Journal Journal of Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe No. 51, December 2015

The Conservation Sarambwe Gorilla Folk African Tropical of Itombwe Nature Reserve: Current Filmmaking Forests under Reserve Developments Stress and Threats BERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE

Authors of this Issue Andrew Robbins is research assis- CONTENTS tant for agent-based modelling and de- D. R. 3 Adam Pérou Hermans Amir is a mographic/life history analysis at the The Conservation of Itombwe Nature filmmaker at At Films and a PhD can- Planck Institute for Evolutionary Reserve: Actions and Challenges 3 didate in Environmental Studies at the Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. The Sarambwe Reserve: Current University of Colorado. His dissertation Dr. Martha Robbins, a research as- Developments and Threats 9 concerns the Cross River gorilla folk sociate at the Max Planck Institute for Mountain Gorilla Females Avoid filmmaking. Evolutionary Anthropology, has been Inbreeding 12 Noal Zainab Amir is an M.A. stu- studying the behavioural ecology of go- Uganda 13 dent at the Institute for Gender, Race, rillas since 1990. Since 1998, she has Feeding Competition in Female Sexuality and Social Justice at the Uni- been studying the socioecology and re- Bwindi Mountain 13 versity of British Columbia. She co- productive strategies of mountain go- Cross River 15 runs At Films and produced the gorilla rillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Improving Law Enforce­ment: Going film series. Park. the “SMART” Way in Nigeria and Emmanuel Sampson Bassey has Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho hails Cameroon 15 worked for WCS as the Afi Cybertrack- from Ngoketunjia Division, Northwest Gorilla Folk Filmmaking in the er Project Coordinator since 2011. His Cameroon. He holds a BSc. in Jour- Cross River Headwaters 16 main interests are football and nature nalism and Mass Communication from Rain Forest 20 conservation. the University of Buea. He is the Media/ African Tropical Forests Are under Onesiphore Bitomwa works for the Publication Officer for the Camerooni- Stress 20 Institut Congolais pour la Conservation an conservation non-profit organiza- Reading 22 de la Nature (ICCN), Réserve Naturelle tion, the Environment and Rural Devel- New on the Internet 22 d’Itombwe, Mwenga, D. R. Congo. opment Foundation (ERuDeF), where Berggorilla & Regenwald Prof. Dr. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti is he has been advocating for primate Direkthilfe 23 Associate Professor in Ecology and Bi- conservation and environmental pro- Great Photo Exhibition odiversity at the Tomsk State University tection for the past 3 years. in Vienna 23 (TSU), Russia. Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo work­ Deo Kujirakwinja manages WCS’s ed for the IUCN from 2000 to 2005 Albertine Rift work in eastern Congo and was the chief conservator of the and is one of Congo’s leading ornithol- Parc National des Virunga, central sec- Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 ogists. tor from 2006 to 2007. Since 2008 he Editor: Dr. Angela Meder Guillain Mitamba works for WCS is our assistant, since 2010 General Di- Augustenstr. 122, 70197 Stuttgart, (Wildlife Conservation Society), D. R. rector of the Institut Superieur de Con- Germany Congo Program, Bukavu. servation de la Nature, Environnement Fax +49-711-6159919 Leonard Mubalama is the coordi- et Tourisme (ISCNET) in Rumangabo E-mail [email protected] nator of the WWF/Itombwe Conserva- and in 2011 he became the PACEBCo Translation and Proofreading: Ann tion Project. expert for conservation and biodiver- DeVoy, Bettina and Andrew Grieser Dr. Andrew Plumptre is the Direc- sity in the Virunga region (COMIFAC). Johns, Colin Groves tor of the Albertine Rift Programme of Alain Twendilonge works for WCS Cover: Trackers and ranger in the Sa- WCS. He has been working in this re- (Wildlife Conservation Society), D. R. rambwe Reserve. Photo: Aimé Bara- gion for more than 20 years support- Congo Program, Bukavu. ruha ing conservation research and man- Jean de Dieu Wasso works for Af- agement. ricapacity/Rainforest Foundation Nor- Organization Address: way, Bukavu. Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe Dr. Edward Wright is a postdoc- c/o Rolf Brunner Bank Account: toral researcher at the Max Planck In- Lerchenstr. 5 IBAN DE06 3625 0000 0353 3443 15 stitute for Evolutionary Anthropology in 45473 Muelheim, Germany BIC SPMHDE3E Leipzig, Germany (MPI). His current E-mail [email protected] Switzerland: research focuses on the correlates of Website: IBAN CH90 0900 0000 4046 1685 7 body size in male and female moun- http://www.berggorilla.org BIC POFICHBEXXX tain gorillas.

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The Conservation of clude hunting using traditional means cluding transition and bamboo forest. or firearms, small-scale and industrial Itombwe’s vegetation is very varied, Itombwe Nature Reserve: mining, lighting of bush fires to facili- ranging from low altitude to the highest Actions and Challenges tate grazing by domestic animals, hu- summits (Doumenge & Schilter 1997; man settlements and the weak govern- Mubalama et al. 2008). Itombwe Nature Reserve (INR) is a key ance of natural resources (Plumptre et The current attempt to demarcate site for biodiversity in Africa in general al. 2010, 2013; Weinberg et al. 2013). the reserve boundaries is the result and the region of the Albertine Rift in In order to find solutions for the chal- of field work conducted within a joint particular (Doumenge & Schilter 1997; lenges facing conservation of the mas- framework developed through a par- Hart et al. 1999; Plumptre et al. 2007; sif, conservation stakeholders involved ticipatory process that has focused on Greenbaum & Chifundera 2012). The in the INR have put into place an in- the identification and the validation of reserve is part of the exceptional high- tegrated intervention plan which cov- current maps (Mubalama et al. 2013; altitude forests extending from 1,500 m ers a range of activities from consulta- Plumptre et al. 2013). The current re- to over 3,000 m altitude (Mubalama et tions with the local population to activi- serve boundaries give the reserve a al. 2008). According to different biologi- ties to protect the reserve’s biodiversity surface area of 5,732 km², with a perim- cal expeditions into the massif, the site (Mubalama et al. 2013). This paper eter of 568 km (Mubalama et al. 2013). remains important for biodiversity both will present the planning process, the It extends into the territories of Mwen- due to the number of endemic species different threats to biodiversity in the ga, Uvira and Shabunda. (endemism) and for the number of spe- Itombwe Nature Reserve, the conser- Currently, the reserve is managed cies in general (species richness), es- vation efforts made by various stake- by the Congolese Institute for Nature pecially due to recent re-discoveries of holders and the challenges that need Conservation (ICCN). Conservation certain amphibian species (Plumptre to be overcome. activities here are supported by Wild- et al. 2010; Greenbaum & Chifundera life Conservation Society (WCS), the 2012). However, in spite of its biologi- Location of the Itombwe Nature Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) cal richness and habitat diversity, the Reserve and Africapacity/Rainforest Foundation biodiversity of the massif is threatened The INR is situated in the east of the Norway (Plumptre et al. 2010, 2013; by various human activities. These in- Democratic Republic of the Congo Mubalama et al. 2013). (DRC) in South Kivu Province, west of Lake Tanganyika. It extends between Participatory Process for the Vali­ 2° 51.286’ and 4° 0.690’ south, and dation of the Reserve Boundaries between 28° 09.889’ and 28° 58.511’ The process of creating protected areas east. The Itombwe Mountains are part in the DRC has paralleled the evolution of the Mitumba Range in the east of the of conservation in the rest of the world DRC in the Albertine Rift. The Mitumba (Hockings et al. 2000; Palomo et al. Range borders the western branch 2014). Protected areas were originally of the Great Rift Valley, with several created by governments with little or large lakes covering the valley floor no consultation of local communities or (Doumenge & Schilter 1997). other stakeholders (Stevens & Stevens The range is part of what is known s. d.; Wells & McShane 2004). This top- as the Itombwe Massif and it is cov- down approach can be seen as being ered by a vast mountain forest. In fact, the root cause for the weak support by it is part of a mountain range that ex- stakeholders at different levels (Ki­de­ tends along the entire eastern border ghesho 2002; Fisher et al. 2012). of the DRC, from Katanga to North Kivu In the case of Itombwe, the reserve (Doumenge & Schilter 1997; Mubala- was created by ministerial decree no. ma et al. 2008). The Itombwe Mas- 038/CAB/MIN/ECN-EF/2006 of 11 Oc- sif has the largest high-altitude forest tober 2006. This decree did not include in the whole of Africa. Of the massif’s an identification of boundaries and had 15,000 km2, over 7,500 km² are cov- little community buy-in (Plumptre et al. ered by forest. Almost all of this (over 2009, 2013; Greenbaum & Chifundera Map of the Itombwe Massif 6,700 km²) is high-altitude forest, in- 2012; Mubalama et al. 2013). This was

