due to human pressure itself quite aggressive on some occa- (more than half of the reserve has ille- sions. It's been reported that a woman gally been transformed in to agricultural was badly injured when defending her land), the surface of this forest shrunk to child against the chimp. Human-wildlife 80 km2. A solitary male chimpanzee conflicts like this are not uncommon in which found refuge in this small forest areas with increasing human populations patch, is also roaming about the neigh- and shrinking wildlife habitats as is the bouring farmlands, where some people case in the surroundings of Virunga. Photo : WWF-Canon / M. GUNTHER 8 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 Tales from Virunga Community forestry: facing new challenges

part from being called from Rwanda in 1994 the demand communities to cut their plantations Kacheche (Wagtail bird) in the for wood for the construction of the (mainly Eucalyptus) for the econo- Asurroundings of the park, refugee camps was enormous. This mic benefits. WWF's PEVi project is also closely was the moment that the population associated with the slogan Tupande realised the economic benefits of Belt the pressure miti (Let's plant trees). Since the late managing plantations outside of the The danger in this situation however eighties, the project has promoted park. Nowadays the demand for is that the plantations will miss the reforestation outside the park to sup- wood is continuously increasing, goal they were originally created for ply the population's needs of wood particularly by construction compa- if not managed properly: to supply for construction and charcoal. After nies for the production of lime and the communities demand for wood in the arrival of thousands of refugees bricks. This huge demand pushes order to decrease the pressure on the park. That's why WWF is now organizing supplementary training sessions in the surroundings of Rubare with the communities for the management of their 30 km stretch of 'green belt' plantations adjacent to the park in this new economic context. These sessions include the improving of the productivity through application of improved forestry techniques and decision making based on forest management plans.

Tales from Virunga is an extract from a newsletter : Courtesy of Yolente Delauroy and Augustin NDIMU

A WWF Forest Officer gives practical lessons in the forest

Game guards at Virunga National Park, DRC

Ebodje beach CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 9

AfricanAfrican ElephantElephant

PreservingPreserving oneone ofof nature’s nature’s remainingremaining wonders.wonders. 10 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 The Elephant The Elephant: One of nature's remaining wonders

ometimes standing on the banks elephant passes other animals and cess that results to attaching a satellite of the River Dja that separates human beings can easily pass. device around its neck. The satellite SCameroon from the Republic of Elephants can dig deep down dry river- device subsequently provides informa- Congo, one can see elephants swim- beds thus providing water for other spe- tion on the animal's movement pattern in ming across the river with their young cies," he said. Elephants' journey the forest. ones on their backs into or out of the Nki through the high grass provides food for According to Dr. Kuwong a sedative is National Park. birds by disturbing small reptiles, amphi- charged into a rifle and shot at a targeted Over the years, these gargantuan bians or insects. Their paths act as fire- elephants at a distance of approximate- beasts, reputed for moving hundreds of breaks and rainwater conduits and the ly100 metres. "There is another rifle that kilometres in a fixed pattern, swim depressions created by their footprints uses carbon dioxide canister and can be across the river and travel up north from and their bodies trap rainfall. shot 60 metres away. It is much easier Nki, Boumba Bek and then Lobeke Despite the ecological importance of the because it has binoculars," the veterina- National Parks, in Cameroon or swim elephant, it still faces the danger of rian said. Once the tagging is done, the across the Sangha in to Nouabale Ndoki extinction. It is one of the targets of poa- elephant, which is expected to be in a and Dzanga-Sangha National Park. chers, especially for its highly priced coma through out the process, is admi- The elephant is huge, gentle and moves ivory. nistered an anti-dot, naltroxine. "The ani- with a certain amount of gaiety in the Though a pretty shy animal, wildlife mal becomes very violent once it reco- forest. experts say the elephants could be vers from this state of coma and will extremely violent in the face of danger. crush anything it finds on its part," says Sustainer Of The Forest Exuding a strong sense of unity, ele- Dr. Kuwong. Many forests owe their existence to ele- phants walk together in a single file. phants. Elephants are seed dispersers They guarantee the security of each Rare animal feelings through the dung that they drop just other and could hit back lethally at their Though given to fits of violence, the ele- anywhere. Your correspondent saw assailants. phant remains wholly sympathetic in its decomposing elephant dung on a small interaction with human beings. island on the river Dja. About 30 young Crowning the king The elephant hardly ever attacks other trees were sprouting out of it. In a bid to monitor the movement of ele- animals. Once male elephants get old, According to Dr. Michael Kuwong, a phants, their feeding habits and to avoid (which can be over 60 years) according Veterinarian and Biologist working with animal/human conflicts, WWF has been to Dr. Kuwong, the younger male ele- WWF, in the Lobeke National Park, an carrying out tagging of elephants in phants chase them away. "They chase elephant is a bulldozer. "Where ever an Cameroon. To tag an elephant is a pro- them in order to take control of the group," explains Dr. Kuwong. This mammal usually attains puberty at the age of 14, they make off springs up to the age of 50, experts say. A very sensitive animal, if a baby complains, the entire family will rumble and go over to touch and caress it. Elephants grieve at a loss of a stillborn baby, a family member, and in many cases other elephants. The babies, in spite of their fragi- lity stand in defence of their WWF-CARPO / Martin TCHAMBA WWF-CARPO / Martin parents in times of danger. Hear Dr. Kuwong: "We shot an elephant for tagging at one time but its baby would not let us do it. It climbed on its mother and threatened us."

