Conservation of Slender-Snouted Crocodile in the Lake Region of Gabon CLP ID: 01194114

Reducing commerce of illegal bushmeat and rallying support for slender-snouted crocodile conservation

Lambaréné, Gabon, July 2014 – December 2016 Authors: Cyrille Mvele ([email protected]) Hermann Engone ([email protected]) Digondi Cédric ([email protected]) Rébecca Hermande Djanivenda ([email protected]) Heather Arrowood ([email protected])

www.oelogabon.org 1 Sept 2017

Table of Contents

Project Partners and Collaborators 4 Section 1 Summary 6 Introduction 6 Project Members 8 Section 2 Aim and Objectives 10 Changes to Original Project Plan 10 Methodology 10 Outputs and Results 11 Communication and Application of Results 14 Monitoring and Evaluation 15 Achievements and Impacts 15 Capacity Development and Leadership Capabilities 16 Section 3 Conclusion 17 Problems Encountered and Lessons Learnt 17 In the Future 18 Financial Report 19 Section 4 Appendix 1: CLP M&E Measures Table 20 Appendix 2:Projet Faux Gavial Logos 21 Appendix 3: Protected Species Fliers 22 Appendix 4: Crocodile/Manatee panel at bushmeat market 23 Appendix 5: Crocodile/Manatee mural “Our Lady of the Ogooué” 24 Appendix 6: 2015 World Environment Day collage 26 Appendix 7: 2016 World Environment Day collage 27 Appendix 8: WACA GSA Presentation: Projet Faux Gavial 29 Appendix 9: Projet Faux Gavial Poster 32 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015 33 Appendix 11: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2015 41 Appendix 12: Bushmeat Market Report March 2016 47 Appendix 13: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2016 52 Appendix 14: 2016 World Wetlands Day Report 57 Appendix 15: Mayoral decree forbidding commerce of protected species 62 Appendix 16: Collaborative agreement with city of Lambaréné 64 Appendix 17: Youth nature center contract 68 Appendix 18: Classroom presentation “Gabon the Last Stronghold of the Slender-snouted Crocodile” 70 Appendix 19: Environmental Education classroom activities 72 Appendix 20: Student questionnaires 73 Appendix 21: Projet Faux Gavial Scholarship 74 Appendix 22: Slender-snouted crocodile mural 75

2 Appendix 23: Student protected species mural 76 Appendix 24: Slender-snouted crocodile TV special 77 Appendix 25: Independence Day parade 78 Appendix 26: Participatory crocodile survey route 79 Appendix 27: Survey route data sheets 80 Appendix 28: Projet Faux Gavial cards 81 Appendix 29: Student citizen science photos of bushmeat 82 Appendix 30: Newspaper article in national paper 83 Appendix 31: OELO Programs Report 2015-2016: Projet Faux Gavial 84 Appendix 32: Oryx conservation news 85 Bibliography 87 Address list and Web Links 87

3 Project Partners and Collaborators

OELO (Organisation Ecotouristique du Lac Oguemoué) – OELO is a Gabonese non-governmental organization that was formed in November 2010, when residents from the Lake Oguemoué area decided to protect their lake and environment for future generations. OELO’s first project became a community-based ecotourism site, Tsam Tsam, to create a source of revenue for local residents that valued biodiversity conservation. OELO’s mission expanded to include the protection of ecosystem services, to build support for conservation through education, and to help local residents generate income through the sustainable use of resources. OELO now leads five programs: Environmental Education, Community Outreach on Protected Species, Ecotourism, Sustainable Fishing, and Biodiversity Research. Projet Faux Gavial team members are all employees or board members of OELO.

City of Lambaréné- OELO began officially collaborating with the City of Lambaréné, as a result of Projet Faux Gavial, in 2015 with the installation of a crocodile/manatee billboard at the main market highlighting their protected status and an underwater mural highlighting the slender-snouted crocodile at the main intersection of town. In October 2015, the Mayor signed a decree forbidding the sale of protected species in city limits. In 2016, OELO and the city signed a formal partnership agreement to work on conservation initiatives and launched their first joint project: a youth nature center and community space to promote wetland biodiversity and conservation.

Provincial Academy of the Moyen-Ogooué- OELO’s environmental education curriculum is designed with input and approval of the provincial school system who facilitate coordination with 17 primary and secondary schools. Since 2012, the OELO team has worked with the provincial academy and school directors to reach thousands of students each year. Teacher mentor counterparts at each school are trained and given support to create nature clubs and stewardship projects at each school.

Nature Clubs- OELO works with over 20 clubs a year including hundreds of students, in schools, churches, and neighborhood associations to identify local environmental problems, propose solutions the students can lead, and equip them to carry out their stewardship project. Top students win environmental scholarships and trips to OELO’s ecotourism site at Tsam Tsam at OELO’s annual World Environment Day event.

TSAM TSAM- In addition to sponsoring multiple trips each year for top students, OELO’s ecotourism site at Tsam Tsam generates revenues for scholarships, community events, biodiversity research, sustainable fishing initiatives, educational materials, and nature club activities. Revenues from Tsam Tsam partially financed this project period of Projet Faux Gavial.

4 ANPN and DGEPN- OELO’s activities are focused in the largest wetland of international importance in the Gabon: the Bas Ogooué Ramsar Site. As the Government of Gabon sets up systems and regulations for managing its Ramsar Sites, OELO increasingly collaborates with the National Park Agency (ANPN) and the Direction General for the Protection of Nature (DGEPN) who provided additional funding for some of the Projet Faux Gavial Environmental Education and outreach efforts.

USFWS Wildlife Without Borders- For 5 years OELO has received support from the USFWS Wildlife Without Borders program to reduce consumer preferences for bushmeat from protected species through community outreach, environmental education, and creating partnerships with local authorities and leaders. Based on the successes of these programs by 2014 we had recorded a dramatic reduction in bushmeat for sale from protected species with the exception of the slender-snouted crocodile that still showed up in local markets. Building on the successes of these programs the team developed “Projet Faux Gavial” to specifically target and reduce illegal commerce of the slender-snouted crocodile. USFWS provided complementary funding for this effort.

5 SECTION 1:

Summary

With CLP funding, Cyrille Mvele and team launched a project called “Projet Faux Gavial” (“Project Slender-snouted Crocodile”) to reduce illegal commerce of the critically endangered slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus), to reduce local demand for crocodile meat, and to build awareness and pride for the protected species. We held community outreach events, created a public crocodile mural at the main intersection of Lambaréné, installed a billboard announcing protected species laws at the largest market in the region, created a crocodile mural at a local elementary school, and led community events highlighting crocodile conservation. The team strengthened our partnerships with local city authorities, Gabonese government partners, NGO partners, religious leaders, and school directors. We created student-led nature clubs and presented a slender-snouted crocodile lesson plan that has so far reached 5049 students, in 73 classes, with 58 teachers, in 16 primary and secondary schools. We launched a citizen science project to engage Lambaréné youth to look for crocodiles and record crocodile commerce using their phones. By the end of the project period, for the first time in four years of bushmeat surveys, we had recorded a yearlong period with no slender- snouted crocodile bushmeat for sale at the market and only four observations of crocodile meat in restaurants representing 5% of our surveys, compared to previous years when crocodile meat was found in 67% of our restaurant surveys (Arrowood and Mvele 2017).

Introduction

The critically endangered slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) is in decline globally with Gabon containing some of the last significant populations. The lower Ogooué and lake region of Gabon form the largest wetland of international importance in the country: the Bas Ogooué Ramsar Site. Lambaréné is the largest city in the region and a regional center for hundreds of villages scattered along the riverbanks and lakes shores. The surrounding network of rivers, lakes and flooded forest that are important habitat for the crocodile.

Lambaréné has long been an important hub for wildlife trade as it is located at the crossing of Gabon’s largest river, the Ogooué, with the National Highway 1. Boats come in from the surrounding villages filled with fish and bushmeat to sell to buyers from all over the country. OELO began working on biodiversity conservation in the Bas Ogooué Ramsar Site, in 2011 financed with income from its ecotourism site Tsam Tsam on Lake Oguemoué. In 2012, OELO launched a community outreach program focused on changing consumer preferences for bushmeat from protected species and created an environmental education program (EE) in local primary and secondary schools. At the same time, we began conducting surveys in the main bushmeat market in the region: Marché Isaac, Lambaréné.

6 After two years of outreach and EE programs focused on reducing bushnmeat commerce, OELO’s market surveys started recording a sharp decline in protected species openly for sale in 2014. However, while species like hippos, manatees, and elephants disappeared from the market and restaurants, the critically endanger slender-snouted crocodile remained widely sold.