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at the bottom of a certain resistance by At the conclusion of this meeting, designing, coordinating and ensuring local communities and other groups to the different stakeholders pledged to the implementation of activities (Dam­ the implementation of conservation ac- support the process of demarcation of man & Hofsvang 2012; Mubalama et tivities (de Failly & Bandu 2010). the Itombwe Nature Reserve. A joint al. 2013). In order to ensure that the In order to minimise conflicts be- framework for the coordination of ac- various stakeholders remain involved in tween different actors and to ensure tivities was identified to ensure the in- the process, the joint team produced a ownership of different stakeholders of volvement of the various stakehold- plan of activities to be carried out before the process of boundary demarcation, ers as below (Kujirakwinja et al. 2010; the boundary validation. This plan has the ICCN and its partners, in collabora- Damman & Hofsvang 2012; Mubalama been presented to and been modified tion with Africapacity/Rainforest Foun- et al. 2013): by local interest groups. Planning dation Norway and the South Kivu civil meetings were held in different places society, developed a joint intervention – ICCN, being the state authority and adjustments were made. This ap­ approach with the aim to coordinate the charged with the conservation of the proach resulted in the involvement of different activities to be implemented reserve, the different stakeholders and in the and to ensure the involvement of the – the international conservation re-establishment of trust between stakeholders at different levels (Plump- NGOs: WCS and WWF, participants (Damman & Hofsvang tre et al. 2009, 2013; Mubalama et al. – a national NGO with the support 2012). 2013). of an international institution con- The preliminary steps taken pri- cerned with the rights of indigenous Development of a Reference Map for or to 2006 (Prigogine 1977; Doume- peoples, Rainforest (Africapacity), the Validation of Reserve Boundaries nge & Schilter 1997; Hart et al. 1999; – civil society organisations represent- Based on biological and socio-eco­ Keyo & Yma 2000) included biological ing the various social groups. nomic data collected in the field, a surveys, socio-economic studies, and baseline map was developed to initiate meetings with local communities and A Joint Framework Is Established for the discussions (Damman & Hofsvang tribal chiefs. Additional measures initi- the Itombwe Nature Reserve 2012; Mubalama et al. 2013; Plumptre ated to ensure participation are sum- A joint framework (as presented et al. 2013). As the community has marized below (for details, please refer above) was established with the role of opted for a biosphere reserve, where to the paper by Mubalama et al. 2013 on the joint framework):

Meeting of Stakeholders Interested in the Conservation of the Itombwe Massif The process of creating protected areas in the DRC has been adapted and modified by Law no. 011/2002 of 29 August 2002 (Article 15 contains the DRC 2002 Forestry Code), and Decree no. 08/08 of 8 April 2008. In Article 8, Line 1, this Decree outlines the pro­ cedure for forest categorization and re-categorization including the recom­ ­ mendation that consultations are held before the forest is categor­ized. In order to pre-empt any mis­understandings accompanying the signature of the decree, a harmonisation meeting was held with different groups and civil­ society organisations (de Failly & Ban­ du 2010; Kujirakwinja et al. 2010; Mu­ Map of the INR, representing Scenario 5 with some sections of the ba­lama et al. 2013). boundary

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biodiversity should be conserved at shop that the Natural Resources Net- problems in the field, regular meetings the same time as the livelihoods of work (RRN) organised in collaboration are held with the different socio-political the local communities are improved, with DGPA in Kinshasa on 25 March groups including the traditional chiefs, a map showing different zones has 2015 (on the fringe of the Internation- permitting transparency (Kujirakwinja been produced (Bisidi et al. 2008; al Festival of Indigenous Peoples) as et al. 2010; Damman & Hofsvang Plumptre et al. 2009, 2010). In the the future model for the ICCN – in view 2012; Mubalama et al. 2013). During course of its development, the map of the national Government’s target to these meetings, orientation is provided underwent various modifications. The set up a network of protected areas by the different actors with the aim maps resulting from this process were covering 17 % of the country’s national of facilitating the discussion and the considered as different scenarios. The territory (Réseau des Ressources Na- results. This helps the stakeholders final and current map is known as turelles 2015). develop trust and support for field “Scenario 5”. activities by avoiding the development Documentation of Reserve Bounda- of rumours. Validation of Reserve Boundaries at ries at the Local Level This exercise has been important for the Community Level The documentation of reserve bound­ the finalisation of the reserve bounda- The maps were presented to the aries is an important stage in the ries and also for the completion of the communities that live in and around process of participatory demarcation. amendment proposal for the 2006 De- the reserve and to the local authorities. It has included the identification of re­ cree. Sessions were held at the level of ference points for the boundary, but different village groupings with the also the collection of geographical co­ Meeting to Present Results to the Pro- objective to validate the proposed ordinates in order to avoid the pro­ vincial Advisory Forest Council (CCPF) boundaries on the maps, taking into blems documented elsewhere (Virunga Within the framework for completing account biological and socio-economic National Park) resulting from change the definition of the reserve boundaries, needs (Bisidi et al. 2008; de Failly & of toponyms by local communities, the CCPF is a legal imperative for any Bandu 2010; Mubalama et al. 2013). leading to confusion in the identification forest categorization or re-categor­ These boundaries were accepted at of landmarks in the field. This exercise ization (Mubalama et al. 2013). To the various localities, in some cases was carried out in those sections where accord with this, the presentation of without amendments and in some the boundaries do not coincide with results to the CCPF was one of the cases with significant modifications natural reference points such as rivers. last stages of the process, aimed at in line with the cultural needs and Documentation is carried out through making sure that the file will be passed the biological values identified by the three different stages, consisting of the to the appropriate political authority at communities. This was the case of Lac identification of data gatherers and ob- the provincial and national levels. Lungwe. Situated at 2,700 m above servers in the community, their training The meetings held within this frame- sea level, it includes some forests on in the methodology of data collection work involved the different members of the western border of the reserve. In (field notes and GPS) and the data col- the CCPF nominated by the Governor contrast, in two other village groupings, lection in the field, feedback meetings of South Kivu Province in 2013. In addi- the communities reserved judgement on the field activities with the commu- tion to these formal meetings, technical on the reserve boundaries depicted nities and, finally, the validation of re- meetings involving civil society organi- in Scenario 4 as they were not yet sults. sations were held to ensure transpar- sufficiently sensitized. This has taken ency and to avoid any future disputes. the map into Scenario 5 which excludes Information Meetings with Stakehold- All these consultations led to the vali- the forests of Lulenge and Kasanza in ers at the Provincial Level dation of the documented INR bounda- order to ensure that the principle of The map validations carried out with ries during the CCPF workshop held on free, prior and informed consent (CLIP) the stakeholders in the field ensures 24 June 2014. is respected (Kujirakwinja et al. 2010; that the stakeholders will accept the Mubalama et al. 2013; Plumptre et al. reserve boundaries in the zones where Participatory Mapping of Zones under 2013). they live. This will reassure them Consideration The process of participatory demar- and minimise boundary conflicts. In The boundaries of the Itombwe Nature cation of the INR was adopted as a order to ensure that the leaders and Reserve were proposed within the new conservation paradigm. It was put political actors at the provincial level context of a biosphere reserve with forward during the conservation work- are informed about progress and about different conservation zones. These

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laws (Hart & Hall 1996; Inogwabini 2014; Tranquilli et al. 2014). Small- scale and semi-industrial mining pos­ es another important threat to the habitats of various species, but also to the species themselves (Weinberg et al. 2013). According to a 2015 study by WCS (Kirkby et al. 2015), hunting of different species is prevalent at mining sites involving both hunters and miners. The affected species include great , elephants and antelopes (Nellemann et al. 2010; Weinberg et al. 2013; Kirkby et al. 2015). Although the participatory approach is recommended by current practices of natural resource conservation, the “protection approach” where the law is forcefully applied retains its usefulness in discouraging miscreants (Terborgh Meeting to discuss the boundary validation with the residents of Obekulu 1999; Hutton et al. 2005; Siurua 2006). village Photo: Deo Kujirakwinja Thus, although the boundaries have not yet been physically marked, the zones can permit the coexistence of sions with the communities on the dif- ICCN eco-guards carry out patrols in biodiversity and human activities to ferent land use schemes and manage- zones that are important for biodiversi- ensure the sustainability of resource ment mechanisms, and the production ty not only in order to contribute to the use and socio-economic activities (Ba­ of local maps. continued efforts of these populations, tisse 1990; de Failly & Bandu 2010). but also to discourage various people However, the discussion of some zones Biodiversity Conservation Activities who might be tempted to hunt. The pa- is at a deadlock, as these zones contain In addition to the activities leading to trols are supported by training events exceptional biodiversity but encompass the legitimization and legalisation of the and equipment for data collection and areas that are important for the local reserve boundaries, the actors within storage. Data collected during patrols communities, including settlements, the joint framework are also carrying are stored and analysed by the guards fields, cultural sites, etc. (Doumenge out various conservation activities in with support from WCS and WWF us- & Schilter 1997; Plumptre et al. 2009; order to minimise the impact of human ing the SMART tool which was devel- de Failly & Bandu 2010; Hartter et al. activities. These activities consist oped for this purpose (Plumptre et al. 2011; Greenbaum & Chifundera 2012; mainly of supporting the deployment of 2014). Mubalama et al. 2013) monitoring patrols in distribution areas In order to ensure that the different of great apes (Grauer’s gorilla and Sensitization zones are established in a way that will ) and in the subsequent In addition to the ongoing demarcation protect the various endemic species analysis of protection coverage using activities, ICCN teams in collaboration under threat, a zonation proposal has SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Re­ with NGO partners are carrying out been developed. This is based on the porting Tool). sensitization campaigns among the distribution of the reserve’s threatened communities to ensure their parti­cip­ endemic species and also integrates Patrols Following Key Species a­tion in the conservation of the re­ climate change considerations (Plump- Hunting by traditional means and with serve. These sensitization ses­sions tre et al. 2013). To this end, participa- firearms remains the greatest threat to go beyond this, however, by sup­port­ tory mapping is being piloted in the the fauna of the INR. All species are ing the communities in the local struct­ Mwana valley in the Basimunyaka vil- affected regardless of which protection uring in order to prepare them for the lage grouping. The approach consists category they have been assigned to transparent implementation of alterna­ mainly of field work: holding discus- either by Congolese or international tive activities.