By Pegue Manga

Nursing mother elephant bows to baby’s demands The Elephant CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 11 WWF-Canon / Frederick J. WEYERHAEUSER

Sanctuary of elephants and buffalos (Dzanga-Sangha)

Elephant Tagging: High risks for big profits

By Peter Ngea

lephant tagging is an eight- tracking technology to identify the sometimes constitute a high risk year effort by the North migration routes of elephant herds both to the animal and to team ECarolina Zoo Society in several areas of Cameroon. members who are involved in the (NCZS), WWF Cameroon Country Armed with that data, WWF and exercise. High risk to the animal in Programme Office and the Cameroon wildlife officials are wor- the sense that it may suffocate to Cameroon Ministry of Forests and king to reduce conflicts between death before the operation is Wildlife designed to help preserve elephants and the villages and actually completed; to team mem- the African nation’s dwindling wild farms that lie within their ranges. bers who can loss life or limb from elephant population The process Crop losses to migrating elephants a charging elephant. Within the last of tagging elephants certainly has have resulted in economic hard- one year, two distinct accidents its pitfalls given the physical dan- ships for farmers and the killing of have occurred during tagging ope- gers involved. But so far, the dan- many elephants. Along with loss of rations in the savannah north of gers have been relatively very habitat, these conflicts are among the country and in the forest south minimal and given the high value a number of factors that have redu- respectively, that demonstrate the of information gathered from the ced Cameroon’s elephant popula- high risk involved in the exercise exercises in elephant conservation tion to less than 20,000 animals. both to man and the mammal. and the prevention of conflicts bet- ween humans and wildlife, there High risks The survivor’s tale seem to be no other alternative. Apart from the fact that the exerci- WWF Cameroon’s Technical se is very expensive, given the Manager, Dr. Martin Tchamba is Why the project? huge human and material still alive to tell the story how he The elephant tagging project, resources needed for the single cheated death in June 2005 when seeks to utilize satellite and radio operation, elephant tagging can a tagged elephant trampled on 12 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 The Elephant him. The incident occurred in nor- thern Cameroon near the Waza National Park during a joint ele- phant tagging operation by WWF and NCZS. To understand what actually happened, it is important to understand some basics of ele- phant tagging. Elephant tagging involves inevi- table risk-taking steps such as: darting a chosen elephant with a tranquilizer; following the darted elephant until the drug takes effect (sometimes having to run after the darted elephant for 2-3km); placing a satellite collar around the ele- phant’s neck; and administering an antidote drug to revive the tran- quillized animal. In this particular incident after going through all the stages of the operation successfully, the ele- phant did not respond to the anti- dote drug as expected. Fear took over from anxiety as the team led by the veteran Dr. Mike Loomis (NCZS), wondered what was happening to the elephant. Had it suffocated to death? Hearts were beating. Everyone was thin- Dr. Mike LOOMIS and Dr. Martin TCHAMBA Shake hands after successfully tagging an elephant king about what to do to get the huge mammal onto its feet as it lay Less than one year after the dart was fired shortly afterward at motionless on the ground. savannah incident, the indefati- an adult male. About 25 minutes Dr Loomis began preparing ano- gable tagging team was in the Nki later, the male elephant was found ther dose of the vaccine with the National Park in April 2006. Nki is sedated, but wedged against a belief that the previous one was one of two new national parks large tree in a position that made it not working. Some team members, created last year by Presidential impossible to use an intubation including Dr Tchamba, dared to go decree in the dense tropical forests tube normally inserted in the closer to observe if the elephant of southeastern Cameroon, part of throat. The intubation tube pro- was breathing. Just as they Africa’s biologically diverse and vides additional oxygen and ease approached, the animal suddenly environmentally threatened Congo breathing for the animals during got up and charged...directly at Dr. Basin. the collar installation procedure. Tchamba. The mission suffered a setback as Although the male initially seemed ”It smashed me on my back then three elephants died during efforts to be breathing normally, its respi- picked me up with its trunk and to outfit them with satellite tracking ratory rate began to drop near the gave a series of kicks on my hips," collars. end of the 20-minute procedure. recounts Tchamba. "I knew that I Despite the administration of a was going to die as I felt my back How it happened reversal agent, the elephant did rip open.” The first loss occurred on April 7 not respond and died from respira- Faced with this situation, a game when a juvenile female elephant tory arrest. ranger fired into the air, causing moved in front of its mother and the elephant to free its victim and was hit by a tranquilizer dart inten- Down slope position flee. It took six hours to get the ded for the older animal. The adult The third loss occurred the follo- severely-wounded Dr. Tchamba to dosage proved to be fatal for the wing day (April 8), An adult female the town of Maroua where a sur- younger elephant. elephant was darted and was geon was found. The dart in the juvenile was not found sedated by trackers about visible to the team and, assuming 15 minutes later. Unfortunately, the The elephant that never falls the first dart had missed, a second animal had come to rest with her The Elephant CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 13