Between 2012 and 2014, slender-snouted crocodile was the most commonly observed protected species sold as bushmeat in the region, present in 34% of OELO’s market surveys and making up 56% of OELO’s observations of protected species for sale at the local bushmeat market (OELO 2012-2016). In restaurants, crocodile meat was found on 67% of OELO’s surveys between 2013 and 2014. This suggested that local residents and law enforcement officials did not yet understand that the crocodile had protected status in Gabon or that they were ignoring protected species laws.

Building on the success of OELO’s EE and outreach programs in reducing commerce of other protected species, the team launched the project “Projet Faux Gavial” to specially target and reduce commerce of the slender-snouted crocodile in the Bas Ogooué of Gabon. Our objectives were to reduce commerce of the species in local markets, to change consumer preferences for bushmeat from crocodiles in the next generation of consumers and to create awareness and rally local pride for the critically endangered species.

The Bas Ogooué Ramsar Site is the largest protected area in the country. The project area is outlined in red.

7 OELO Offce

Evaro

Onangué

Ezanga

Oguemoué

Ecotourism Site Tsam Tsam

Lambaréné is the largest city with a market serving hundreds of small villages along the river and lakes.

Project Members

Cyrille Mvele - (Co-founder OELO and Programs Manager) - Cyrille grew up fishing in numerous villages in the Bas Ogooué before moving to Libreville to earn a technical diploma and work at a sawmill. He approached project advisor Heather Arrowood in 2009 to initiate an ecotourism site Tsam Tsam in his father’s village on Lake Oguemoué and to create OELO. He is an active member of the community who enjoys working on outreach efforts with the public. Cyrille manages the ecotourism project at Tsam Tsam, leads community outreach and market surveys, facilitates research with partners, coordinates OELO’s sustainable fishing initiative, assists in Environmental Education efforts and leads Projet Faux Gavial.

Hermann Engone- (Secretary General OELO) – Hermann also grew up in a lakeside village on Lake Oguemoué before moving to the capital to pursue two university degrees. He traveled the world as a steward for Gabon Airlines before going back to law school. Now Hermann works with a local law office. In addition to being a board member for OELO, Hermann specifically helps with communications, building community partnerships and offering legal support for OELO’s programs.

Digondi Cédric- (Head guide Tsam Tsam) – Digondi grew up hunting and fishing in his mother’s village on Lake Oguemoué. He nows leads tours with Tsam Tsam guests including crocodile surveys for Projet Faux Gavial and assists with outreach efforts.

Rébecca Djanivenda (Environmental Education Coordinator OELO) - Rébecca joined the OELO team mid-project in 2015. She began as in intern in our Environmental Education program as she completed her Master’s degree in Environmental Safety and Hygiene. Rébecca now leads OELO’s EE program including classroom sessions on slender-snouted crocodiles, nature club stewardship projects promoting crocodile conservation, teacher mentor trainings and community outreach events. During the project period, she organized two annual World Environment Day events, two World Wetlands Day club conferences, one annual Environmental Art Fair, led classroom sessions in 17 schools and coordinated 20 nature clubs.

Advisor

Heather Arrowod (Co-founder OELO and Executive Director) - Heather holds a BS in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and an MESc in Environmental Science from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. She has worked as a research scientist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and as an ecotourism consultant on projects in Africa and the Caribbean. Between 2002 and 2004, she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in northern Cameroon where she led a community-based ecotourism project in Mozogo-Gokoro National Park. Before working in Gabon, she consulted for the private sector with tour operators and lodges in East Africa. She helped operators in Kenya and Tanzania develop strategies to improve their sustainability, community-outreach, conservation initiatives, and interpretation for guests. In addition to being Executive Director of OELO since 2011, Heather has worked with expedition cruises, Travel Dynamic International’s Corinthian II and Lindblad’s National Geographic Explorer, to reduce environmental footprints, designing responsible excursion itineraries, leading tours in 16 countries, and lecturing along the coast of West Africa.

9 SECTION 2:

Aim and Objectives

The goal of Projet Faux Gavial is to eliminate commerce of the critically endangered slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) in Lambaréné Gabon. Specifically the objectives for the project period were to:

1: Reduce selling of crocodile meat through outreach with local hunters, vendors, and restaurant owners

2: Reduce demand for bushmeat through an environmental education campaign in schools targeted at the next generation of consumers

3: Build local awareness and enthusiasm for the species’ conservation and gather information on distribution through launching of a citizen science project

Changes to Original Project Plan

The timeline of our original plan changed considerably. The start of our project was delayed by four months due to banking complications and the CLP funds did not arrive in our Gabonese bank account until October 2014. We then shifted the start of classroom sessions and environmental education activities from late 2014 to early 2015. Unfortunately, in January 2015 public servants in Gabon, including all public school teachers and most private school teachers, went on strike for three months resulting in the schools being closed until April 2015. When the schools re-opened, they were limited with time and focused on core curriculum for exams. We then delayed our classroom sessions again until the beginning of the following school year in late 2015. We therefore requested an extension of our project dates through the end of 2015. We modified our activities in the early phases of the project to work more with private religious schools and church groups that were not affected by the strike and we organized more community outreach activities than anticipated. We finally launched our public school efforts in October 2015. We submitted our preliminary final report in January 2016 and received the remainder of the CLP funds in October 2016. We extended the end of the project period through the end of 2016 to use the remainder of the funds.

Methodology

1: Reduce selling of crocodile meat through outreach with local hunters, vendors, and restaurant owners

- Outreach with vendors, restaurant owners, fishers, hunters, consumers, and community leaders using protected species fliers, T-shirts, and the creation of informative panel at local market targeted current crocodile commerce.

- Strengthening collaborations with local leaders and partners to enforce protected species laws and lead outreach included a cooperative agreement with the Mayors office, a decree signed by the Mayor to enforced protected species laws, joint community projects and a youth nature center donated by the city of Lambaréné.

- Market and restaurant surveys to monitor changes in availability with time

2: Reduce demand for bushmeat through an environmental education campaign in schools targeted at the next generation of consumers

- Classroom presentations on the slender-snouted crocodile in primary and secondary schools targeted the next generation of consumers. In-the- classroom activities included Powerpoint presentations followed by activities that engaged students. Crocodile drawing and poetry contests were used at the elementary school level while role playing and sketches were used in secondary schools to practice saying no to illegal bushmeat and to practice informing family members and friends.

- Nature clubs formed in schools during school year and in neighborhoods and religious instituations during school breaks.

- Nature club led outreach activities including restaurant outreach, mural projects, outreach fairs at schools, and a slender-snouted crocodile television special were all led by students. Teacher mentors at each school were trained and given resources to facilitate nature club activities at each school.

3: Build local awareness and enthusiasm for the species’ conservation and gather information on distribution through launching of a citizen science project

- Citizen science monitoring by youth of crocodile bushmeat for sale using WhatsApp

- Community murals highlighting crocodile conservation

- Community events in Lambaréné included two World Environment Days, World Wetlands Day, and an Environmental Art Fair.

Output and Results

Objective 1: Reduce selling of crocodile meat by outreach to local hunters, vendors, and restaurant owners

11 Outputs:

-Projet Faux Gavial Logo and T-shirts created (Appendix 2- Projet Faux Gavial Logo)

-5,000 Fliers and posters distributed to community members and students (Appendix 3- Protected Species Flier)

-Interviews held with 6 hunters identified the areas for further study, methods of crocodile capture, and areas of crocodile commerce.

-Crocodile billboard created at main market in partnership with Mayor’s office (Appendix 4- Crocodile/manatee billboard)

-Underwater crocodile and manatee mural created at main intersection in Lambaréné in partnership with Mayor’s office, a local school, and the local Catholic church (Appendix 5- Crocodile/manatee mural “Our lady of the Ogooué”)

-2015 World Environment Day held with 400 student participants and 200 community representatives focused on reducing slender-snouted crocodile commerce (Appendix 6- 2015 WED Collage)

-2016 World Environment Day held with 500 students and 300 community representations focused on crocodile habitat/wetland conservation (Appendix 7- 2016 WED Collage)

-Cyrille participated in weeklong training on crocodile surveys and market survey techniques with Matt Shirley in Ivory Coast and then led two team trainings.