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In this context, grassroots commit- Challenges and Opportunities only reflect the reduced number of tees have been established and the The Itombwe Nature Reserve is one field staff and equipment required for members are trained to ensure the of a new generation of protected reaching the various sites but also the con­nection between the conservation areas: their establishment follows a security conditions on the ground and actors and the population. This is in line participatory process which requires the different land uses (Vlassenroot with the national community conserva- negotiations and compromise between 2008; Brabant & Nzweve 2013). It also tion strategy, which has been in place different stakeholders. This in itself is concerns the viability of conservation in the DRC since 2006. a challenge, as the process takes a activities in a zone that is so poor that long time (followed as it is by frequent the population is primarily concerned Involvement of Local and Provincial questioning and donors worried about with support for their social structures. Authorities in the Reserve’s Protection the timeline of the process), while the In order to ensure that the reserve’s As a result of the permanent presence biodiversity deteriorates further due status is monitored regularly, the ICCN of certain armed groups in some areas, to people’s migration into the zone in general directorate has entered the re- the eastern region of the DRC has search of natural resources such as serve on the list of pilot sites for the ap- long been recognized as a conflict or minerals and agriculture (Vlassenroot plication of the Management Efficien- post-conflict zone. In order to ensure 2013). One of the major challenges cy Tracking Tool (METT). In addition, that the local authorities are aware of remains the management of small- the participatory process followed for ongoing conservation activities in their scale mining and the management of the reserve demarcation and mapping zone and benefit from them, regular immigration from other sectors. An­ forms a solid basis for the prevention of meetings are held either at the local or other challenge is material and fi­ conflicts and for adaptive management the provincial level. These meetings are nan­cial. The Itombwe Reserve has (Armitage et al. 2009). useful for collaboration as challenges known operational difficulties in the are addressed and proposals are sup­port of interventions in those Conclusions made that require the intervention and zones that form a part of the reserve All over the world, biodiversity is threat­ the involvement of said authorities. bound­aries. These difficulties do not ened by human activity and industrial

Help for Itombwe

The Itombwe Reserve needs our port and the participation of the local If the forests and the wildlife of support to ensure the survival of population. Since 2012 people have the Itombwe Massif are to be its gorillas and . One been prepared for self-governance and preserved, they have to be pro­ of the necessary projects is re- law enforcement. At the moment the tected effectively. Please sup­ inforcement of the patrol based following activities are planned: port the conservation of this monitoring system to maintain the ­invaluable area! populations of great apes in the – support community meetings and Mwana area. The following activi- trainings; ties are urgent – and we agreed to – conduct a livelihood feasibility study You are also welcome to donate fund them: in two main regions of Itombwe. via PayPal if you prefer this: http://www.berggorilla.org/en/ – provision of ranger rations to help/donate/ ICCN rangers for great apes monitoring patrols; Address: – provide technical support and Bank Account: Berggorilla & Regenwald training to rangers for patrol IBAN: DE06 3625 0000 0353 3443 15 Direkt­hilfe data management. BIC SPMHDE3E c/o Rolf Brunner Switzerland: IBAN: CH90 0900 0000 Lerchenstr. 5 Another important aspect of con- 4046 1685 7 45473 Muelheim, Germany servation in Itombwe is the sup- BIC POFICHBEXXX www.berggorilla.org

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extraction (Siurua 2006; Laurance et of biodiversity conservation and the im- Greenbaum, E. & Chifundera, K. Z. (2012): al. 2012). For this reason, experts in provement of the livelihoods of the lo- Conservation implications following the redis- covery of four frog species from the Itombwe conservation and environmental pro­ cal communities (Damman & Hofsvang natural reserve, eastern Democratic Repub- tection prescribe the establishment of 2012; Plumptre et al. 2013). However, lic of the Congo. Herpetological Review 43, protected areas in sites that are im­ the acquisition of equipment and funds 253–259 Hart, J. A. & Hall, J. S. (1996): Status of East- portant for conservation: the aim is to that can support community interven- ern Zaire’s Forest Parks and Reserves. Con- preserve rare and endemic species in tions for the poor population remains a servation Biology 10, 316–327 those regions (Hockings et al. 2000; major challenge. Hart, J. A. et al. (1999): The Itombwe Massif, Hutton et al. 2005). This is also true Deo Kujirakwinja, Alain Twendilonge, Democratic Republic of Congo: biological sur- veys and conservation, with an emphasis on for the DRC, where different regions Leonard Mubalama, Onesiphore Bito- Grauer’s gorilla and birds endemic to the Al- critical for biodiversity are proposed mwa, Guillain Mitamba, Jean de Dieu bertine Rift. Oryx 33, 301–322 as protected areas. In order to redress Wasso and Andrew Plumptre Hartter, J. et al. (2011): Landscapes as con- the mistakes of earlier protected areas, tinuous entities: forest disturbance and recov- The implementation of these various activities ery in the Albertine Rift landscape. Landscape which were created through a top- has been financially supported by USAID, US- Ecology 26, 877–890. down approach, the current process FWS, Rainforest Trust, CEPF and SIDA. Ac- Hockings, M. et al. (2000): Evaluating effec- requires the participation and the free tivities could not have been successful without tiveness: A framework for assessing the man- the involvement of the local community of the agement of protected areas. World Commis- consent of local communities and Itombwe Nature Reserve, the ICCN guards sion on Protected Areas other stakeholders interested in natural and the provincial government. In particular, Hutton, J. et al. (2005): Back to the barriers? resources (Brandon & Wells 1992; we would like to thank Madame Jennifer Birali, Forum for Development Studies 2-2005, 341– Naughton-Treves et al. 2005; Palomo Madame Adélaïde Muhigirwa, Olivier Kanefu, 370 Shabani Kilindo, Faustin Batechi and Anselme Inogwabini, B. (2014): Conserving biodiversity et al. 2014). Matabaro. We also thank the various people in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a brief The Itombwe Nature Reserve, which who participated in the implementation of ac- history, current trends and insights for the fu- is one of the key sites for biodiversity tivities in the field and in meetings. ture. Parks 20.2, 101–110 Keyo, M. & Yma, B. (2000): Exposé sur la bio- protection in the DRC, is the focus of References diversité de l’Itombwe: Présenté aux étudiants this paper as far as it concerns the par- Armitage, D. R. et al. (2009): Adaptive co- de 3e graduat Biologie, dans le cadre du cours ticipatory process. Having attracted re- management for social-ecological complexity. d’écologie et conservation de la nature à l’ISP/ searchers since the 1930s, the reserve Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7, Bukavu, 1–11 95–102 Kideghesho, J. R. (2002): Who pays for wild- remains important with many recent bi- Batisse, M. (1990): Development and Imple- life conservation in Tanzania? Nature et Faune odiversity discoveries (Prigogine 1977; mentation of the Biosphere Reserve Concept 18, 45–71 Hart & Hall 1996; Doumenge & Schilter and Its Applicability to Coastal Regions. Envi- Kirkby, A. et al. (2015): Investigating artisanal 1997; Hart et al. 1999; Plumptre et al. ronmental Conservation 17, 111 mining and bushmeat around protected areas: Bisidi, Y. et al. (2008): L’utilisation et la conser- Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe re- 2007; Greenbaum & Chifundera 2012). vation des ressources forestières à Itombwe – serve. Bukavu For this reason, the DRC decided to perception de la population. Nairobi Kujirakwinja, D. et al. (2010): Healing the Rift. protect the reserve and signed a De- Brabant, J. & Nzweve, J.-L. (2013): La houe, Peacebuilding in and around protected areas la vache et le fusil – Conflits liés à la transhu- in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Alber- cree in 2006 (Mubalama et al. 2013; mance en territoires de Fizi et Uvira (Sud-Kivu, tine Rift Inogwabini 2014). To improve the pro- RDC): état de lieux et leçons tirées de l’expé- Laurance, W. F. et al. (2012): Averting biodi- cess and to respond to the wishes of rience de LPI. Life and Peace Institute versity collapse in tropical forest protected ar- various stakeholders, a participatory Brandon, K. E. & Wells, M. (1992): Planning eas. Nature 489, 290–294 for people and parks: Design dilemmas. World Mubalama, L. et al. (2008): Using GIS to as- process, coordinated by a joint frame- Development 20, 557–570 sess the status and conservation consider- work, was initiated and carried out in a Damman, S. & Hofsvang, E. (2012): Protec- ations of large mammals in the Itombwe Mas- participatory manner. Starting with con- tion des forêts tropicales basée sur les droits. sif Conservation Landscape, Democratic Re- Oslo, Norway public of Congo. Nature et Faune 23, 43–50 sultations at the local and the provincial De Failly, D. & Bandu, J.-M. (2010): La fo- Mubalama, L. et al. (2013): L’approche cadre level, the process should result in an rêt d’Itombwe: enjeux socio-économiques et conjoint comme stratégie de délimitation par- amendment of the reserve boundaries conservation de la nature en contexte congo- ticipative du massif forestier d’Itombwe et du at the national level (Kujirakwinja et al. lais. La forêt d’Itombwe: enjeux socio-éco- Bushema. Pp. 246258 in: Isumbisho, M. (ed.) nomiques et conservation de la nature en Gouvernance des ressources naturelles col- 2010; Mubalama et al. 2013). contexte congolais. Étude de cas à dimension lectives des écosystèmes fragiles dans la Ré- Through these ongoing efforts, the multiple. Bukavu gion des Grands Lacs Africains. CERUKI. HAL Itombwe process may be considered Doumenge, C. & Schilter, C. (1997): Les Monts Naughton-Treves, L. et al. (2005): the Role a model for the partnership between Itombwe. IUCN, Kinshasa of Protected Areas in Conserving Biodiversity Fisher, R. et al. (2012): Linking Conservation and Sustaining Local Livelihoods. Annual Re- conservation actors, human rights ac- and Poverty Reduction: Landscapes, People view of Environment and Resources 30, 219– tors and political actors for the benefit and Power. Routledge 252