technical problem” which can be encountered in any other professional milieu and which can happen to man as well as to animal. He urged WWF to continue relentlessly with its good conser- vation initiatives. One week later the WWF team led by Dr. Loomis success- fully tagged a bull Tranquilized elephant elephant in the Waza National Park.

Minimal loss, big gains Since the project began in 1998, more than 30 elephants have been anesthe- tized in four national parks around Cameroon. The three recent ele- Photo : WWF-CARPO / NSSP phant deaths mark only the fourth loss Making sure oxygen is available of an animal during head down slope from her body on the eight-year per-

a steep hill. “Due to the elephant’s iod. Another ele- Photo : WWF-CARPO / Peter NGEA tremendous weight and physiolo- phant was lost in gy, the downhill position impinged November 2005 its ability to breath. She died short- under similar circum- ly from respiratory arrest not withs- stances to the latest tanding the use of an intubation three. tube and the administration of a The gains from the reversal drug,” explained Dr. project has been Loomis who was again a key great. Information member of the mission obtained as a result of the project has Lessons learnt contributed immen- WWF CARPO Representative, sely to the resolution Securing the satellite collar on the elephant Laurent Somé, described the inci- and prevention of dent as unfortunate but said his human-elephant organisation learnt from the expe- conflicts. Also the rience. “This incident only gives us data has also been the opportunity to perfect our skills used by local and develop a much more cautious (Ministry of Wildlife approach in our relentless and Forests) ser- attempts to protect this mammal of vices in planning global importance,” said the WWF anti-poaching opera- boss. tions to combat ille- The Cameroon Minister of Forests gal killing of ele- and Wildlife, Mr. Egbe Hillman des- phants. cribed the incident as “a normal

Reawakening the elephant 14 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 Gorillas

Gorilla gorilla gorilla

Western Lowland gorillas Photo : WWF-CANON / Martin HARVEY Gorillas CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 15