-306 market surveys and 287 restaurant surveys were completed during project period and recorded in 4 market survey reports (Appendices 10 -13). Each report was shared with the Ministry of Water and Forests, the Mayor’s office, the chief prosecutor, local law enforcement, and local NGO partners highlighting the importance of crocodile meat and the need to focus on slender-snouted crocodile conservation. The final two reports showed that no crocodiles were recorded for sale for a yearlong period at the market (Sept 2015 -Sept 2016), and only four observations were recorded in restaurants (5% of observations). Comparatively slender-snouted crocodiles were present in 34% of previous bushmeat surveys, comprising 56% of protected species recorded, and recorded during 67% of restaurant surveys before Sept 2015!

-Improved coordination with the Ministry of Water and Forests has led to joint outreach and EE initiatives for wetland conservation at the 2016 World Wetlands Day event and a joint outreach project on wetland biodiversity (Appendix 14- World Wetlands Day 2016)

12 -Improved collaboration with Mayor’s Office led to signing of Mayoral decree in February 2015 forbidding the sale of protected species in Lambaréné city limits (Appendix 15- Mayoral Decree on Protected Species), a collaborative agreement between OELO and the city of Lambaréné (Appendix 15- Collaborative Agreement), and a contract to work together on a youth nature center with a house donated by the city (Appendix 17- Youth Nature Center contract)

Objective 2: Reduce demand for bushmeat through an environmental education campaign in schools targeted at the next generation

-Powerpoint presentation created for both primary schoool students and secondary school students on the Slender-Snouted Crocodile and team trained to lead presentation (Appendix 18: Slender-snouted Crocodile Classroom Presentation)

-73 classrooms, 5049 students, 58 teachers, at 17 schools so far reached with presentations (Appendix 19: EE Classroom Activities)

-Student questionnaires were given to a subset of students and teachers to monitor changes in knowledge and reported behavior and to gather feedback (Appendix 20: Questionnaires)

-22 scholarships and 50 students awarded fieldtrips during the project period. First Projet Faux Gavial scholarship awarded (Appendix 21 Projet Faux Gavial annual scholarship).

-8 clubs were launched during the 2015-2016 school year, 6 clubs were active over the summer break. 12 clubs were active at the end of the project period with over 400 active students.

-Club, “Les Anges de la Nature” from St Joseph created a song and dance that was presented to the community and on TV, at World Wetlands Day 2016, and at World Environment Day 2016. They then created a crocodile mural at St Joseph (Appendix 22: Slender-snouted crocodile mural, club Les Anges de la Nature)

-Students of club Nature’s fuel coordinated with the local fishing center to create a mural of protected species, including the slender-snouted crocodile (Appendix 23: Protected Species Mural).

-A 45-minute crocodile special on local TV station was organized by a collaboration of nature club leaders. The special was aired on local TV and shared on social media (Appendix 24: Slender-snouted crocodile TV special).

-Club leaders participated in the 2016 Independence Day parade chanting crocodile conservation messages to the community (Appendix 25: Independence Day Parade)

13 Objective 3:Build local awareness for the species’ conservation and gather information on distribution through launching of citizen science project

-Survey route designated and data sheets created (Appendix 26: Participatory survey route, Appendix 27: survey route data sheets).

-Citizen Science project practiced in classrooms (Appendix 28: Projet Faux Gavial cards) and then launched with students identifying and filming where crocodile bushmeat is being sold leading to 35 observations of bushmeat for sale (Appendix 29: student photos of bushmeat).

-On at least two occasions student photos and communication with the Ministry of Water and Forest led to interventions.

-WED press coverage made national TV and newspapers reaching 10s of thousands of people (Appendices 30: Article in National Paper)

-Local TV special aired in the Lambaréné region and online (Appendix 23) -3 TV news reports on the national channel highlighted community events -3 radio emissions reported on community events - OELO Programs reports shared with partners at end of 2016 (Appendix 31: Projet Faux Gavial page of programs report)

Communication and Application of Results

Our bushmeat survey reports were shared with local conservation partners including the Mayor of Lambaréné, the Ministry of Water and Forests, local and national NGOs, the head of courts, and local law enforcement to highlight the need to apply protected species laws to crocodile commerce (Appendices 10-13)

Community outreach and environmental education activities for Projet Faux Gavial were communicated with local and national press including TV, newspaper and radio (Appendices 23 and 29).

Powerpoint and poster presentation of project results were shared at regional and international crocodile conferences by project leader Cyrille Mvele with funding secured by advisor Matt Shirley. Cyrille presented at the “3éme Réunion Régionale de l’Afrique de l’Ouest et de l’Afrique Centrale du Groupe des Spécialistes de Crocodiles de l'UICN” in Cote d’Ivoire (Dec 8-10, 2015) (Appendix 8- WCAGSC Presentation) and then presented a poster of project results at the 24th working meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group in South Africa, May 2016 where he won a best poster award (Appendix 9- Projet Faux Gavial Poster).

CLP published an online article on the success of Projet Faux Gavial http://www.conservationleadershipprogramme.org/news/removing-rare-crocs- menu/ and a conservation news piece was published in Oryx on project results

14 thanks to encouragement from CLP partners (Arrowood and Mvele 2017) (Appendix 31).

Monitoring and Evaluation

Market surveys were used to record changes in crocodile bushmeat availability over time to monitor the success of our efforts (Appendices 10-13).

Citizen science project using WhatsApp provided complimentary data on crocodile commerce to our market surveys (Appendices 29 and 30).

Student and teacher feedback from questionnaires allowed us to adapt EE programs and monitor attitude and knowledge changes over time. (Appendix 20).

Achievements and Impacts

By the end of the project period, and for the first time since OELO began their market surveys in 2012, no slender-snouted crocodiles were recorded for sale at the Lambaréné market for a yearlong period between 2015 and 2016. Additionally, during this time period, only four observations of slender-snouted crocodile meat were recorded in restaurants (making up 5% of restaurant surveys). This contrasted previous surveys between 2012 and 2014, when slender-snouted crocodiles were present in 34% of market surveys, comprising 56% of protected species recorded, and 67% of restaurant surveys before Sept 2015.

Slender-snouted crocodile continued to be sold in 2013 and 2014 at Marché Isaac Lambaréné, while other protected species disappeared from bushmeat tables, leading to the creation of Projet Faux Gavial in 2015. After 2015, we recorded one year without crocodile openly for sale.

Monitoring of restaurants began in the closed season of 2013-2014 (September 2013) at Marché Isaac. Between 2015 and 2016 no observations were made of slender-snouted crocodiles for sale on bushmeat tables and only four observations were recorded in restaurants.

We strengthened partnerships with both local authorities and national governmental partners. We hosted numerous community events together and created an environmental scholarship program offering 20 scholarships to local students and 50 nature club members won fieldtrips to our ecotourism site at Tsam Tsam over the project period. The Mayor of Lambaréné showed his commitment to crocodile conservation and enforcing protected species laws by signing a Mayoral decree in February 2015 to forbid commerce of protected species in Lambaréné. We further strengthened our collaboration with a cooperative agreement and a joint project to create a youth nature center with a house donated by the city.

In addition to reaching thousands of kids in the classroom, we actively engaged over 400 youth in clubs, leading stewardship projects, and leading crocodile outreach. A dozen students became active in our citizen science initiative. In some cases students engaged directly with law enforcement and governmental partners to report illegal crocodile commerce.

Capacity Development and Leadership Capabilities

Team leader Cyrille Mvele gained experience in project planning and implementation, leading surveys and presenting results at meetings and conferences. He led two trainings with the rest of the team. All team members gained experience organizing education programs, leading community events,

16 building partnerships, and working with the media. Rebecca and Cyrille gained experience writing grant proposals and reporting.

SECTION 3

Conclusion

Projet Faux Gavial resulted in a yearlong period where the slender-snouted crocodile was not openly observed for sale in the local market of Lambaréné, for the first time since we began market surveys in 2012. In addition to reaching over 5000 students in the classroom, hundreds of students became engaged in crocodile conservation participating in a citizen science initiative to collect data on commerce, leading community outreach in restaurants, creating crocodile murals, leading a parade and a TV special on the critically endangered species. The project strengthened community partnerships as we created crocodile murals and community events in partnership with local leaders. The project led to the creation of a collaborative agreement between OELO and the city of Lambaréné, a decree signed by the Mayor to enforce protected species laws in Gabon, and a joint initiative to create a youth nature center on wetland biodiversity.

Problems Encountered and Lessons Learnt

The Environmental Education component of our work faced many delays. At first our efforts were delayed because funds arrived late, but then we got even more behind schedule when teachers went on strike for most of 2015 and 2016. We learned to be flexible and decided to work with youth groups at churches that were not affected by the strikes. We created nature clubs during the school breaks that are now working throughout Lambaréné on stewardship projects, including raising awareness about the slender-snouted crocodile.