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Nellemann, C. et al. (2010): The last stand of conservation of the reserve. It is based foot patrols inside the reserve together the Gorilla – Environmental crime and conflict on the 11 most recent monthly activity with rangers and sometimes soldiers of in the Congo Basin. A rapid response assess- ment. UNEP, Nairobi reports, communications by the local the Democratic Republic of the Congo Palomo, I. et al. (2014): Incorporating the so- authorities, and some older but impor- who are based at the Sarambwe post. cial-ecological approach in protected areas in tant reports on the threats facing the The trackers participated in a total the anthropocene. BioScience 64, 181–191 Plumptre, A. J. et al. (2007): The biodiversity reserve. Knowledge of activities under- of 119 patrols, covering the entire re- of the Albertine Rift. Biological Conservation way in the protected area and threats it serve. In general, patrols cover the en- 134, 178–194 faces is necessary before solutions can tire length of the reserve each week, Plumptre, A. J. et al. (2009): Itombwe Massif be found. The report will commence and observations are made of the fau- Conservation Project: Delimitation and zoning of the Itombwe Natural Reserve for protection with a short summary of activities un- na, sometimes also the flora, and illeg­al of great apes. Final Report for USFWS Project dertaken and observations on the fau- activities. Protection activities are car- Sources of financial support. USFWS Great na of the Sarambwe Reserve during ried out where infractions have been Apes Conservation Fund, Wildlife Conserva- the period October 2014 to Septem- noted, but sometimes the rangers and tion Society Plumptre, A. J. et al. (2010): Final Report for ber 2015. trackers find it difficult to react as they Biological Surveys for Itombwe and Support to are prevented from doing so by forces Process of Establishment of Misotshi-Kabogo Activities and Results that are more powerful than they are: as a Protected Area Plumptre, A. J. et al. (2014): Efficiently target- Maintenance of the Camp and Paths, in such cases they can only observe. ing resources to deter illegal activities in pro- Border Demarcation, Patrols and Boundary demarcation has been tected areas. Journal of Applied Ecology 51, ­Monitoring carried out along a length of 2,850 m 714–725 The Sarambwe trackers do not only by planting and maintaining 571 Eryth- Plumptre, A. J. et al. (2013): Zoning planning for the Itombwe Natural Reserve track, as their name suggests, but they rina abyssinica trees. Prigogine, A. (1977): The Itombwe also support the reserve with a range Réseau des Ressources Naturelles (2015): of other activities such as the mainte- Fauna Les droits des communautés locales et peuples autochtones dans l’établissement et nance of the camp and of paths within An analysis of observations made by la gestion des aires protégées en RDC. Kin- the reserve, the demarcation of bor- rangers and trackers during the report- shasa ders between the reserve and the ag- ing period has shown that mountain Siurua, H. (2006): Nature Above People. Eth- ricultural fields on the Congo side, and gorillas were present during 7 months: ics & The Environment 11, 71–96 Stevens, S. & Stevens, S. (s. d.): Indigenous Peoples, National Parks, and Protected Areas Terborgh, J. (1999): Requiem for Nature. Is- land Press, Washington, DC Tranquilli, S. et al. (2014): Protected Areas in Tropical Africa: Assessing Threats and Con- servation Activities. PLoS ONE 9: e114154 Vlassenroot, K. (2008): Armed Groups and Mi- litias in Eastern DR Congo. Lecture Series on African Security Vlassenroot, K. (2013): South Kivu: Identity, territory, and power in the eastern Congo Weinberg, R. et al. (2013): Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Protected Exploitation Miniere Artisanale Dans La Reserve Naturelle D’Itombwe Wells, M. P. & McShane, T. O. (2004): Inte- grating protected area management with lo- cal needs and aspirations. Ambio 33, 513–519

The Sarambwe Reserve: Current Developments and Threats This article documents activities imple- mented in the Sarambwe Reserve and the almost continuous threats to the Clearing in the Sarambwe Reserve Photo: Aimé Bararuha

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protected area Ishasha national border are found and from the recorded num- identify individual species. Some spe- UGANDA bers we can estimate that there are cies reported by trackers are doubtful, at least 15 groups of red-tailed mon- such as pangolin, jackal and Diademed Parc National keys; most of these groups number be- monkey (Cercopithecus mitis). Rutshuru des Virunga Butogota tween 12 and 17 individuals. The sec- ond most frequently observed species Illegal Activities (Threats) is the baboon. Baboons are every- The extent of illegal activities in the where in the reserve, usually moving Sarambwe Reserve is very alarming. Sarambwe around in groups from 6 to 38 individu- Over 95 % of illegal activities are car- Réserve Rusura als. Black-and-white colobus (Colobus ried out by Ugandan villagers backed Naturelle Buhoma guereza), also called Guereza colobus, up by their soldiers, who are positioned de Sarambwe Nteko occur in the reserve, usually travelling along the border. Bwindi Impenetra- Bwindi in groups of between 3 and 24 individ- ble National Park is strictly protected. D. R. CONGO Impenetrable uals. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) The benefits generated from the- con National Park are also present: the trackers’ surveys servation of that park are shared with Rutshuru have yielded groups of 2, 3, 4, 10, 13 the adjacent populations, but bene- and 17 animals. Among other indicator fit sharing favours the population liv- species are bush pigs (Potamochoerus ing close to the transport routes over porcus), often encountered as lone in- those people living further from these in December 2014 and in January, dividuals or in groups of two and, very routes, although they are still close to March, April, June, July and Septem- rarely, more than two animals – a group the protected area. And it is that part ber 2015. There are 3 family groups of six was reported four times during of the population which goes poach- and one solitary gorilla that spent more one year. Squirrels are regularly ob- ing in Bwindi (Baker 2014). Benefiting time in the reserve than the other goril- served, and so are Gambian pouched from the proximity of the Sarambwe las. The smallest group consists of 4 in- rats (Cricetomys gambianus). Duik- Reserve, where protection is less than dividuals that are not habituated to the ers are rare and the trackers cannot perfect, and from the confusion that presence of humans, and stays longer in the reserve than the other families. The habituated Mukali group consists of 8 gorillas and comes to the reserve only for short periods of time. The Ga- hanga group is made up of over 11 in- dividuals (this is based on a count of 11 nests at a site where they slept for one night). The solitary male seems to be more permanent than the two larger groups. Unfortunately, the trackers do not know whether any of the groups is visited by tourists in Bwindi; they gave them names without knowing if they have Ugandan names too. Given the limited training that the trackers have undergone, it is difficult, if not impos- sible, for them to establish the ages of the gorillas. Therefore, they only re- cord the number of individuals, without specifying their age or gender. The most frequently observed ani- mal species is the red-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius), with groups Snare set by poachers in the Sarambwe Reserve from 4 to 44 animals. From where they Photo: Aimé Bararuha

10 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 D. R. CONGO

is generated by the State’s limitations, – In August 2015, 4 ha were cleared in tion – involving an exchange of fire – the population goes after what the Sar- Kasarabandwa. between the Ugandan troops and the ambwe Reserve has to offer. The situa- – The planted crops are either peren- Sarambwe Reserve’s rangers in Con- tion is made worse because the poach- nial or seasonal. The sole perennial go. In May, 4 Ugandan soldiers crossed ers have the army to help and protect crop is banana: it has been plant- the border into the reserve near the them. In the Sarambwe Reserve, four ed on a total of 4 ha. The seasonal fields cultivated by the Ugandans in types of illegal activities are practised: crops are beans, manioc and wheat: Congo. At the end of August 2015, 5 they have been planted on 38 ha in Ugandans entered the reserve in order 1. agriculture and related activities those areas affected by bush fires to conduct pit-sawing. On being en- such as clearing, bush fires and cul- and clearing. countered by the rangers and trackers, tivation; they fled, abandoning three saws. They 2. deforestation and related activities Due to the involvement of the army in alerted their soldiers who crossed into such as pit-sawing, charcoal pro- these illicit activities, the rangers and the DRC to recover what they had left duction and harvesting of log wood; trackers have only been able to destroy behind from their “abductors”, whom 3. poaching and related activities such 4 ha of fields (2 ha each of manioc and they “identified” as Rwandan FDLR as hunting and trapping, with or banana trees) – which is only 10.5 % of rebels. The Ugandans led the heav- without dogs; the planted 38 ha. ily armed soldiers all the way to the 4. other activities such as illicit travel to Deforestation: Deforestation in this Sarambwe ranger post. A multitude of identify areas for poaching, pit-saw- context involves the cutting of large soldiers overpowered the rangers and ing, charcoal making, starting fields, forest trees for various uses, notably took them by force to make them stand or for fishing in the various rivers and pit-sawing, harvesting of log wood, or trial there. In spite of the intervention streams. Illicit travel occurs through charcoal production. Recently, char- of several persons, these ICCN staff the entire reserve and year-round, coal production has no longer been ob- members were taken to the army bar- regardless of season. served in the Sarambwe Reserve, al- racks in Mbarara for interrogation, be- though it used to be practised by the fore being taken to Bwindi, where they Agriculture and its preparatory activ- local population. We believe that the were released at the border the day af- ities: In the Sarambwe Reserve the reforestation that was initiated through ter their arrest. greatest threats to the forest and its the development of tree nurseries in Poaching also goes on in Sar- biodiversity are activities related to ag- schools between 2011 and 2013 has ambwe. Wire snares are usually used riculture, such as starting bush fires, yielded enough firewood and charcoal for large animals (pigs, baboons, goril- clearing and cultivation. ‘Clearing’ to meet the needs of the local popula- las and chimpanzees). Nets made from means the cutting of vegetation under- tion. nylon or lianas are used for small mam- neath large trees or the cutting of veg- Pit-sawing is practised by Ugan- mals (Gambian pouched rat, squirrels etation on fallow land with the objective dans. This activity is quickly discovered and possibly large terrestrial birds such of preparing a field for cultivation. Dur- by the Sarambwe trackers and rang- as partridges). Jaw traps target any an- ing the reporting period (between Oc- ers, frequently leading to confronta- imal regardless of size. The trappers tober 2014 and September 2015), the tions between the reserve rangers and may be accompanied by dogs; some- destruction of the forest or recovering the Ugandan soldiers who protect this times a lost dog is found in the reserve. fallow land continued as follows: illicit activity. A wave of arrests of pit- In the course of this year, 54 traps sawyers, some of whom were sent to have been destroyed in the reserve. Of – Bush fires destroyed 20 ha of fallow the office of the public prosecutor in the these, 33 were for small mammals, 20 land in February and March 2015 secondary seat in Rutshuru, resulted in for large mammals, and one was a jaw and 0.5 ha of intact forest in Septem- negotiations between the local Ugan- trap. One dog has been killed. Traps ber 2015. The affected areas were dan and Congolese authorities at Isha- are found all over the reserve and all Kasarabandwa (3 ha), Kakangagai sha in January 2014, during which this year round. (6 ha), Mwiganywa (5 ha), Kanyangi- activity was halted. ri (4 ha), Kalimante (2 ha) and Kan- In the course of 2014, however, pit- Support for Infrastructure and Com- yabusinini (0.5 ha). The bush fires sawing was observed on three more munity Development within and were started in order to prepare the occasions. In March, the attempt to ar- around Sarambwe ground for cultivation during April to rest the pit-sawyers and to arrest the Six months after the Sarambwe Re- September 2015. Ugandan planters led to a confronta- serve became accessible again, Berg-