Distribution the group because Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla they are rejected by gorilla gorilla ) inhabit the forests of the dominant male central Africa. They distinguish through threats and themselves from the better known displays,. Most of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei those young males beringei) by having a shorter, brown will lead a solitary fur, almost red on the head, a slight- life until they suc- ly smaller size, and mainly by their ceed in attracting distribution. Mountain gorillas are females from other only found at the border between the groups. Females Democratic Republic of Congo have their first (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda, in the infants at about 9 to Virunga Volcano region, where there 10 years, after a are presently around700 individuals gestation of 8.5 left. The neigbouring population of months. For three eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla years, the infant beringei graueri), in the DRC has relies upon the suffered severe losses during the mother for food and many years of civil war in the region. transport. With a Their numbers are currently unk- three to four years Photo : WWF-CANON / Martin HARVEY nown. On the other hand, the popu- long inter-birth lation of western gorillas is estimated interval, this spe- between 30.000 and 50.000 indivi- cies has a very duals. The western gorillas are distri- slow potential for buted in the forests of Cameroon, population recove- Central African Republic, Republic of ry. This implies that the Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, when the popula- Equatorial Guinea and, with very tion of an area has small population, in Angola (in the been decimated, a Kabinda enclave). The Cross-River long time will be gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) inhabit needed to recover Gorilla gorilla gorilla the mountainous forests at the the losses. Cameroon-Nigeria border. With an estimated population of only 250 In the forest, gorillas exploit a high source than previously suspected. In individuals, it is the most threatened variety of food types. They particu- fact, at Bai Hokou, (Dzanga Sangha gorilla sub-species. larly prefer ripe, fleshy fruits, for the National Park, CAR) gorillas have search of which they will travel been observed feeding on termites Biology considerable distances. Several on a daily basis for several years. Due to the difficulty of both obser- species of herbaceous vegetation ving these animals in the lowland are important to their daily diet. In The intricate relationship bet- forests and habituating them to the dry season, and in general when ween the forest and its animals. human presence, knowledge on ripe fruits are rarer, their consump- Gorillas, like chimpanzees western lowland gorillas is still limi- tion of pith and shoots from herba- and elephants, play a fundamental ted. In general, western lowland ceous vegetation increase, together role in the seed dispersal of several gorillas live in groups of seven to with the bark from several tree spe- plants species whose fruit they nine individuals, including one silver- cies. Throughout the year, they also consume. In those forests where back male, a few females, and their feed on young leaves from trees and poaching has drastically reduced the offspring. They travel an average of shrubs. It is common to observe animal populations, several large 2km per day and cover an average gorillas feeding high in a tree in order fruit trees, which depend on gorillas of 10 to 20 km² per year, according to access directly the leaves or fruits. for their dispersal and germination, to the size of the group. Gorillas are Despite their heavy weight (which have become very rare. Once more, not territorial: several groups can might near 200 kilos), adult males this shows the intricate relationship use the same area at the same time can climb as high as 25 to 30 between the forest and its animals; or, more frequently, at different meters, although females and not only do animals need the forest times. youngsters are more often observed to survive, but the forest also needs Males reach their sexual maturity on trees. all of its animals to develop its com- between 10 and 12 years, at which plex diversity. point their back has turned silver. At Finally, insect consumption, notably the onset of sexual maturity, males termite (Cubitermes sp) may repre- Extract from "Gorilla tracking at Bai Hokou, are found more at the periphery of sent a much more important food Central African Republic". 16 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 Feature Photo : Courtesy ; Sacha de Boer

CentralCentral AfricanAfrican PovertyPoverty AlleviationAlleviation ProgramProgram FromFrom nightmaresnightmares toto realreal aspirationsaspirations

ome 65km south of Kribi and about the creation of the Park and conservation think tanks to come up off the major road nestles a were instantly asked to move out. with a programme that seeks to SBagyeli pygmy community Sandwitched check poverty and improve liveli- called Nyamabande. This little villa- These Bagyeli people could go no hoods in the Central African sub ge made up of about eight small further than just after the park limits. region. huts is virtually sandwiched bet- No sooner had they been shown the Code named the Central African ween a rubber plantation park boundaries did they see a Forests and Poverty Alleviation (Hevecam) and the Campo Ma'an huge rubber plantation, less than Programme (CAFPAP), National Park in the south Province five kilometers away. Caught bet- Nyamabande presented itself as a of Cameroon. ween the plantation and the Park, veritable test ground. The program- the stunned pygmies camped on me implementation here has turned Exodus the spot. Since then that has been a village of nightmare into a haven With a population of about 36 (men, home and for people whose entire of aspirations. Apart from teaching women and children put together), livelihood depends on the forest life the people how to use their surroun- this village was created recently in was bound to be tough in their ding to generate income, the pro- 2000. Just a few kilometers away sandwiched position. gramme offered on-the-ground trai- and in the heart of what became the For Conservation organizations that ning on the wise use of forest Campo Ma'an National Park, sages put people first in any attempts to resources in order to improve liveli- of Nyamabande attest, was the protect the environment, the hoods. place they called home. Nyamabande case comes as a Why did they move? One afternoon, major challenge. How do we ensure Access rights these forest people were forced by that these people, in their present Following the recently developed some strangers (who introduced position are not deprived of their management plan of the Park, the themselves as Forest Guards) that main source of living - the forest? Bagyeli pygmies have been granted it was forbidden to stay where they Seeking solutions access into the depths of the park were. They were then informed It is situations like this that pushed especially during particular seasons Feature CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 17 Photo : WWF CARPO ; Peter NGEA

