Inputs for the Design of an EU Strategic Approach to Wildlife Conservation in Africa
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Larger than elephants Inputs for the design of an EU strategic approach to Wildlife Conservation in Africa Volume 4: Central Africa DRAFT DOCUMENT Volume 4 CENTRAL AFRICA CENTRAL AFRICA Western lowland gorilla, an iconic species of the Central African rainforests. An adult male displays in a forest clearing in Odzala-Koukoua National Park, Congo. Photo © Sylvain Gatti & Florence Levréro, CNRS, Station Biologique Paimpont- Université de Rennes Inputs for the design of an EU strategic approach to wildlife conservation in Africa Page 1 Final report Volume 4 CENTRAL AFRICA TABLE OF CONTENTS 0 RATIONALE ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1 SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REGION .................................................................................... 10 1.1 MOIST TROPICAL FORESTS ............................................................................................................................................... 11 1.2 MOIST FOREST-SAVANNA TRANSITION ZONES .................................................................................................................... 14 1.3 EAST SUDANIAN SAVANNAS AND SAHELIAN ACACIA SAVANNAS ........................................................................................... 15 1.4 SOUTHERN MIOMBO WOODLANDS ..................................................................................................................................... 16 2 CONSERVATION ISSUES AND CHALLENGES ........................................................................................................... 17 2.1 DIRECT THREATS ............................................................................................................................................................. 17 2.1.1 Unsustainable commerce of wild animal protein ........................................................................................................................... 17 2.1.2 Massive, criminal-organized, international trade in wildlife and ivory ............................................................................................ 18 2.1.3 Habitat loss .................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 2.1.4 Emerging diseases ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 2.2 KEY DRIVERS OF THREATS ............................................................................................................................................... 23 2.2.1 Human population growth and poverty .......................................................................................................................................... 23 2.2.2 Poor governance ............................................................................................................................................................................ 24 2.2.3 National and regional conflict ......................................................................................................................................................... 25 3 ONGOING CONSERVATION EFFORTS ........................................................................................................................ 26 3.1 COMIFAC, CBFP AND ECCAS – A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION. ........................................ 26 3.2 KEY FUNDING AGENCIES AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS ................................................................................................... 27 4 LESSONS LEARNED AND PROMISING APPROACHES ............................................................................................. 32 4.1 THE BEST REMAINING ASSEMBLAGES OF BIODIVERSITY ARE IN PROTECTED AREAS. .............................................................. 32 4.2 LONG-TERM FUNDING IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION .......................................................... 32 4.3 A LANDSCAPE APPROACH, INCLUDING TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREAS, ENHANCES BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ..... 32 4.4 PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR OFFER PROMISING MODELS FOR ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN CENTRAL AFRICA .......................................................................................................................................................................... 32 4.5 POLITICAL WILL AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IS ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION. .................................... 36 4.6 CREATING CONSERVATION CONSTITUENCIES IN FOREST ENVIRONMENTS HAS PROVED CHALLENGING.................................... 37 4.7 CONSERVATION PROJECTS ARE TOO OFTEN DIVERTED FROM THEIR PRINCIPAL MISSION BY BEING EXPECTED TO RESOLVE ALL THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES. ............................................................................................................ 38 4.8 CONSUMPTIVE AND NON-CONSUMPTIVE TOURISM HAVE PROVIDED SOME OF THE BEST COMMUNITY CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORIES IN CENTRAL AFRICA. ....................................................................................................................................................... 38 4.9 WILDLIFELAW ENFORCEMENT OUTCOMES IMPROVE SIGNIFICANTLY IF THE ENTIRE JUDICIAL PROCESS FROM ARREST TO PROSECUTION IS CLOSELY MONITORED. ......................................................................................................................................... 39 4.10 LAW ENFORCEMENT ALONE IS NOT A LONG TERM SOLUTION TO THE BUSHMEAT CRISIS. ........................................................ 39 5 INDICATIVE CONSERVATION ACTIONS / PRIORITY CONSERVATION NEEDS ...................................................... 40 5.1 IN SITU LONG-TERM SUPPORT TO PROTECTED AREAS IN KEY LANDSCAPES FOR CONSERVATION .......................................... 40 5.1.1 Transfrontier conservation areas (TFCA) ...................................................................................................................................... 43 5.1.2 Other priority KLC’s ........................................................................................................................................................................ 48 5.2 ENGAGE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY TO ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION OUTSIDE PROTECTED AREAS 1 5.3 TRAINING AND INSTITUTION BUILDING .................................................................................................................................. 1 5.4 TACKLING THE BUSHMEAT ISSUE ......................................................................................................................................... 1 5.4.1 Reduce the demand for bushmeat................................................................................................................................................... 3 5.4.2 Improve the sustainability of the supply by better management of the resource............................................................................. 4 5.4.3 Create a conducive and enabling institutional and policy environment. .......................................................................................... 4 5.5 DISMANTLING WILDLIFE CRIME NETWORKS AND CURBING THE DEMAND .................................................................................. 5 APPENDICES................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 APPENDIX 1. THE CONGO BASIN FOREST PARTNERSHIP (CBFP) ...................................................................................................... 8 Inputs for the design of an EU strategic approach to wildlife conservation in Africa Page 2 Final report Volume 4 CENTRAL AFRICA APPENDIX 2. LIST OF NONGOVERNMENTAL FUNDERS AND TECHNICAL PARTNERS ACTIVE IN CENTRAL AFRICA ....................................... 9 List of tables Table 1. Summary of key features of the Central African KLCs ............................................................................................... 51 List of Figures Figure 1. Major biomes of the Central African region ............................................................................................................... 10 Figure 2. Mining permits in the TRIDOM landscape (source WWF)......................................................................................... 22 Figure 3. Map of the Greater Virunga TFCA............................................................................................................................. 44 Figure 4. Map of Greater TRIDOM/TNS Transfrontier Conservation Area ............................................................................... 46 Figure 5. Map of the Gamba/Mayumba/Conkouati Transfrontier Conservation Area............................................................... 47 List of Boxes Box 1. Key elements of the COMFAC Convergence Plan 2015-2025 ..................................................................................... 26 Box 2. African Parks – a new model for protected area management ..................................................................................... 34 Box 3. PROGEPP – a public private