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gorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe recom- menced its support for infrastructure Mountain Gorilla Females Avoid Inbreeding and community development in the vi- cinity of Sarambwe. These activities Especially in multi-male groups, mountain gorilla females may stay in the mainly target the infrastructure relating group in which they were born; in the Karisoke study groups on the Virunga to Sarambwe post, particularly provi- Volcanoes, about half of them do so. As the tenure of the dominant male in sion of field gear, lighting and mini solar a group often exceeds the time it takes for his daughters to become sexually panels to charge telephones, a digital mature, they remain in the company of their father, who is in general the camera, a GPS and motorcycles. The leading silverback. Does this mean that they also breed with their father? rehabilitation of the ranger post has not To establish the paternity of 97 mountain gorillas, the team of Linda yet started due to problems relating to Vigilant analyzed fecal samples collected since 1999. These included 79 the security of construction materials gorillas born into 4 of the mountain gorilla groups monitored since 1967. and to the state of the road that leads They found that in groups with more than one male on average 72 % of the to the post. The development of com- offspring are sired by the dominant male; but he was never the father of his munity and private reforestation from daughters’ offspring. plants produced in school tree nurs- Female gorillas actively make mate choices and initiate a large proportion eries, and nurseries maintained by of copulations. The finding that more than one subordinate male can father the wives of the trackers, has started. offspring in a given group may suggest that different females have different These activities had been conducted in preferences. They appear to tactically avoid mating with their fathers. This 2011 and 2012, but were suspended strategy works so well that the chances of alpha gorilla males siring the due to security problems in the area. offspring of their own daughters are effectively zero. Nonetheless, the study A training session in the use of GPS shows that the parents of 9 of the 79 offspring were related as at least half- was organised for trackers and map- brothers and half-sisters of one another. ping data on the reserve are currently The question is how the fathers and daughters know whom to give the being collected. cold shoulder. Daughters of dominant males reproduce with subordinate males that are substantially younger than their fathers. They might therefore Recommendations be using relative age as a cue to avoid mating with their fathers. The long – The animals in the reserve should periods immature offspring spend in the company of the dominant male be (re-)surveyed. might help them recognize their fathers, and dominant males appear to – The trackers should be trained in an- prefer mating with older females who are experienced mothers. imal identification. From a press release of the Max Planck Inst. for Evolutionary Anthropol. – High-level lobbying is required to draw attention to the repeated inva- Vigilant, L. et al. (2015): Reproductive competition and inbreeding avoidance sion of the reserve by Ugandans. in a primate species with habitual female dispersal. Behavioral Ecology and – Support for the neighbouring com- Sociobiology 69, 1163–1172 munities needs to be increased. – The Sarambwe post needs to be equipped with furniture and kitchen utensils and a kitchen needs to be constructed for the post. Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo

References Baker, J. (2014): Why equitable conserva- tion is a necessity for Bwindi’s gorillas. Gorilla Journal 49

Mother and infant in the Kwitonda group, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda Photo: Klaas

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Feeding Competition in penditure) than lower-ranking individu- ing that they may be more important als, typically with a positive impact on than previously thought (Robbins et al. Female Bwindi Mountain their reproductive success (number of 2005) and there is some evidence that Gorillas surviving offspring). higher-ranking females have higher re- However, this theoretical body of productive success than lower-ranking All animals – including humans – must work is not without its problems: the ones, although whether this is the re- eat to survive. The energy derived from models in question have recently at- sult of a more favourable energy bal- food is necessary to sustain basic met- tracted criticism, and their usefulness ance is unknown (Robbins et al. 2007; abolic and muscle functions, growth, is currently disputed (Koenig & Borries 2011). repair and reproduction. However, 2009; Clutton-Brock & Janson 2012). In order to better understand feeding food, at least in the wild, is a limited One of the main difficulties in evaluat- competition in this species, we set out resource – there is not always enough ing these models is that very few stud- to measure its energetic consequenc- to go around. Competition for food can ies have actually measured the ener- es in a group of Bwindi mountain go- be a major cost for animals living in getic consequences of feeding com- rillas and explore the manner in which groups, which must often compete di- petition. Moreover, the precise factors females compete for food. Over a one- rectly with each other for the same lim- that determine whether a food can be year period, we collected detailed feed- ited resources. monopolized or controlled remain elu- ing observations on 6 adult females Socioecological models propose sive (Koenig & Borries 2006; Schülke from the Kyagurilo group of mountain that there is a strong link between cer- & Ostner 2012). Recent reviews have gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Nation- tain food resource characteristics (e.g. suggested that in order to fully under- al Park, Uganda. We conducted nutri- distribution, size and quality), the man- stand feeding competition in a species, tional analysis of the major food items ner in which females compete for food, studies need to examine the extent to for protein, lipids, carbohydrates and and the resulting pattern of social re- which the access to foods can be con- fiber, the macronutrients which are lationships in animal societies. These trolled and the nature of the resulting broken down into energy during di- models seek to link ecology to social competition, and relate these aspects gestion. Using human digestion coef- behaviour and the very structure of ani- to energetic or reproductive conse- ficients (i.e., the number of calories hu- mal societies, and have been relatively quences. mans are able to obtain for each gram successful at explaining the rich diver- Gorillas are an interesting species of macronutrient) we calculated ener- sity of primate societies in particular in which to study feeding competition, gy intake rates (the amount of energy (Schülke & Ostner 2012). Specifically, as they live in a wide range of ecologi- gained by the gorillas during feeding) the models aim to predict how ecologi- cally distinct habitats, providing ideal and estimated energy expenditure (the cal conditions influence the size of so- conditions to examine how variations amount of energy used by the goril- cial groups, the sex ratio, and social in ecology give rise to variations in be- las during three main activities: resting, interactions including dominance, ag- haviour. The two populations of moun- feeding and travelling). We also col- gression, and affiliation. tain gorillas (Virunga Massif and Bwin- lected data on aggressive events and Briefly, when preferred food resourc- di) predominantly feed on herbaceous recorded the number of adult females es are distributed in such a way that vegetation (fibrous foods), which is in close proximity to the target female one or a few individuals in a group are abundantly available. Accordingly, indi- (neighbours), to examine whether low- able to monopolize or control access to viduals are not expected to be able to er-ranking females avoided spending them, more powerful individuals gain a control access to these food resourc- time near higher-ranking ones. greater share of these limited resourc- es. However, in contrast to the Virun- Our results revealed that higher- es at the expense of weaker individ- ga mountain gorillas, Bwindi moun- ranking females had higher energy in- uals. More dominant individuals (indi- tain gorillas also incorporate a consid- take rates than lower-ranking females, viduals with a higher ranking in the so- erable amount of fruit into their diet, meaning that they obtained more en- cial hierarchy) often use aggression to which may be easier to control access ergy per time spent feeding than low- gain greater access to resources over to than herbaceous vegetation. Studies er-ranking ones. To better understand weaker lower-ranking ones. This leads have shown dominance relationships these results, we further examined to higher-ranking individuals having a to be weak in both populations. How- whether higher-ranking females were more favourable energy balance (de- ever, in the Virunga population domi- feeding faster or feeding on higher en- fined as energy intake or the energy nance relationships were found to be ergy foods than lower-ranking females, derived from food minus energy ex- stable over the long term, suggest- or both. We found only the former to be