mme*:mme*:

The people’s can attract tourists with their work of arts which include basket wearing

to permit them gather wild yams incomes especially when bush lage and the purchase of basic (their staple food) and other forest mango seeds are out of season. necessities. Only as recent as products such as fruits and spices. March 2006 there was celebration Armed with sufficient knowledge, Age of enlightenment in Nyamabande as the people wel- the forest people of Nyamabande There are other potentials which if come their first ever radio set, can now make some money in well harnessed will give more fund bought with money from the sales of grand style. Take the case of 'bush raising opportunities to the Bagyeli some forest products. mango' seeds (irvingia at Nyamabande. Apart from their Gabonensis). Traders of bush peculiar and rich culture the people Milestone mango seeds now come to the villa- themselves can attract tourists with The Nyamabande village like many ge from the big cities of Douala and their works of arts which include other Bagyeli communities where Kribi to buy from an organized basket weaving. CAFPAP has been implemented people who have improved on their With life changing positively, the vil- stands out as a milestone to the techniques of not only gathering but lagers do not play host to poachers concept that empowering and gran- also the preservation, measuring or bush meat merchants who in the ting access to local communities to and sale of their products. Bush past would deceive them with as litt- natural resources is a workable mango seeds sell at about $ 4 per le as just $2 for them to hunt down poverty alleviation strategy for esta- kilogram. an elephant. CAFPAP has ushered blishing a healthy social environ- Thanks to the programme the in an age of enlightenment and the ment for improved livelihood and Nyamabande people do not only Bagyeli people are no longer igno- also nature conservation. rely on gathering from the forest as rant of the importance of conserva- had been in the past. They have tion. With field reports from Jane Molisa learned and gained farming expe- Civilization is taking root in the villa- rience with the result that farm pro- ge. Joint efforts have seen a com- duce is now supplementing their munity shop open its door in the vil- 18 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 WildlifeWildlife sanctuarysanctuary foundfound inin NkiNki NationalNational ParkPark

When a freelance jour- nalist visited the Nki National Park in the Southeast of Cameroon in the early 1990s she was so dazzled by what she saw and described the place as “the last true wilderness”. In her description, Jemini said: “Nki is a special environment with much of it still unexplored while new discoveries are still being made”. She was right.

s recently as early April, 2006 a WWF team was combing the Aforest in the Northwest part of the park in search of elephant groups when they came across what now seems to be the largest forest clearing or bai in the sub region. To experts in fields put together. There in the cool of Boumba Bek, Nki forest remains quite the team, like Dr. Mike Loomis from the stream (and sometimes mud) that intact and away from aggressive chain the North Carolina Zoo, USA, who are runs across the flat and grass-covered saws of logging companies. Its protec- widely traveled in the forests of the terrain, you see herds of buffalo and tion from logging has been imposed by central Africa region, this clearing cal- elephants (and sometimes bongos nature rather than anything else. Nki led Ikwa, was special. and sitatungas). This is enough to forest is hilly and devoid of human “When I first saw Ikwa Bai with 21 ele- keep you spell bound for a few habitation. It would require a lot of phants and 16 buffalos in it at the minutes. This is how it felt for the WWF investment to develop necessary infra- same time, it instantly brought Dzanga team of about 25 that included a structure such as roads for logging Sangha Bai to mind. Ikwa Bai is couple of Bakas who were instrumen- operations especially in the southern somewhat larger than Dzanga Sangha tal in guiding the team’s exploration to portion of Nki. The forest area provides bai,” confirms Loomis. that part of the forest. a unique opportunity to view nature in Why has this wildlife sanctuary eluded its true and primitive form. The wide Imagine trekking for two days in the many in the past? range of species in the area still goes depth of a pristine forest with only through the basic rudimentary evolu- occasional sun rays that sometimes Untouched forest and wildlife tionary processes not influenced by defy the dense canopy to penetrate A trip to Nki on river Dja definitely man’s alteration of habitats to meet and slightly mock the darkness that is offers an opportunity to observe one of eccentric needs. characteristic of these evergreen the most remote and relatively untou- forests. Then ahead of you there is a ched parts of the Congo basin forest. Studies carried out by various resear- sudden opening – like three football Unlike Lobeke and to some extent chers clearly indicate the high biologi- CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 19