We had to completely revise our initial citizen science project idea. We had originally hoped to identify a night survey route on lake Oguemoué that could be offered to tourists, but found that crocodile sightings were scarcer than anticipated on the lake and potential survey routes were difficult to replicate as water levels and potential crocodile habitat change drastically between dry season and rainy season. We therefore decided to do a day survey on a stretch of river that we cross on route to the site. Though the tourist route is now well-defined and we observe crocodiles somewhat regularly in the dry season, we have only collected intermittent data as our team is often in a rush when transporting tourists. While we thought the survey would only add a little additional time to our arrival, it has turned out to be prohibitively time consuming.

In contrast, the student citizen science project using WhatsApp has had a more promising start. While the students are not recording live crocodiles, as we had originally hoped, they have recorded dozens of bushmeat sightings in private homes, in boats, and in villages giving us a better understanding of the evolving

17 trade. Additionally, students have began contacting law enforcement with the images that they collect leading to at least two interventions by law enforcemnt.

In the Future

We intend to continue Projet Faux Gavial into the future. While 2015-2016 showed promising advances, at the end of 2016 Gabon experienced a contested election with violent riots accompanied by a financial crisis as oil prices dropped. All over the country there has been increasing pressure on fishing and hunting for subsistence as many people have lost employment. Anti-government sentiments following the election do not inspire adherence to protected species laws. At the very end of 2016, after the last market report of 2016 mentioned in this report, we began recording slender-snouted crocodile meat for sale for the first time in a year. Even during the period of time when it was absent from the market, it was clear from the citizen science component of our project that crocodile bushmeat continues to be commercialized outside the main market. We therefore want to better understand these hidden and black markets. We want to continue our outreach and education work but also promote alternatives to illegal trade. One idea that has been proposed has been to help organize market vendors into a cooperative to create a restaurant of traditional foods that would also lead community outreach on protected species. Based on the initial success of our student citizen science component of Projet Faux Gavial, we may expand the citizen science effort to include sightings of bushmeat from additional protected species. Finally, we plan to create a slender-snouted crocodile exhibit at OELO’s new youth nature center, a collaborative initiative with the city of Lambaréné, as part of the center’s overall goal to promote the importance and conservation of wetlands.

18 Appendix 1: CLP M&E measures table

SECTION 4: Output Number Additional Information Thanks to CLP staff encouragement, Oryx Number of CLP Partner Staff involved in mentoring conservation news piece the Project published Number of species assessments contributed to (E.g. IUCN assessments) 0 Number of site assessments contributed to (E.g. IBA assessments) 0 Number of NGOs established 0 USFWS Amount of extra funding leveraged ($) 35,000 ANPN/DGEPN (GEF funding)

Number of species discovered/rediscovered 0 Number of sites designated as important for biodiversity (e.g. IBA/Ramsar designation) 0 Number of species/sites legally protected for biodiversity 0 Number of stakeholders actively engaged in species/site conservation management 300 Number of species/site management plans/strategies developed 0 Number of stakeholders reached 50,000 No longer eating crocodile Examples of stakeholder behaviour change meat, no longer offering brought about by the project. crocodile meat for sale in market or restaurants Mayoral Decree signed to Examples of policy change brought about by the enforce protected species project laws in city Number of jobs created 0 Conservation News Piece Number of academic papers published 1 Oryx Number of conferences where project results have been presented 2

20 Financial Report

Total CLP Requested Total CLP Spent Details & JusCficaCon Itemized expenses % Difference (USD)* (USD) (JusCficaCon must be provided if figure in column D is +/- 25%) PHASE I - PROJECT PREPARATION Communications (telephone/internet/postage) 300.00 330.54 10% Field guide books, maps, journal articles and other printed materials 100.00 16.85 -83% Other funding sources covered our printing expenses and books. Insurance Visas and permits Team training 400.00 88.14 -78% Training expenses were covered by other funding sources Reconnaissance 290.00 359.69 24% Other (Phase 1) EQUIPMENT Scientific/field equipment and supplies 850.00 1000.63 18% Photographic equipment 200.00 69.85 -65% We replaced a lens with insurance coverage and only used part of this budget. Camping equipment 1,320.00 1610.02 22% Boat/engine/truck (including car hire) 3,000.00 1652.06 -45% We found that renting a second motor was more cost effective than buying one. Other (Equipment) 1,000.00 1133.53 13% PHASE II - IMPLEMENTATION Accommodation for team members and local guides 600.00 536.94 -11% Food for team members and local guides 900.00 992.51 10% Travel and local transportation (including fuel) 1,680.00 1879.08 12% Customs and/or port duties Workshops Outreach/Education activities and materials (brochures, posters, video, t-shirts, etc.) 3,200.00 4129.09 29% We used the remainder of our training budget and equipment budgets to increase outreach and education spending Other (Phase 2) 600.00 718.64 20% PHASE III - POST-PROJECT EXPENSES Administration 200.00 33.43 -83% Report production and results dissemination 200.00 333.57 67% We spent more on printing of programs reports and therefore subtracted from admin costs Other (Phase 3) Total 14,840.00 14,884.57

19 Appendix 2: Projet Faux Gavial Logos

21 Appendix 3: Protected Species Fliers

22 Appendix 4: Crocodile/Manatee Billboard at Bushmeat Market

The billboard was placed at the market in partnership with MENTOR manatee fellows of Dr. Lucy Keith Diagne and the Mayor’s office of Lambaréné.

“It is forbidden to hunt, sell or purchase manatee and slender-snouted crocodile in Gabon. The reverse side of the billboard includes text from the Mayoral decree forbidding commerce of protected species (see Appendix 14).

23 Appendix 5: Slender-snouted Crocodile/Manatee Mural “Our Lady of the Ogooué”

“Together let’s protect the slender-snouted crocodiles and the manatees of the Ogooué River”- at the crossroads of the National Highway 1 and downtown Lambaréné painted in partnership with the Mayor’s office and the Catholic Church.

City benches were installed under the mural at the main intersection of Lambaréné.

24 Appendix 5: Slender-snouted Crocodile/Manatee Mural “Our Lady of the Ogooué”

Gabon is a predominantly Catholic country. The wall belongs to the largest church in Lambaréné “Our lady of the Ogooué” who, at the church’s request was incorporated into the underwater mural. The mural was unveiled by the Mayor, religious leaders, and the head of the school district at the 2015 World Environment Day celebration (see Appendix 5)

25 Appendix 6: 2015 World Environment Day Collage

26 Appendix 7: 2016 World Environment Day Collage

OELO celebrated its third annual World Environment Day June 4th, 2016 with 8 student nature clubs at Lycée d’Etat Charles Mefane. This year’s overall theme was “Protecting Our Wetlands.” Each club decorated a stand that exhibited their individual themes for the year related to wetland protection, from keeping the Ogooué clean to protecting ecosystem services, and shared their activities and art projects over the year. The club members also presented poems, songs, sketches, and dances for the event guests. This year, the clubs competed for best stand, best presentation, and best stewardship project, with prizes for both

primary and high school levels. The members enthusiastically decorated the stands, which featured a range of art and craft projects: plants in upcycled flower pots, handmade vases and trash bins from bamboo, wall paintings and decorated recycled tins, sculptures, booklets of environmental poetry, jewelry from recycled materials, greeting cards with conservation messages, among other imaginative creations.

As tradition, the ceremony began with the unveiling of a new biodiversity mural by local artist Achille Mombo, featuring many species found in wetlands of the Lambaréné lake region. A representative from the Governor’s office of Lambaréné and the Director of the high school unveiled the artwork. To raise awareness about wetlands in Gabon, Rhandy Junior Mengom'Ebang from the Ministry of Water and Forests presented about the Bas Ogooué Ramsar Site where Lambaréné is located - the largest wetland of international importance in Gabon.

After Environmental Education Coordinator Rébecca Djanivenda introduced the nature clubs and described their activities that year, the students began their presentations with awareness speeches about different environmental concerns. The primary schools presented first with a poem about slender-snouted crocodile conservation from Les Anges de la Nature at St. Joseph and an appeal to father and uncle fisherman to respect fish reproduction from Les Gardiens de la Nature from Ecole Protestant du Foyer. La Main Verte of Immaculée Conception followed with an interpretive manatee dance and musical recital by a club member who made an instrument from upcycled materials. The high

27 Appendix 7: 2016 World Environment Day Collage

schools followed, sharing poems about ecosystem services and biodiversity, a rap that implored listeners to avoid water pollution, and a sketch about endangered species.