13 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 UGANDA

the case, with higher-ranking females occurred more often when the goril- ture studies should place greater em- feeding at a faster rate than lower-rank- las were feeding on fruit (as fruit tends phasis on this competitive strategy. ing ones, but not on foods with higher to be more clumped than herbaceous Edward Wright, Andrew M. Robbins energy levels. We subsequently found vegetation). Finally, higher-ranking fe- and Martha M. Robbins that when the gorillas incorporated a males had fewer neighbours (other large amount of fruit into their diet, this adults close by) than lower-ranking We would like to thank the Uganda Wildlife Au- thority, the Uganda National Council for Sci- caused them to gain energy faster than females. These results suggest that ence and Technology, the Institute for Tropical when feeding on other foods, which lower-ranking females avoid spending Forest Conservation and the Max Planck So- is explained by the fact that fruit con- time close to higher-ranking females, ciety. A special thank you to all the field assis- tains higher energy levels than other rather than higher-ranking females tak- tants who participated in this project. foods. Interestingly, higher-ranking fe- ing a more active role by using aggres- males did not spend more time feeding sion to obtain the abovementioned en- Original articles on fruit than lower-ranking ones, indi- ergetic advantages. Wright, E. et al. (2014): Dominance cating that higher-ranking females did In conclusion, the study shows that rank differences in the energy intake not control access to fruit. Additionally, in Bwindi mountain gorillas, higher- and expenditure of female Bwindi we found that higher-ranking females ranking females enjoyed greater ac- mountain gorillas. Behavioral Ecology spent less time moving, causing them cess to resources resulting in a more and Sociobiology 68, 957–970 to expend less energy per hour than favourable energy balance. This rela- Wright, E. & Robbins, M. M. (2014): lower-ranking females. tionship was not the result of control- Proximate mechanisms of contest In summary, the first part of the ling access to fruit resources by high- competition among female Bwindi study revealed that higher-ranking fe- er-ranking females. However, feeding mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei ber- males gained energy at faster rates on fruit did provide more energy for the ingei). Behavioral Ecology and Socio- and expended less energy in moving group as a whole than other foods, a biology 68, 1785–1797 than lower-ranking females. This in finding which has been replicated in a References turn led to them having a more favour- number of other primate species. The Clutton-Brock, T. & Janson, C. (2012): Pri- able energy balance. Our aim for the results of the study indicate that the en- mate socioecology at the crossroads: Past, second part of the study was to un- ergy cost of feeding competition in this present, and future. Evolutionary Anthropol- ogy 21, 136–150 derstand how higher-ranking females population is greater for lower-ranking Koenig, A. & Borries, C. (2006): The predictive were able to achieve these energetic females than for higher-ranking ones. power of socioecological models: a reconsid- advantages. This is an interesting finding for moun- eration of resource characteristics, agonism, We did not find that higher-ranking tain gorillas, as at first glance these go- and dominance hierarchies. Pp. 263–284 in: Hohmann, G. et al. (eds.): Feeding ecology females were more aggressive than rillas appear to feed on food resources in apes and other primates: ecology physiolo- lower-ranking ones. However, when which are difficult to control access to. gy and behavioral aspects. Cambridge (Cam- aggression occurred, it was mainly di- The results highlight how even in bridge University Press) Koenig, A. & Borries, C. (2009): The lost dream rected down the dominance hierarchy species in which dominance relation- of ecological determinism: Time to say good- (from higher-ranking to lower-ranking ships appear to be weak, some individ- bye? … Or a White Queen’s proposal? Evolu- females). As predicted, aggression uals do better at the expense of others, tionary Anthropology 18, 166–174 suggesting that the strength of dom- Robbins, A. M. et al. (2011): Lifetime repro- ductive success of female mountain gorillas. inance relationships may not always American Journal of Physical Anthropology predict energetic inequalities. The dif- 146, 582–593 ferential costs of group living may help Robbins, M. M. et al. (2005): Long-term domi- explain variation in reproductive suc- nance relationships in female mountain go- rillas: strength, stability and determinants of cess in Bwindi gorillas and other spe- rank. Behaviour 142, 779–809 cies. Moreover, aggression is not a Robbins, M. M. et al. (2007): Socioecological prerequisite for unequal costs of group influences on the reproductive success of fe- male mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei ber- living as avoidance alone can also pro- ingei). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology duce the same results. This subtle form 61, 919–931 of competition has received much less Schülke, O. & Ostner, J. (2012): Ecological attention in the literature, despite pro- and social influences on sociality. Pp. 195–219 in: Mitani, J. C. et al. (eds.): The evolution of ducing similar results to more direct primate societies. Chicago (University of Chi- Photo: Edward Wright forms of aggression. Accordingly, fu- cago Press)

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Improving Law Enforce­ ment: Going the “SMART” Way in Nigeria and Cameroon

The Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) is new and improved software for measuring, evaluating and improving the effectiveness of wild- life law enforcement patrols and site- based conservation activities. SMART software runs on PDAs equipped with GPS devices and is designed for col- lecting data on illegal activities in pro- tected areas. It helps protected area managers to plan, implement and eval- uate their activities. Other advantages of SMART over the existing CyberTracker data collect- ing system is that it provides timely and accurate information on poaching, il- legal logging and other direct threats to biodiversity through the collection of Afi WCS Project Manager, Emmanuel Bassey carrying out a field field and intelligence data which ena- assessment of SMART bles quick feedback between protected Photo: WCS area managers and frontline enforce- ment staff. SMART also helps to meas- With technical support from North cess or failure of completed patrols, ure the impact of anti-poaching efforts Carolina Zoo, SMART was recently making evaluation simple. Report- in order to judge which tactics yield introduced to the Cross River gorilla ing has also been quicker and easier, the best results; and provides informa- landscape with the first training work- as site based reporting template and tion to government agencies to assess shop for project managers and other maps are generated automatically. cost-effectiveness of law enforcement key stakeholders in Calabar, Nigeria in We plan to use SMART to map il- efforts. Most importantly SMART helps July 2014. Additional technical training legal activities and poaching hotspots generate automatic and accurate pa- was organized in July 2015 for all field- to enable us channel law enforcement trol reports. based managers of the Wildlife Con- servation Society (WCS) in Nigeria and Cameroon. The training was facilitated by Richard Bergl of the North Carolina Zoo and lasted for five days. Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary in Nigeria was selected as the pilot site to test SMART in the field. Over the past three months the pilot project has no- ticed a number of improvements: pa- trol planning has become easier, intel- ligence gathered from previous patrols and the public is now associated with SMART training by Richard Bergl patrol plans. Numerical and spatial tar- Anti-poaching patrol with (left) gets are developed and linked to patrol CyberTracker Photo: WCS plans, this helps to calculate the suc- Photo: WCS

15 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 CROSS RIVER

efforts and resources to areas of high perspective. Consider gorillas. They gorilla behaviours and guided interac- result. By the end of 2015 SMART will were “discovered” by white explorers, tions between community members be rolled out to three additional sites in named in Greek, popularized by West- and the gorillas. It differs from the ob- Nigeria as well as sites in Cameroon, ern hunters, biologists, and conserva- jective, impartial knowledge sought by in collaboration with government part- tionists. Few non-Africans have ever Western science. ners. heard an African story about a gorilla Emmanuel Bassey (unless they are a close reader of this Motivation journal, which has included a few [Me- When African accounts of gorillas der 1999; Etiendem 2008]). included stories about how to interact Gorilla Folk Filmmaking During colonialism, control over with gorillas, they confused Westerners in the Cross River knowledge production and authenti- looking just for gorilla facts. Western Headwaters cation tended to prevent the inclusion scientists wanted to study wild go­ril­ of local accounts (Goldman 2007). To las in their natural habitat. They want­ In the Lebialem highlands of South­ be fair, Africans often told colonialists ed to know how gorillas act when west Cameroon, people say that if a fanciful tales about gorillas, for exam- unaffected by people. This position hunter kills a gorilla, a person (often a ple how gorillas liked to sit around dy- came from a long Western tradition of village notable) dies. Connected by a ing campfires or how silverbacks would separating humans from Nature, and totem, the person and the gorilla share steal guns and break them with their of understanding Nature as defined by a spirit (Etiendem et al. 2011). In the teeth or over their knees (Newman that outside of human influence. This spring of 2013, a local Fon (chief) died 2013). Locals also kept much of their affected their study. They would not not long after nearby villagers killed knowledge about gorillas and their re- research gorillas as they interacted a Cross River gorilla (Nkembi & Leke lationship with the apes secret, due to with the local communities, only as they 2013). Folks told us the events were its sacred nature (Meder 1999). acted alone out in the forest (Fuentes connected. We often hear beliefs and Knowledge is not only scientific 2012). stories like this while working around facts. Local Africans provided colonists They did not want local anecdotes the habitat of the Cross River gorilla. and later researchers with information of encounters but evidence from hard We rarely encounter them elsewhere. that was important to their own commu- science and careful study. The hierarchy Most accounts of animals in our col- nities: knowledge relevant to relating of knowledge meant that many African lective canon come from a particular to gorillas. Local knowledge explained accounts were lost. When more colourful and un-scientific accounts of gorillas did come, Westerners (hunters, journalists, scientists writing for popular press) presented them. Africans were ignored. The history of hierarchy among knowledges has repercussions today. As conservationists seek to engage local communities in conservation ef- forts, to sensitize them to the conser- vation message, and to justify conser- vation and its impacts, they explain go- rillas and gorilla conservation from a Western perspective (Hill 2002; Lee 2010). This has had limited effect. Con- servation feels like yet another West- ern initiative imposed upon the local community. Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho filmingNzhu Jimangemi surrounded by Last year, we sought to address students of the Government Secondary School Bechati. The students are this. We, At Films, collaborated with watching their classmates from the drama club perform. the Environment and Rural Develop- Photo: Adam Pérou Hermans Amir ment Foundation (ERuDeF) in Came-

16 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 CROSS RIVER

roon and the Wildlife Conservation So- Participatory filmmaking is an in- group was available, sometimes just ciety in Nigeria, to co-produce a se- creasingly common practice of co-pro- for one day, other times for almost a ries of films telling local stories about ducing knowledge. The practice takes week. Last we would edit the film, sub- the critically endangered Cross Riv- various forms but the idea is collabo- titling the local dialect, tweaking mon- er gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli). Each rative video production between a fa- tages, checking the scenes. film features a different local commu- cilitator/filmmaker and the video’s sub- Each script was little more than a nity. Our project was about listening. jects. The subjects determine the con- skeleton. Every member of the cast, It was about collaborative knowledge tent and narrative of the video. They with remarkable creativity and charis- production, and the emergent blend of set, choose, and perform the stories. ma, ad-libbed and improvised each ideas, cultures, and aesthetics created They are often involved in shooting the line and scene. We were overwhelmed by participatory filmmaking. We worked video as well. The facilitator usually and relieved. We worried about having only as midwives, merely catching lo- comes in the most at the level of ed- too much of a hand in the process but cal narratives, ideas, and imagery and iting but this can be collaborative too. soon came to see our scripts as mere- helping to express and celebrate it as We call our method folk filmmaking. ly sparks from which a story – local, cinema. We made the films with and The participatory aspects were differ- unique, and surprising – would grow. for local communities to show their ac- ent for each film but followed a general With this project we sought not just counts of Cross River gorillas, bringing sequence. First, based on informal in- to produce films sharing local stories, both natural and cultural heritage into terviews and local conservation issues, but also to create a local film team conservation efforts. we would mock up a script and pre- to continue making films after we left. Fewer than 300 Cross River gorillas sent it to a group of community mem- Supported by a Flagship Species Fund remain (Dunn et al. 2014). The gorillas bers and collaborators. They would ad- Grant from Fauna & Flora Internation- have full legal protection, but their habi- just the script. Then, with their help via al (FFI), we trained and equipped two tat does not. About half remains unpro- chain-referral and other networking, local conservationist-journalists from tected. Conservation of the Cross River we would collect a cast. Once we had ­ERuDeF, Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho gorilla depends on the support of local our cast, we all gathered together, read and Immaculate Mkong. They contin- communities. Cultivating an indige- through the script, and again made ued to make films after we left and nous conservation ethic is as important changes as the cast saw fit. Now we will lead the distribution campaign as establishing conservation protec- were ready to perform and film the sto- to screen the series across Western tion. We hope our films, ranging from ry. We would shoot for as long as our Cameroon. traditional conservation methods (to- tems and taboos) to contemporary sto- ries, can generate local debates and in- terest in conservation. Locals can iden- tify with the stories. To them the stories make sense, express their beliefs and values, and teach lessons.