Ikwa bai: Eye-witness account

hen I first saw Ikwa Bai with 21 ele- phants and 16 buffalos in it at the same Wtime, it instantly brought Dzanga Sangha Bai to mind. Ikwa Bai is somewhat larger than Dzanga Sangha bai, It has a stream with a hard bed of sand and rocks running through the center of it. The bai is fairly moist and difficult to walk in except in the river. There is a large mineral pit in the bai adjacent to the river. We watched several elephants dig and eat the soil from the pit. The elephants seem to be very drawn to the bai. Even after several darts were fired at the elephants, they kept returning to the bai. It appears that there has not been much human activity in the area. The buffalos pretty much ignored us until we approached very close to them. We were also able to closely approach a small group of ele- phants in the bai. We heard chimpanzees around the bai several times a day. There was an old (several days) chimp nest in our camp. Gorillas are also in the area. One gorilla approached very close to our camp before he was chased away by the Baka. In addition to the already mentioned animals, there are a number of monkey and dui- ker species in the area. We saw bongo tracks. Although I did not see sitatunga tracks, I would assume that they are in the area also.

I think the bai has tremendous potential for eco- tourism. There is a small hill overlooking the bai that would be a great spot for a mirador (watchto- wer)! Partial view of elephants and buffalos Ikwa bai (Photos Courtesy Dr. Mike LOOMIS) Dr. Mike Loomis cal diversity in the area. For example, the Boumba Bek and Nki forest block that covers more than 600,000ha har- bours an elephant density of about 2.5km-2 giving an estimated popula- tion of more than five thousand ele- phants. Other important species of conservation significance include gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla), chimpan- zee, (Pan t. troglodytes), Buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus), bongo (Tragelaphus euryceros) and host of other forest antelopes. Various diurnal primate species notably the highly threatened crested monkey (Cercocebus galeritus), De Brazza monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) and the black colobus (Colobus sata- nas) whose eastern limit is said to be the Dja river is found in Nki forest.

By Peter Ngea 20 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 People Rotterdam to Bayanga*: Switch to conservation engines

ans Dullemont from Rotterdam something is broken, but (Holland) was busy working 60-70 with routine maintenance Hhours a week as a service mecha- problems can be identi- nic for Mercedes Benz when he decided fied early. "By fixing the it was time for a change. Quitting his job smaller things it helps to with 17 years of mechanic work under keep costs down" says his belt, he made himself available as a Hans. He also wants to volunteer. Now, at 33 years old, Hans make improvements to has found a niche with international the vehicle workshop so conservation organizations that often that mechanics have expend large portions of their budgets on access to the things they vehicles and all the maintenance that need, like proper tools goes along with keeping those vehicles and spare parts. It is not running often under very difficult condi- possible to provide exten- tions. According to David Greer (WWF- sive training in such a Central African Republic) cars, and the short period of time, but mobility they provide, are "integral to Hans does show project conservation activities" such as reacting mechanics some of his to tips on poaching activities at any time techniques for fixing diffe- Photo : Courtesy Ken cochrane of day or night. David heard about Hans rent problems and helps through colleagues in the Wildlife them to identify their own Conservation Society (WCS) and belie- limits. Not everything can ved that Hans could help the Dzanga- be fixed in the field and it Sangha Project improve their garage is important to keep a facility with the hope of keeping cars on realistic view. Of primary the road for longer and reducing costs. importance is safety so Hans works with the staff Hans Dullemont in action at the WWF garage in Bayanga Fixing the smaller things mechanics on specifics conservation projects. He gets to see a Hans is now here in Bayanga voluntee- such as servicing brake systems, stee- lot of things that other tourists might not ring with the project for three months ring and such. see, here in Bayanga that may include thanks to funding provided by habituated western lowland gorillas, Krombacher. The focus of Hans' work Mobile Mechanic forest elephants and bongos. here is to help project staff organize a Even as a volunteer Hans works very According to Hans, one of the benefits of vehicle maintenance schedule. hard, but he really enjoys seeing new volunteering in Africa is; "It is another Normally repairs don't take place until parts of the world and working with environment, slower pace, this is Africa. Sometimes you can't fix a car because you just don't have the parts. It is impor- tant to get over it and move on to the next problem." Volunteering internatio- nally is Hans' choice. When asked what he will do next Hans simply replies "My first 17 years were planned completely, now I don't plan anymore. I just see 2 months and that is it. I'm not looking at a house or big bank account. I want a pro- per torch and proper mosquito net." When asked about his girlfriend who is starting her PhD in Zimbabwe he responds "When the time is right it will come together." That might be a while as he will be traveling to Guatemala in