OELO awarded over $2,000 in scholarships and prizes for the winners of contests for best Nature Club stands and activities, most motivated students, and overall most engaged nature clubs. La Main Verte from Immaculée Conception won for best primary school stewardship project: road clean-ups in front of their school and an awareness campaign on protecting the African manatee and keeping our environment clean. Nature Pour Christ from Alliance Chrétienne earned the prize at the high school level for their monthly church cleanups as well as their cleanup of a nearby neighborhood. Judges from the audience voted for the best presentations: Les Hommes Verts from Lycée Privé Janvier Nguema Mboumba won with their theme of endangered species at the high school level and La Main Verte won the primary school for their performances about the African manatee. Lycée Charles Mefane and La Main Verte won best stands, making Immaculée Conception winners in all three categories! Following, OELO presented 14 students with scholarships for the next school year as a reward for their motivation, commitment to their clubs, and all their hard work. The final prize, a trip to Tsam Tsam, for the two best clubs went to Nature’s Fuel at Lycée Charles Mefane and to Nature Pour Christ from Alliance Chrétienne. They were incredibly excited and proud of their clubs!

Afterward, everyone enjoyed a party with snacks and drinks and enjoyed the recycled bottle fish art installation borrowed from OELO’s World Fish Migration Day event.

Thanks to all the nature club members for their hard work and creativity. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next year!

28 Appendix 8: WACA GSC Presentation: Projet Faux Gavial

9/17/17

www.oelogabon.org

Cyrille Mvele, Cofounder and Program Manger 1. Ecotourism OELO, Gabon

Photo credit: Heather Arrowood

1. Ecotourism 1. Ecotourism 1. Ecotourism 2. Sustainable Fishing (“Our Lake, Our Future”) 2. Sustainable Fishing (“Our Lake, Our Future”) 2. Sustainable Fishing (“Our Lake, Our Future”) 3. Environmental EducaOon 3. Environmental EducaOon 4. Community Outreach

• Since 2012, 20% of all bushmeat recorded at Marché Isaac was slender-snouted crocodile Fully Protected species for sale, Lambaréné 2012-2015. • Of protected species for sale, slender-snouted crocodile represented 56% of observaOons

1. Ecotourism 2. Sustainable Future (“Our Lake, Our Future”) 3. Environmental EducaOon 4. Community Outreach 5. Biodiversity Research

• Since 2012, we’ve recorded an overall decline of 77% in bushmeat for sale, and a 65% decline in protected species for sale. • Certain species we no longer record: elephant, hippo, manatee. • However, the sale of slender-snouted crocodile has remained relaOvely constant.

29 Appendix 8: WACA GSC Presentation: Projet Faux Gavial

9/17/17

2. Change consumer preferences for slender-snouted crocodile bushmeat Le faux gavial: qu’en savons-nous?1) Reduce commerce of Slender-snouted crocodile

1) Reduce commerce of Slender-snouted crocodile 2) Change consumer preferences for slender-snouted crocodile 3) Build community awareness for the species

A mayoral decree was signed in Feb. 2015 forbidding the sale of protected species in Lambaréné and an informaOve panel was created at the main market

Le faux gavial: qu’en savons-nous? Le faux gavial: qu’en savons-nous?

• Combien y a-t-il de faux gavial dans le monde? • 1.000-20.000 adultes matures restent dans le monde et la populaOon st en déclin! • Le faux gavial est considéré « en danger cri+que d'ex+nc+on »

• Où est-ce qu’ils habitent • maintenant? • A l’Afrique de l’Ouest ils sont presque éteint! • Mais, une populaIon plus forte existe encore au Gabon. • C’est notre choix de décider, s’ils vont disparaître complètement ou si nous allons les protéger !

La viande de brousse 3) Build community awareness for the species

• Le crocodile faux gavial est l’espèce le plus couramment oﬀerte à la vente au marché Isaac et les restaurants locaux. Il se trouve presque tous les jours dans les études de marché d’OELO à Lambaréné, malgré les lois qui le protègent.

2 30 Appendix 8: WACA GSC Presentation: Projet Faux Gavial

9/17/17

Next Steps

• End of year student quesOonnaires (June 2016) •Adtude changes? •Reported consumpOon changes by students of crocodile bushmeat?

• Next market report marché Isaac, Lambaréné: opening of the hunOng season (March 2016) •Changes in slender-snouted crocodile availability?

• CiOzen Science Project (Jan 2016) •Rallying youth to parOcipate. •MoOvaOon through awarding scholarships and trips to Tsam Tsam •InformaOon collected on the commerce and the distribuOon of crocodiles during the dry season (ﬁshing season and hunOng season).

3 31 Appendix 9: Projet Faux Gavial Poster

Projet Faux Gavial: Rallying Community Support and Eliminating Commerce of the Slender-snouted Crocodile in the Lake Region of Gabon

Cyrille Mvele, Co-founder and Programs Manager OELO, Heather Arrowood, Executive Director OELO, Rébecca Hermande Djanivenda, Environmental Education Coordinator OELO

*/530%6$5*0/ "$5*7*5*&4"/%0651654

Organisation Ecotouristique du Lac Oguemoué (OELO) is a t$reated an environmental education slender-snouted crocodile Gabonese nonprofit organisation in the lake region of Gabon that curriculum that has so far been presented to over 5000 students in leads programs in ecotourism, sustainable fishing, environmental 17 schools in the lake region education, community outreach, and biodiversity research. When tLaunched a citizen science project to record crocodile sightings OELO began market surveys in the region in 2012, the critically and bushmeat commerce using Whatsapp on students’ phones endangered slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops catapractus) was the most available bushmeat, repre- t$SFBUFEBTUVEFOUMFEOBUVSFDMVCUIBUQFSGPSNFEPVUSFBDIBCPVU senting almost half of all bush- crocodile conservation including creating a song and dance meat recorded, despite being tErected an informative panel at the local bushmeat market empha- protected under national law. In sizing the protected status of the slender-snouted crocodile 2014, the OELO team launched t6OWFJMFEa large slender-snouted crocodile and manatee mural and “Projet Faux Gavial” to raise community green space at the main intersection of town in partner- awareness about the crocodile, TIJQXJUIUIF.BZPSTPGGJDFBOE$BUIPMJDDIVSDI rally local pride for the species, and to reduce its commerce. tStrengthened partnerships with local market vendors, local law enforcement, conservation partners, elected leaders, and religious 130+&$54*5& leaders resulting in a signed decree by the Mayor of Lambaréné in 2015 to enforce protected species laws at the local market The lake region of Gabon forms the heart of the Bas Ogooué ."3,&54637&:4 Ramsar Site, the largest protected 4'(2%("*42#3/(%*!"#$#%&'(*+#"*4,'(5*6,"$78*9),,$5** wetland of international impor- :,;<,"828*=,<#2* tance in the country. Lambaréné &#$" is Gabon’s fifth largest city and ,2-)3-8" &" ,)0(9-3" its location at the crossing of 180:03;2-" <(/=>-.9" the National Highway 1, the %#$"

,2-)3-8"

Ogooué River, and the entrances Restaurant surveys begin %" ,)0(9-3" to the southern and northern lakes, has historically made the city 180:03;2-";)" !#$" ?-/9.(8.)9/"

an important hub for wildlife trade. Residents of the surrounding "()/,3",2/)*-("*.&)&/*

lake region rely on a combination !" '()*)+" 120/-3" '()*)+" 120/-3" '()*)+" 120/-3" '()*)+" 120/-3" of fishing, hunting, and short- ,-./0)" ,-./0)" ,-./0)" ,-./0)" ,-./0)" ,-./0)" ,-./0)" ,-./0)" !"#$#%&'()*+#"*),'(*-("*.&)&/01#/)*#+*$"#$#%&'(*&2* term employment in the extrac- &!%&" &!%&4&!%5" &!%5" &!%54&!%6" &!%6" &!%64&!%$" &!%$" &!%$4&!%7" tive industries. The lake region of Gabon is home to some of the last By March of 2016, the slender-snouted crocodile had not been significant populations of the slen- observed in the local bushmeat market for a period of over six der-snouted crocodile and they are months for the first time in four years of surveys and had only threatened by bushmeat trade. been recorded on two occasions in restaurants during the same time period. '635)&3803, We now need to identify hidden markets and conduct household surveys on bushmeat consumption to better understand the changing market. In 2016, OELO will be launching a transect to record crocodile sightings with tourists and student groups on the way to its ecotourism site at Tsam Tsam and we will award our first annual Projet Faux Gavial scholarships to student participants of our citizen science initiative.