Methodology Rather than teach a predetermined morality lesson (e.g. do not cut down trees), we sought to work with each community to determine their own moral concerns. Our local collaborators dictated how moral issues were raised and framed, and how they were addressed. All we introduced was an initial prompt: Cross River gorillas are going away. We invited any sort of Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho on the set of Human or Gorilla?, a film he thinking: what should we do about this? wrote, directed, and starred in. Bertrand stars as Desmond, the park Is this is a problem? How did you deal ranger in three films. with this challenge before? Photo: Adam Pérou Hermans Amir

17 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 CROSS RIVER

ties and differences across the com­ munities affected by Cross River gorilla conservation.

Conclusion Just as local knowledge can teach pri- matologists much about gorillas, such as where the gorillas occur or what they eat, local knowledge can also help guide human-gorilla relationships. In local beliefs and stories rests an indig- enous conservation ethic. Cinema of- fers a powerful tool for community ed- ucation and engagement, increasing-

Anape protected area Butatong Akwaya gorilla distribution Afi Mountain national border Wildlife Okwangwo Sanctuary Mbe Mountains Afi River Cross River Takamanda Mbulu Forest Forest Reserve National National CAMEROON Park Park Basho Locations where the various films were Kagwene produced Gorilla Sanctuary Map: Adam Pérou Hermans Amir Takamanda NIGERIA Mone

The Film Series Manyu (Cross) River Each of our nine films addresses a Mone River Forest Reserve different moral issue related to the loss of Cross River gorillas. Obi and the Mamfe Juju Forest (Okwa II, Nigeria) tells a Bechati- Fossimondi-Besali tale of traditional conservation, before (Tofala Hills) the whiteman. Conservation Education (Bamba and Wula, Nigeria) presents a modern story of conservation edu­ and corruption, through the mis­haps ly utilized by primate conservationists cation classes and conflict between of a park ranger. The Cocoa Crusader (Wright 2010). Producing the cinema a schoolgirl and a hunter. A Message (Kumba, Cameroon) addresses the with and for local communities diversi- from Oku (Oku, Cameroon) shares threat of cocoa production by following fies the knowledge the movies express. what it’s like to lose gorillas for good. a reporter trying to figure out whom The world’s wildlife may be our global Chop Gorilla (Mamfé, Cameroon) is to blame for the explosion of the heritage but we have overwhelmingly a comedy about a gorilla hunter who cash crop and concomitant loss of Western accounts of wild animals. Lo- won’t stop hunting, despite arrests forest. The Illegal Exploiter (Besali, cal stories not only foster local conser- by forest guards and protests from Cameroon) highlights the temptation vation ethics, they also diversify and his family as Ebola begins to erupt in and risk of bribery and corruption enrich our global culture and connec- the news. Nzhu Jimangemi (Bechati, for the small, rural communities. No tion to wildlife as well. Cameroon) builds on the totem belief Gorilla, No Development (Mmockmbie, Our project is in its final stage. Our to tell a love story. Human or Gorilla? Cameroon) struggles with the chal­ totem film, Nzhu Jimangemi, won the (Njikwa, Cameroon) explores the many lenge of balancing community and Jean Rouch Award from the Society of threats to Cross River gorilla habitat, conservation needs. The films com­ Visual Anthropologists. This November including deforestation, trapping, fire, prise a series, showing both similar­i­ we will present it at their annual film

18 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 CROSS RIVER

supported with a projector from Idea IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and Wild- Wild. We hope to launch our Cameroon life Conservation Society, New York, NY, USA Etiendem, D. N. (2008): The Power of Local distribution campaign around the same Stories in Lebialem, Cameroon. Gorilla Jour- time but we are still seeking support. nal 37 Adam Pérou Hermans Amir, Etiendem, D. N. et al. (2011): Traditional knowledge systems and the conservation of Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho and Cross River gorillas: A case study of Bechati, Noal Zainab Amir Fossimondi, Besali, Cameroon. Ecology and Society 16 (3), 22 The Gorilla Folk Films from the Cross Fuentes, A. (2012): Ethnoprimatology and the Anthropology of the Human-Primate Interface. River Headwaters can be viewed at Annual Review of Anthropology 41, 101–117 www.folkfilmmaking.org Goldman, M. (2007): Tracking wildebeest, lo- cating knowledge: Maasai and conservation Special thanks to the traditional authorities biology understandings of wildebeest behavior and people of Bamba, Bechati, Besali, Kum- in Northern Tanzania. Environment and Plan- ba, Mamfé, Mmockmbie, Njikwa, Oku, Okwa I ning D: Society and Space 25 (2), 307–331 & II, and Wula for their hospitality, warmth, and Hill, C. M. (2002): Primate Conservation and support throughout the production process. Local Communities: Ethical Issues and De- We also extend profound gratitude to all ac- bates. American Anthropologist 104, 1184– tors and filming production assistants across 1194 the entire series. A tremendous thank you, as Lee, P. C. (2010): Sharing Space: Can Eth- well, to the staff of the Environment and Ru- noprimatology Contribute to the Survival of ral Development Foundation (ERuDeF), Wild- Nonhuman Primates in Human-Dominated life Conservation Society (WCS) and officials Globalized Landscapes? American Journal of from the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife for all Primatology 72, 925–931 their help and hard work. Finally, a deep thank Meder, A. (1999): Gorillas in African Culture you to Fauna & Flora International for their and Medicine. Gorilla Journal 18 faith, encouragement, and assistance; with- Newman, J. L. (2013): Encountering Gorillas: out their support this project would not have A Chronicle of Discovery, Exploitation, Under- been possible. standing, and Survival. Rowan & Littlefield: 13 Nkembi, L. & Leke, R. (2013): Cameroon Los- es a Cross River Gorilla. Gorilla Journal 46 References Wright, J. H. (2010): Use of Film for Commu- Dunn, A. et al. (2014): Revised Regional Ac- nity Conservation Education in Primate Habi- tion Plan for the Conservation of the Cross tat Countries. American Journal of Primatology River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli): 2014–2019. 72, 464–466

Junior Caleb Laisin joking around with a gorilla mask from Oku, North West, Cameroon. The carvers make the gorilla masks so that their community will remember what they have lost. The carver Ban La Nying features in the short filmA Message From Oku. Photo: Adam Pérou Hermans Amir festival. Around the same time, our col- league Nkonyu, an integral part of our first two films, will begin screen- ing the series at schools and commu- The cover for Nzhu Jimangemi (The Gorilla’s Wife), a film about gorilla nity meetings in Cross River, Nigeria, totems set in the Lebialem Highlands of Southwest Cameroon

19 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 RAIN FOREST

African Tropical Forests evaluate the impacts of selective tim- decades, seriously diminishing above- ber harvesting on forest ecology and ground carbon storage capacity, and Are under Stress we found that even low-intensity selec- create opportunities for weeds and Tropical deforestation is well known to tive logging causes significant changes vines to spread and slow down the eco- have serious negative consequences to ecosystems. This is one of the first logical succession. for biodiversity, terrestrial carbon sinks studies which approaches the effects This practice is causing long-term and the balance of atmospheric green- of “sustainable” selective logging not changes to tropical forest ecology in house gases. By contrast, selective only on wildlife but directly on tree di- Africa by altering tree communities logging of tropical forests is often re- versity and biomass. and, in this way, indirectly affecting ani- garded as having a lesser impact on In other words, we demonstrate that mal diversity (most of the forest ana- the ecosystem particularly in the long the negative effects, even at small log- lysed are the habitats of great apes, term, even though there have been few ging volumes, is evident on selective- rare birds, monkeys and cats, forest critical evaluations of the practice, par- ly logged forests and it worsens with elephants, endangered reptiles and ticularly in Africa. time (even after 50 years). We esti- amphibians, unclassified insects, etc.). Recently, we published new re- mated a loss of 50 % of tree diversity Our paper published in the journal Eco- search which shows how significant (even where the removed trees are 1–2 logical ­Research clearly demonstrates the impact of selective logging on Af- per hectare!) and of 60 % of biomass that the effects of logging (even if se- rican tropical forests can be. As this (which means that it is only 40 % less lective), and carried out under “respon- practice is the most widespread form than clearcutting!). sible forest management” schemes, of land use in world tropical forests, our Moreover, we show that the effects are considerable and common in all results, together with a growing body of selective logging are greater than the countries where this practice is al- of evidence, indicate that selective log- those expected simply from the remov- lowed. ging is not as benign as companies al of commercial species, and can per- Given our results and other recent and researchers in commercial forestry sist for decades. Selective logging, un- findings, we suggest that certification usually suggest. less it is practiced at very low harvest schemes – like the Forest Stewardship Our paper (Cazzolla Gatti et al. intensities, can significantly reduce the Council (FSC) and the Pan-European 2015) summarizes more than 3 years biomass of a tropical forest for many Forest Certification Council (PEFC) – of field research in tropical Africa (fund- ed by European Union through an ERC project) conducted in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Gabon by our team at the University of Tuscia, in It- aly and with the support of internation- al renowned researchers such as D. Coomes and J. Linsday. We compared field data collected in 511 plots in the tropical forest of the four countries. These plots were subject to different forest management practices: no recent logging (primary forests), se- lective logging (up to 30 years old) and re-grown secondary forests post clear- cutting (at least 20 years ago). Our findings suggest that the vertical struc- ture, stem density, the prevalence of vine and weed species and plant rich- ness of the selectively logged and sec- ondary forests differ greatly from those of primary forests. We compared several variables Cutting a tree that was just felled across different management forests to Photo: Roberto Cazzolla Gatti