Photo : Courtesy Ken cochrane June to assist with a WCS project wor- king with Jaguars.

By Ken Cochrane

* Bayanga is a small town West of CAR, perched along the banks of the Sangha River where WWF Showing Project mechanic some techniques works with partners on the Dzanga-Sangha Project People CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 21

Journey to Virgin Land

he setting was Ndongo, a small on the trees. Then we saw a Nile cro- exoticism to the landscape. village in Mouloundou codile. But within seconds it disappea- TSubdivision at the banks of the red into the belly of the river. An Eerie Night Dja River overlooking the Republic of The monkeys leapt freely in the trees, Despite the caprice of the weather, we Congo. Like three other members of oblivious of the revving sound made could still savour the splendour of the the team who had come all the way by the engine of the canoe. night. The trees, from a distance, see- from the Netherlands, I was in that part As the rapids impeded the canoe, we med to kiss the unpredictable sky. The of the Congo basin forests for the first saw a huge track that ate into the insects kept buzzing. One could hear time. forest. "That passage you see there the trumpeting of elephants far, far was left by an elephant," Dr. Leonard away. We felt the languor of the gentle It was early morning, we set sail for the Usongo, Jengi Project Manager said. river, with its silver surface. Nki National Park, on board a motor- Enthralled by the striking beauty of the Nevertheless, by midnight everybody driven canoe. The boatman, forest and the numerous birds and ani- was in his or her tents, some already Motoumawe Bonaventure, coursed mals we were delighted to see, we snoring. through the slow flowing River Dja, could barely realise that we had alrea- Dawn came but the weather remained causing the canoe to swing right and dy spent over four hours in the river. inclement. A visit to a nearby Bai then left. Desiré Dontego, Forest (forest clearing) revealed fresh foot- Assistant in Nki, was a superb cook After searching for a place to camp prints of elephants. These giants of the and served coffee in the canoe. along the banks of the river, we finally forest had once again eluded their As we sailed through the Dja River on bivouacked at a small island half the curious friends. the borders with Congo Brazzaville, size of a football field. We dropped off we began viewing the picturesque our packs on the lonely island before Sweet retreat beauty of the Nki Park, the untouched heading for the Nki falls which was one We boarded our dug-out canoe in a forest was radiating with wildlife. We hour boat drive upstream. Here, the hurry as the weather suddenly blacke- saw different species of birds chirping finery falls of the river gave a tinge of ned that early morning. It was as if the 22 CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 People

pristine forest of Nki was vexed with human pre- sence because just as the canoe nosed south for our return to Ndongo, the wea- ther immediately brightened. The journey back lasted four hours. Only four hours. But our admiration for the Nki Park heightened as we sailed away. It was like a visit to dream land, which might disappear as soon as conservation groups like WWF down their efforts to maintain its vir- ginity.