32 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015

BP 3292 Libreville, Gabon [email protected] +241 07 28 73 07

RAPPORT DE VENTE ILLEGALE DE VIANDE DE BROUSSE

Marché Isaac, Lambaréné

15 Septembre 2014- 15 Mars 2015

Dans le cadre des tours écotouristiques à Lambaréné et pendant les achats au marché, l’équipe d’OELO a noté les espèces vendues visiblement pendant la fermeture de la saison de chasse (15 Sept 2014- 15 Mars 2015). A chaque visite, nous avons fait une observation au marché, des tables, des brouettes, des pirogues, et des congélateurs de viande de brousse pour noter les espèces présentes, le nombre d’animaux à vendre, le prix par kilo et l’heure. Si possible, nous avons pris des photos. Également, nous avons surveillé la viande de brousse en vente dans trois restaurants au Marché Isaac. Au cours des enquêtes de restaurant, nous avons ouvert les marmites dans chacun des restaurants et nous avons noté toute la viande de brousse à vendre par marmite et le prix par plat.

En Juin 2014, notre équipe a commencé à recueillir des données supplémentaires sur les observations de vente de crocodile faux gavial. Nous avons noté la taille de chaque animal (longueur et kilos estimés), le prix au kilo et nous avons pris une photographie de chaque animal.

En février 2015, le Maire de Lambaréné a signé un arrêté qui interdit la vente de la viande de brousse des espèces partiellement et intégralement protégées dans la commune de Lambaréné (attaché).

Notre équipe a observé la viande de brousse à vendre au marché au cours de 54 visites sur 94 ; et il y avait des espèces intégralement protégées au cours de 31 visites sur 94. En totale la viande de brousse à vendre était 77% moins que nous avons observé pendant la fermeture de la chasse en 2012-2013, quand nous avons commencé les études.

33 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015

Nous avons effectué 83 enquêtes dans les restaurants, au cours desquelles nous avons enregistré des espèces intégralement protégées en vente à 55 occasions. La grande majorité des observations d'espèces protégées étaient le crocodile faux gavial. Il a été observé à 24 reprises sur le marché (30 animaux), ainsi que sur 54 enquêtes dans les restaurants (161 marmites dans 3 restaurants). Les autres espèces intégralement protégées observées dans nos enquêtes comprenaient: le crocodile nain (huit occasions au marché), le buffle (deux fois dans les restaurants), et le céphalophe à pates blanches (une fois au marché).

Les animaux notés dans l’étude ne représentent pas une estimation de la quantité de viande de brousse totale vendue au marché, mais juste un indicateur qui peut être comparé pour déterminer les changements.

La majorité des observations des espèces intégralement protegées étaient les crocodiles : le faux gavial représentant 63% des observations, puis le crocodile nain représentant 35% des observations. Ceci suggère que les crocodiles ne sont pas encore considérés par la population come des espèces protégées par la loi au Gabon.

Spécifiquement nous avons observé sur les tables, congélateurs, et brouettes de viandes de brousse:

Date L’Heure Espèces (animaux visibles) 18 sep 14 12h 15 1 faux gavial, 1 sitatunga 27 sep 14 15h 2 faux gavials, 1 céphalophe à pates blanches 28 sep 14 12h15 1 potamochère, 1 faux gavial 6 oct 14 14h 1 sitatunga 10 oct 14 13h 1 sitatunga 11 nov 14 14h 1 sitatunga 21 nov 14 12h45 2 faux gavials 22 nov 14 12h 1 singe fumé 25 nov 14 12h30 1 faux gavial 27 nov 14 13h45 1 sitatunga, 1 faux gavial 29 nov 14 15h 1 crocodile nain, 1 potamochère 2 dec 14 10h 1 faux gavial, 1 crocodile nain 4 dec 14 10h15 1 sitatunga, 1 potamochère, 2 crocodiles nains, 1 faux gavial 5 dec 14 15h 3 faux gavials, 1 crocodile nain, 1 potamochère 11 dec 14 12h30 1 faux gavial 12 dec 14 12h45 1 faux gavial 13 dec 14 12h15 1 sitatunga, 1 potamochère 14 dec 14 12h45 1 potamochère, 1 sitatunga, 1 singe 15 dec 14 12h 1 faux gavial fumé, 1 tortue, 1 singe, 1 sitatunga 16 dec 14 14h15 1 sitatunga, 2 potamochères 17 dec 14 11h30 1 faux gavial fumé, 2 sitatungas, 1 potamochère 18 dec 14 12h15 1 faux gavial, 1 porc-épic, 1 céphalophe bleu, 1 céphalophe 34 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015

sp. Date L’Heure Espèces (animaux visibles) 19 dec 14 10h15 1 sitatunga, 1 potamochère, 1 crocodile nain 21 dec 14 13h 1 crocodile nain, 1 potamochère 22 dec 14 12h15 2 faux gavials, 1 sitatunga 23 dec 14 11h15 1 sitatunga, 1 potamochère, 1 faux gavial 24 dec 14 14h 1 sitatunga 26 dec 14 11h15 3 crocodiles nains, 1 sitatunga, 1 faux gavial 27 dec 14 12h15 1 potamochère, 1 faux gavial, 1 crocodile nain, 1 hocheur 28 dec 14 9h 1 potamochère, 4 crocodiles nains 30 dec 14 13h15 1 faux gavial, 1 sitatunga 31 dec 14 11h15 4 potamochères, 1 faux gavials, 1 sitatunga 2 jan 15 10h45 2 potamochères, 1 sitatunga, 1 céphalophe sp 4 jan 15 13h15 1 sitatunga, 1 céphalophe bleu, 10 jan 15 14h15 1 potamochère, 1 porc-épic, 1 faux gavial 12 jan 15 12h30 1 potamochère, 1 céphalophe 13 jan 15 11h15 1 crocodile nain, 1 potamochère, 1 sitatunga 14 jan 15 12h 1 potamochère, 1 sitatunga 15 jan 15 11h 1 sitatunga, 1 potamochère, 1 faux gavial 17 jan 15 11h 1 sitatunga 21 jan 15 12h 1 stiatunga, 1 potamochère 23 jan 15 8h 45 1 crocodile nain 24 jan 15 10h15 1 potamochère, 2 sitatungas 27 jan 15 11h45 1 sitatunga 29 jan 15 11h15 1 potamochère 14 fev 15 10h15 3 sitatungas, 1 hocheur 4 mar 15 13h15 1 sitatunga 5 mar 15 11h15 1 potamochère, 1 python, 1 sitatunga, 1 faux gavial 7 mar 15 8h30 1 potamochère 10 mar 15 11h45 1 faux gavial, 2 potamochères 12 mar 15 10h30 1 potamochère 14 mar 15 9h15 1 sitatunga, 2 potamochères 15 mar 15 11h45 1 potamochère, 1 faux gavial, 1 nandinie

35 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015

Crocodile nain à vendre, marché Isaac, le 29 novembre 2014

36 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015

Nous avons observé aux restaurants :