20 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 RAIN FOREST

may be completely unsustainable from The objective of this research is to crease in local temperature. Our work an ecological point of view. alert not only the scientific community advances our current understanding of There appears to be a consensus but also NGOs and governments to the the growth responses of trees to at- that selective logging causes relatively necessity of reviewing licence and for- mospheric CO2 concentration, clarify- minor disturbance and is thus accept- est management. This is reinforced by ing possible interaction with tempera- able within the requirements of some another paper (Battipaglia et al. 2015) ture. This is a key requirement for as- certification schemes such as the FSC. – led by G. Battipaglia of University sessing the long-term responses and However, evidence of long-term ef- of Caserta – we published recently on feedback between forest ecosystems fects of selective logging on carbon se- PlosONE, of whom I am one of the au- and future climate. questration and biodiversity is poor and thors. Here we tried to evaluate to what Other evidence on the reduction of sometimes overlooked, particularly in extent African tree growth is influenced the growth of tropical forests, contra- Africa, despite the increasingly wide by global anthropogenic disturbances, ry to what was previously suggested, adoption of this practice. such as rising concentrations of CO2 together with the fact that these eco- We conclude our paper arguing that and climate change. Long-term tree- systems are being damaged by selec- policymakers and conservationists ring chronologies of three widespread tive logging, underline that our atten- should not consider selective logging African species were measured in Cen- tion should be paid not just to totally a sustainable practice because our pa- tral Africa to analyze the growth of trees destructive practices such as deforest- per suggests exactly the opposite and over the last two centuries. Growth ation (clear-cutting) for alternative land it seems true for different countries and trends were correlated to changes in uses (crops or grazing, commonly in forest types. This practice has sever- global atmospheric CO2 concentration the Amazon, or the palm oil plantations al important negative effects on forest and local variations in the main climatic that are typical of Southeast Asia), but structure, dynamics, biodiversity and drivers, temperature and rainfall. Our also to the selective logging of the last ecosystem services and these effects results provided no evidence for a fer- virgin forests of Africa and of the re- can be truly evaluated only in the long tilization effect of CO2 on tree growth. grown secondary forests that are al- term by analysing the evolving dynam- On the contrary, an overall growth de- ready stressed by climatic changes. ics of repeated logging and, not the cline was observed for all three spe- This may be a more serious cause of mean structural values, but the indices cies in the last century, which seems forest degradation than what has been linked to the arboreal density. to be significantly correlated to the in- thought to date. These first results sug- gest that it will be crucial to increase re- search about the key question for for- est management and conservation: is selective logging really sustainable for tropical forests? Our answer is: no! Roberto Cazzolla Gatti

Original publication Cazzolla Gatti, R. et al. (2015): The im- pact of selective logging and clearcut- ting on forest structure, tree diversity and above-ground biomass of African tropical forests, Ecological Research 30 (1), 119–132

Reference Battipaglia, G. et al. (2015): Long Tree-Ring Chronologies Provide Evidence of Recent Tree Growth Decrease in a Central African Tropical Forest. PLoS ONE 10 (3), e0120962. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120962

Felled rain forest trees ready for transportation Photo: Roberto Cazzolla Gatti

21 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 READING

Arcus Foundation attractive international agribusiness in­ in-Wildlife---A-framework-to-improve- State of the Apes – Industrial Agri­ vestments are for government – con­ biodiversity-and-livelihood-outcomes/ culture and Ape Conservation. Cam­ cessions are readily provided, even if bridge (Cambridge University Press) the land is used by local communities. FAO 2015. 360 pages, 1 b/w illustration, Good environmental laws are usually in Global Forest Resources Assess­ 116 colour illustrations, 19 tables. place, but often they are not enforced. ment 2015. How are the world’s forests Hard­cover: ISBN 978-1-107-13968- Chapter 5 introduces the RSPO changing? Rome 2015. 56 pages. PDF 8, £ 69.99. Paperback: ISBN 978-1- (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) download (2.9 MB): http://www.fao. 316-50523-6, £ 24.99. Available on the and discusses its effectiveness. org/3/a-i4793e.pdf Arcus Foundation website for download Chapter 6 deals with the impacts of at: http://www.stateoftheapes.com/ industrial agriculture on ape ecology. FAO volume-2-industrial-agriculture/ It describes how the different ape taxa Global Forest Resources Assess­ Principal authors are Helga Rainer, react to the new habitats, how they ment 2015. Desk reference. Rome Alison White and Annette Lanjouw, but can use them and which human–ape 2015. 253 pages. PDF download (4.5 each chapter has its own author(s). conflicts may arise. MB): http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4808e.pdf The book has two separate sections: a The impact of industrial agriculture larger one on industrial agriculture and has already become dramatic in South­ Greenpeace ape conservation, the second one on east Asia, especially of oil palm; as the Opportunity Knocks. How and why the status and welfare of apes. demand is still growing, more areas will Chinese importers need to help fight Chapter 1 discusses the devastating be transferred to plantations during the illegal logging in the Congo Basin. impact of plantations to climate next decades, especially in Africa – so November 2015. 20 pages. change and ape populations as well this problem will increase for African PDF download (2.2 MB): http:// as approaches for mitigation. Palm apes. This book provides a very useful www.greenpeace.org/africa/Global/ oil accounts for 40 % of the global basis for discussions and activities to africa/publications/forests/Opportuniy_ production of vegetable oil. deal with this threat. Knocks.pdf Chapter 2 describes deforestation Angela Meder and industrial agriculture in 3 countries Global Witness in detail. In Cameroon, where gorilla Blood Timber. How Europe helped habitat is threatened, the government New on the Internet fund war in the Central African Re­ wants to increase palm oil production public. July 2015. 32 pages. ISBN 978- from 300,000 metric tons in 2015 to The Kahuzi-Biega National Park has a 0-9574857-9-2. PDF download (3.6 450,000 in 2020. Oil palm concessions new website: http://www.kahuzi-biega. MB): https://www.globalwitness.org/ cover 1 % of the total gorilla range, and org/ reports/bloodtimber/ the further expansion of oil palm and Another site with information and rubber plantations will be the primary news: https://parcnationalkahuzibiega. Jason K. Stearns and Christoph cause of agro-industrial deforestation wordpress.com/ Vogel (also within gorilla habitat). The Landscape of Armed Groups Chapter 3 deals with the conversion OFAC-COMIFAC & RAPAC in Eastern Congo. Congo Research of forest to plantations in Sub-Saharan Aires protégées d’Afrique centrale. Group, December 2015. 10 pages. Africa. It introduces the products of Etat 2015. 260 pages. PDF download PDF download (3.5 MB): http:// industrial agriculture and discusses (25 MB): http://www.observatoire- congoresearchgroup.org/wp-content/ their importance. Africa imports more comifac.net/edAP2015.php uploads/2015/11/The-Landscape-of- palm oil than it produces. 60 % of the Armed-Groups-in-Eastern-Congo1.pdf land currently allocated to oil palm International Trade Centre (ITC) concessions overlaps with great ape The Trade in Wildlife: A Framework Ledio Cakaj habitat. Examples for agricultural to Improve Biodiversity and Livelihood Tusk Wars. Inside the LRA and the operations’ impact on ape populations Outcomes. Geneva 2015. XII, 29 Bloody Business of Ivory. enough are given and attempts for more pages (Technical paper), Doc. No.: SC- pro­ject, October 2015. 28 pages. responsible practices are discussed. 15-311.E. PDF download (1.8 MB): http:// Chapter 4 explains the legal frame­ PDF download (2 MB: http://www. www.enoughproject.org/files/Tusk_ works in 8 countries. It shows how intracen.org/publication/The-Trade- Wars_10262015.pdf

22 Gorilla Journal 51, December 2015 BERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE

Our Donors Great Ape Photo From May to October 2015 we re­ Exhibition in Vienna ceived major donations by Angela Dick­ On 5 June 2015, Johannes Refisch mann, Dorothee Eckes, Horst Eg­ger, who works at UNEP/GRASP opened Marianne Famula, Fellbacher Wein­ his great ape photo exhibition in the gärtner, Jürgen and Irmgard Fried­rich, Rotunda of the Vienna International Ayten Gülec – Wu Sheng Schule für Centre (UN). This exhibition has been traditionelles Kung Fu, Marco Grune­ shown in different places in Africa and wald, Ingrid and Karl-Georg Gut­jahr, Europe already. The opening was Helga Innerhofer, Dag­mar Kal­lup, Isa­ enriched by a Cameroonian group that bella Löber, Anne Pfisterer, Pieter­nella performed music and dance. Pols Fonds, Birgit Reime, Wolfram Riet­schel, Alfred Roszyk, Karl Sailer, Photos: Angela Meder Christoph Speier, Familie Uhl/Schmitt, Jacques Welter, Christof Wiedemair, Andrea Würz and Zoo Milwaukee. Some donors supported us with very special activities: The Fellbacher Wein­gärtnergenossenschaft for the second time transferred the funds they collected from the sale of the gorilla wine. Ingrid Jäger-Gutjahr donated the proceeds of her childrens’ book Jeder kann was! for a project that supports Bwindi gorilla conservation through ed- ucation in schools. Andrea Würz col- lected donations at her birthday party. WIGWAM Tours supported us with their excellent infrastructure to and in Ugan- da to transport T-shirts for the trackers of the Sarambwe Reserve.

Many thanks to everybody, including all the donors that could not be listed by name here. We are grateful for any support, and we hope that you will con- tinue to support our work in 2016!

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