Pegue Manga, The finery falls of the Nki river Journalist (The Post)

U.S Ambassador lauds WWF Tree for Life Project The interest of the US government in Niels Marquardt have made it to the matters of environment is glaring forests of Campo Ma’an, the Dja when one looks at the agenda of that Reserve and defied temperatures of country’s ambassador to Cameroon. over 40 °C to visit the North of

Signing visitors book Cameroon, all in under five months. In the North, the ambassador paid tribute to tree planting efforts carried out by WWF and its partners in the area and was generally impressed with WWF’s conservation program- me that carters for Waza, Benoue, Bouba Ndjida and Faro National Parks. Mr. Marquardt did not hesita-

Photo : WWF-CARPO / NSSP te to align with the panda logo and appended his signature to the Golden Book of the WWF Northern Savannah Project Office. Ambassador clad in traditional “gandoura” discuss desertification with WWF staff and partners in Garoua Portrait CARPO FOCUS N° 007 April-June 2006 23 Un nouveau Point Focal du programme CARPE en République Démocratique du Congo.

e Bureau National du Programme nales et régionales dans le domaine de Régional de l'Afrique Centrale pour la gestion des ressources naturelles afin Ll'Environnement en République d'appuyer le développement écono- Démocratique Du Congo (CARPE-RDC) mique durable et la lutte contre la pau- vient d'être renouvelé avec pour Point vreté au bénéfice des populations de la Focal Madame Véronique TSHIMBA- région et de la communauté mondiale. LANGA. Les autres membres de l'équi- pe sont l'Assistante de Programme, Pourquoi tant d'efforts pour maintenir Véronique TSHIMBALANFA Madame Laure Marie KAWANDA, le l'intégrité des forêts du Bassin du Congo Chargé du Centre d'Informations, ? Des récentes études ont révélé le rôle Mademoiselle Carine KANYEBA, le essentiel des forêts tropicales dans la Chauffeur, Monsieur Lady KANDOLO. régulation des cycles climatiques et sou- ligné le fait que les changements clima- Œuvrant sous administration du Fond tiques mondiaux pouvaient avoir des Mondial pour la Nature (WWF-RDC) et répercussions importantes sur la distri- en étroite collaboration avec les parte- bution de l'habitat et des espèces dans naires du CARPE et du Partenariat pour la région. les Forêts du Bassin du Congo (CBFP) que sont les ONGS L'action du CARPE se focalise ainsi sur Internationales et locales, les gouverne- 11 paysages ou Landscapes choisis ments, le Point Focal travaillera en colla- pour leur biodiversité exceptionnelle, boration avec le Facilitateur Régional leur concentration d'espèces endé- afin d'apporter l'appui logistique et tech- miques, la présence de populations Laure-Marie KAWANDA nique nécessaires à la réalisation et au intactes de grands mammifères tels que suivi des activités du CARPE/CBFP. Le les Gorilles et les éléphants. Cinq de ces point Focal CARPE travaillera égale- paysages se trouvent en République ment en étroite collaboration avec les Démocratique du Congo. Il s'agit des partenaires du CBFP afin d'atteindre les Paysages des forêts marécageuses des résultats des programmes et de faire des lacs Télé et Tumba, de Salonga- progrès dans la réalisation des indica- Lukenie-Sankuru, de Maringa-Lopori- teurs de performance tels que définis Wamba, de Maiko-Lutunguru Tayna- dans les plans stratégiques, dans les Kahuzi-Biega (Forestier), d'Ituri-Epulu- plans annuels et dans le plan de suivi Aru. des performances. Dans cette seconde phase de Carpe, le Le Programme Régional de l'Afrique siège principal se déplace de Central pour l'Environnement est une ini- Washington pour tiative entièrement financée par le gou- s'installer à Kinshasa, RDC, pays qui Carine KANYEBA vernement américain. Avec le lancement détient près de 55% des forêts du du partenariat pour les Forêts du Congo Bassin du Congo . (CBFP) en septembre 2002, CARPE/USAID va concentrer son Pour en savoir plus consulter notre site action dans six pays du bassin du Congo Web : http://carpe.umd.edu : le Cameroun, la République Centre Africaine, le Gabon, la Guinée Le bureau national Carpe est situé: 14, Equatoriale, la République du Congo, la avenue Sergent Moke, concession République Démocratique du Congo. Safricas, Kinshasa/Ngaliema. Le bureau dispose d'un centre d'Informations, CARPE /CBFP a pour objectif straté- ouvert aux heures de bureau. gique la réduction du taux de déforesta- tion et de perte de biodiversité en aug- Tél: 0998913773 mentant les capacités locales, natio- Lady KANDOLO for a living planet R