Date L’Heure Espèces (par marmite) 16 sep 14 12h 2 buffle, 2 faux gavial 18 sep 14 12h15 2 faux gavials, 1 sitatunga, 1 céphalophe bleu 27 sep 14 15h 2 faux gavial, 1 céphalophe bleu, 1 porc-épic 5 oct 14 13h15 2 faux gavial, 1 sitatunga 6 oct 14 14h 1 faux gavial, 2 sitatunga 9 oct 14 1 sitatunga, 1 potamochère, 1 crocodile nain, 5 faux gavial 10 oct 14 13h 1 potamochère, 1 porc-épic , 2 faux gavial 21 oct 14 14h30 2 potamochère, 1 singe, 1 porc-épic , 3 faux gavial 4 nov 14 12h15 1 faux gavial, 2 sitatunga 5 nov 14 13h 1 sitatunga, 1 porc-épic , 3 singes 6 nov 14 10h30 2 potamochère 7 nov 14 10h45 1 sitatunga, 1 potamochère, 3 tortue 9 nov 14 11h 1 sitatunga, 1 singe, 2 potamochère 10 nov 14 13h15 1 potamochère, 1 singe, 3 faux gavial 11 nov 14 14h 1 singe, 1 potamochère, 2 faux gavial 27 nov 14 13h45 1 buffle, 1 singe, 1 sitatunga, 4 faux gavial, 4 potamochère 4 dec 14 10h15 1 faux gavial 9 dec 14 13h15 1 singe, 4 faux gavial, 3 sitatunga, 3 potamochère 10 dec 14 3 singe, 4 potamochère, 4 faux gavial 11 dec 14 12h30 2 singe, 4 potamochère, 3 porc-épic , 2 sitatunga, 5 faux gavial 12 dec 14 12h45 1 sitatunga, 4 faux gavial, 3 singe, 4 potamochère 13 dec 14 12h15 2 sitatunga, 1 céphalophe bleu, 5 faux gavial, 5 potamochère, 2 porc-épic , 2 singe 14 dec 14 12h45 5 potamochère, 3 sitatunga, 5 faux gavial, 2 singe, 15 dec 14 12h 4 potamochère, 3 faux gavial, 1 porc-épic , 2 singe 16 dec 14 14h15 1 singe, 2 céphalophe, 5 faux gavial, 4 potamochère 17 dec 14 12h45 3 faux gavial, 2 potamochère, 1 porc-épic , 1 singe 18 dec 14 12h15 1 céphalophe, 4 faux gavial, 2 sitatunga, 4 potamochère 19 dec 14 10h15 4 faux gavial, 5 potamochère 21 dec 14 13h 6 faux gavial, 2 porc-épic , 2 céphalophe bleu 22 dec 14 12h15 2 céphalophe bleu, 1 singe, 4 faux gavial, 2 porc-épic 23 dec 14 11h15 3 faux gavial, 4 potamochère 24 dec 14 14h 4 potamochère, 3 faux gavial, 2 porc-épic 26 dec 14 11h15 4 faux gavial, 5 potamochère, 3 céphalophe bleu, 2 porc- épic 27 dec 14 12h15 1 singe, 5 faux gavial, 5 potamochère 28 dec 14 9h 1 singe, 5 faux gavial, 4 potamochère 30 dec 14 13h15 1 sitatunga, 1 céphalophe sp, 5 faux gavial 31 dec 14 11h15 6 faux gavial, 5 potamochère, 2 singe, 2 porc-épic 1 jan 15 12h30 4 faux gavial, 5 potamochère, 2 porc-épic , 2 céphalophe sp 2 jan 15 10h45 4 potamochère, 2 porc-épic

37 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015

Date L’Heure Espèces (par marmite) 3 jan 15 10h30 1 porc-épic , 2 faux gavial, 4 potamochère 4 jan 15 13h15 2 faux gavial 5 jan 15 12h15 3 faux gavial, 3 potamochère, 2 porc-épic 6 jan 15 13h15 1 céphalophe sp, 2 faux gavial, 3 potamochère, 2 singe 7 jan 15 12h30 1 singe, 3 faux gavial, 4 potamochère, 2 céphalophe sp. 8 jan 15 12h45 3 faux gavial, 2 potamochère 9 jan 15 13h30 3 faux gavial, 3 potamochère 10 jan 15 14h15 2 potamochère, 3 porc-épic 12 jan 15 12h30 3 potamochère, 2 céphalophe sp, 1 singe 14 jan 15 11h15 4 potamochère, 3 céphalophe bleu 16 jan 15 12h30 2 potamochère 18 jan 15 13h15 4 potamochère 19 jan 15 12h45 2 faux gavial, 3 potamochère 21 jan 15 12h 3 potamochère, 1 faux gavial 23 jan 15 8h45 3 faux gavial, 4 potamochère 24 jan 15 10h 15 1 potamochère, 3 faux gavial 27 jan 15 11h45 2 potamochère, 1 porc-épic 29 jan 15 11h15 3 potamochère, 1 faux gavial, 1 porc-épic 13 fev 15 13h15 2 potamochère 14 fev 15 10h15 1 crocodile nain, 2 potamochère 16 fev 15 12h30 3 potamochère 17 fev 15 12h15 1 potamochère 18 fev 15 13h15 3 potamochère 19 fev 15 11h30 1 potamochère, 1 porc-épic 27 fev 15 14h15 1 potamochère 2 mar 15 10h15 2 potamochère 4 mar 15 13h15 3 potamochère, 1 faux gavial 6 mar 15 13h15 2 potamochère, 2 faux gavial, 1 porc-épic 7 mar 15 8h30 3 potamochère, 2 faux gavial, 1 crocodile nain 8 mar 15 13h45 2 faux gavial, 3 potamochère 9 mar 15 14h15 3 potamochère, 1 porc-épic 11 mar 15 14h30 3 potamochère, 2 faux gavial 12 mar 15 10h30 3 faux gavial, 3 potamochère 13 mar 15 14h45 2 faux gavial, 3 potamochère, 2 porc-épic 14 mar 15 9h15 2 faux gavial, 3 potamochère

38 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015

Une brouette de faux gavial et potamochère, le 23 décembre 2014

Cette fermeture de la chasse nous avons observé une réduction de 77 % de vente de viande de brousse et 70% des animaux intégralement protegés en comparaison avec la même saison en 2012-2013.

39 Appendix 10: Bushmeat Market Report March 2015

Nous n’avons pas noté certaines espèces, comme le lamantin, l'éléphant et l'hippopotame à vendre au marché depuis 2013.

OELO va continuer de noter les activités et les communiquer aux autorités et à nos partenaires en 2015. En particulier, nous allons cibler le commerce de faux gavial avec notre projet « Projet Faux Gavial » en 2015 et 2016.

40 Appendix 11: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2015

BP 3292 Libreville, Gabon [email protected] +241 07 28 73 07

RAPPORT DE VENTE ILLEGALE DE VIANDE DE BROUSSE

Marché Isaac, Lambaréné

15 Mars 2015- 15 Septembre 2015

Dans le cadre des tours écotouristiques à Lambaréné et pendant les achats au marché, l’équipe d’OELO a noté les espèces vendues visiblement pendant la saison de chasse (15 Mars 2014- 15 Sept 2015). A chaque visite au marché, nous avons fait une observation des tables, des brouettes, des pirogues, et des congélateurs de viande de brousse pour noter les espèces présentes, le nombre d’animaux à vendre, le prix par kilo et l’heure. Si possible, nous avons pris des photos. Également, nous avons surveillé la viande de brousse en vente dans trois restaurants au Marché Isaac. Au cours des enquêtes de restaurant, nous avons ouvert les marmites dans chacun des restaurants et nous avons noté toute la viande de brousse à vendre par marmite et le prix par plat.

Notre équipe a observé la viande de brousse à vendre au marché au cours de 31 visites sur 49 ; et il y avait des espèces intégralement protégées au cours de 19 visites. En totale la viande de brousse à vendre était 70% moins que nos observations pendant la fermeture de la chasse en 2013, quand nous avons commencé les études, mais il n’y a pas eu de changements entre la dernière saison de chasse et cette saison (Figure 1 et Figure 2).

Nous avons effectué 47 enquêtes dans les restaurants, au cours desquelles nous avons enregistré des espèces intégralement protégées en vente à 23 occasions. La grande majorité des observations d'espèces protégées étaient le crocodile faux

41 Appendix 11: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2015

gavial. Il a été observé à 16 reprises sur le marché (23 animaux), ainsi que sur 21 enquêtes dans les restaurants (38 marmites dans 3 restaurants).

Les autres espèces intégralement protégées observées dans nos enquêtes comprenaient: le crocodile nain (5 occasions au marché, 8 marmites aux restaurants) et le buffle (1 occasion au marché).

La majorité des observations des espèces intégralement protégées étaient les crocodiles. Ceci suggère que les crocodiles ne sont pas encore considérés par la population come des espèces protégées par la loi au Gabon.

Spécifiquement nous avons observé sur les tables, congélateurs, et brouettes de viandes de brousse:

Date L’Heure Espèces (animaux visibles) 15 mar 15 11h 45 1 faux gavial 23 mar 15 11h 15 1 faux gavial 24 mar 15 9h 45 1 faux gavial 10 avr 15 12h 15 1 faux gavial 14 avr 15 11h 1 buffle 16 avr 15 12h 30 1 faux gavial 17 juin 15 11h 15 1 faux gavial 19 juin 15 13h 1 faux gavial 20 juin 15 11h 30 1 faux gavial 22 juin 15 11h 15 3 faux gavials, 2 crocodiles nains 24 juin 15 13h 45 2 faux gavials 26 juin 15 12h 1 faux gavial 27 juin 15 12h 45 3 faux gavials 29 juin 15 11h 15 2 faux gavials 7 juil 15 10h 1 faux gavial 8 juil 15 13h 2 crocodiles nains 11 juil 15 10h 45 1 crocodile nain 20 juil 15 11h 15 1 faux gavial 6 août 15 13h 15 1 faux gavial fumé

42 Appendix 11: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2015

Une brouette de buffle à vendre, marché Isaac, le 14 avril 2015.

Faux gavial au marché Isaac, le 27 juin 2015. 43 Appendix 11: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2015

Nous avons observé aux restaurants :

Date L’Heure Espèces (par marmite) 19 mar 15 14h 15 2 crocodile nain 20 mar 15 10h 45 1 faux gavial 21 mar 15 10h 30 1 faux gavial 23 mar 15 11h 15 3 faux gavial, 1 crocodile nain 24 mar 15 9h 45 2 faux gavial 29 mar 15 9h 45 1 crocodile nain, 1 faux gavial 10 avr 15 12h 15 2 faux gavial 11 avr 15 11h 30 1 faux gavial 13 avr 15 13h 1 faux gavial 14 avr 15 11h 1 faux gavial 16 avr 15 12h30 2 faux gavial, 1 crocodile nain 7 juin 15 11h 2 faux gavial, 1 crocodile nain 8 juin 15 13h 45 2 faux gavial 17 juin 15 13h 15 2 faux gavial 18 juin 15 11h 45 2 faux gavial 19 juin 15 13h 3 faux gavial 20 juin 15 11h 30 2 faux gavial 24 juin 15 13h 45 2 faux gavial 26 juin 15 12h 1 faux gavial 28 juin 15 15h 1 faux gavial 7 juil 15 10h 2 faux gavial 8 juil 15 13h 2 crocodile nain 5 août 15 14h 30 1 faux gavial

Un restaurant offre le faux gavial, « caïman », ouvertement sur leur carte, le 13 sept 2015 au marché Isaac. Ce n’est pas l’un des restaurants qui participe dans l’étude des restaurants.

44 Appendix 11: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2015

Cette saison de chasse nous n’avons pas observé des changements en comparaison avec la derniere saison en 2014.

Pendant que nous n’avons pas noté certaines espèces, comme le lamantin, l'éléphant et l'hippopotame à vendre au marché depuis 2013, les crocodiles sont encore beaucoup vendus.

45 Appendix 11: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2015

46 Appendix 12: Bushmeat Market Report Mar 2016

BP 3292 Libreville, Gabon [email protected] +241 07 28 73 07

RAPPORT DE VENTE ILLEGALE DE VIANDE DE BROUSSE

Marché Isaac, Lambaréné

Fermeture de la Saison de Chasse : 15 Septembre 2015- 15 Mars 2016

Dans le cadre des tours écotouristiques à Lambaréné et pendant les achats au marché, l’équipe d’OELO a noté les espèces vendues visiblement pendant la fermeture de la saison de chasse (15 Sept 2015 - 15 Mars 2016). A chaque visite, nous avons fait une observation au marché, des tables, des brouettes, des pirogues et des congélateurs de viande de brousse pour noter les espèces présentes, le nombre d’animaux à vendre, le prix par kilo et l’heure. Si possible, nous avons pris des photos. Également, nous avons surveillé la viande de brousse en vente dans trois restaurants au Marché Isaac ou six commerçantes offrent les plats de poissons, légumes, et viande de brousse. Au cours des enquêtes de restaurant, nous avons ouvert les marmites dans chacun des restaurants et nous avons noté toute la viande de brousse à vendre par marmite et le prix par plat.

Pour l’initiative « Projet Faux Gavial, » nous avons recueilli des données supplémentaires sur les observations de vente de crocodile faux gavial. Nous avons noté la taille de chaque animal (longueur et kilos estimés), le prix au kilo et nous avons pris une photographie de chaque animal. Le faux gavial est une espèce en danger critique d’extinction qui était l’espèce la plus commercialisée au marché quand nous avons commencé nos études en 2012.

Grace à un fort partenariat entre le Ministère des Eaux et Forets, la Commune de Lambaréné, les représentants de la Justice, la société civile et autres membres de la communauté, il y a eu les grands changements à Lambaréné cette année. Cette fermeture de la chasse, nous avons observé la viande de brousse à vendre au marché seulement pendant 2 occasions parmi 100 visites ! En plus il n’y avait aucune observation de la viande de brousse d’une espèce 47 Appendix 12: Bushmeat Market Report Mar 2016

intégralement protégée. En comparaison, quand nous avons commencé nos études en 2012, il y avait la viande de brousse pendant 95% des visites et les espèces intégralement protégées pendant 65% des visites.

Animaux noté par visite au Marché Isaac depuis 2012.

Spécifiquement nous avons observé sur les tables, congélateurs, et brouettes de viandes de brousse cette fermeture de la chasse:

Date L’Heure Espèces (animaux visibles) 3 Oct 15 11h 1 potamochère 7 Mar 16 11h 1 potamochère

48 Appendix 12: Bushmeat Market Report Mar 2016

Potamochére, Marché Isaac, 3 Octobre, 2015. Nous avons effectué 98 enquêtes dans 3 restaurants au marché Isaac, au cours desquelles nous avons enregistré la viande de brousse à seulement 13 occasions (23 marmites, 13% des visites) et les espèces intégralement protégées en vente à 4 occasions (uniquement le faux gavial 4 marmites, 4% des visites). En comparaison, pendant la fermeture de la chasse 2014-2015 nous avons noté 493 marmites de viande de brousse (88% des visites) et 175 marmites des espèces intégralement protégées (63% des visites, parmi 88 visites).

Nous avons observé aux restaurants :

Date L’Heure Espèces (par marmite) 4 Oct 15 9h45 1 sitatunga 6 Oct 15 12h30 1 faux gavial, 1 tortue 7 Oct 15 13h15 1 faux gavial, 1 singe, 1 tortue 16 Oct 15 12h45 1 sitatunga 18 Oct 15 12h15 1 sitatunga, 1 cephalophe bleu 10 Nov 15 10h 1 faux gavial, 1 potamochère 21 Fev 16 14h 1 potamochère 25 Fev 16 12h 1 potamochère, 1 porc-épic 7 Mar 16 11h15 1 potamochère, 2 porc-épic 8 Mar 16 12h 1 faux gavial 10 Mar 16 12h 2 potamochère, 1 porc-épic

49 Appendix 12: Bushmeat Market Report Mar 2016

Viande de brousse aux restaurants de Marché Isaac depuis 2013.

Une raison pour le déclin rapide de viande de brousse au marché est le Maire Centrale de Lambaréné a signé un arrêté qui interdit la vente de la viande de brousse des espèces partiellement et intégralement protégées dans la commune de Lambaréné en février 2015. Grace à un partenariat entre les autorités de Lambaréné, la société civile et autres membres de la communauté, l’arrêté a été respecté. Nous comptons sur les partenaires que cette bonne initiative va continuer à l’avenir.

Nous soupçonnons que la vente illégale de la viande de brousse des espèces protégées continue en cachette et nous devrons continuer d’adapter nos méthodes d’observation pour chercher les marchés cachés. Quand nous avons commencé de noter une réduction dans le commerce de viande de brousse au marché en 2013-2014, la vente aux restaurants restait consistante, indiquant que les commerçantes trouvaient la viande dans le marché noir caché. C’est un bon signe que cette année la viande de brousse dans les restaurants est moins disponible.

Les animaux notés dans l’étude ne représentent pas une estimation de la quantité de viande de brousse totale vendue au marché, mais juste un indicateur qui peut être comparé avec les études précédentes pour déterminer les changements.

OELO va continuer de noter les activités au marché et les communiquer aux autorités et à nos partenaires en 2016-2017.

50 Appendix 12: Bushmeat Market Report Mar 2016

51 Appendix 13: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2016

BP 3292 Libreville, Gabon [email protected] +241 07 28 73 07

RAPPORT DE VENTE ILLEGALE DE VIANDE DE BROUSSE

Marché Isaac, Lambaréné

15 Mars 2016- 15 Septembre 2016

Pendant les visites du Marché Isaac, l’équipe d’OELO a noté les espèces vendues visiblement pendant la saison de chasse (15 Mars 2016- 15 Sept 2016). A chaque visite au marché, nous avons fait une observation des tables, des brouettes, des pirogues, et des congélateurs de viande de brousse pour noter les espèces présentes, le nombre d’animaux à vendre, le prix par kilo et l’heure. Si possible, nous avons pris des photos. Également, nous avons surveillé la viande de brousse en vente dans les restaurants au débarcadère du Marché Isaac. Au cours des enquêtes de restaurant, nous avons ouvert les marmites dans chacun des restaurants et nous avons noté toute la viande de brousse à vendre par marmite et le prix par plat.

OELO a commence une initiative, « Projet Faux Gavial, » en 2015. Nous avons commencé à recueillir des données supplémentaires sur les observations de vente de crocodile faux gavial. Nous avons noté la taille de chaque animal (longueur et kilos estimés), le prix au kilo et nous avons pris une photographie de chaque animal. Le faux gavial est une espèce en danger critique d’extinction qui était l’espèce la plus commercialisée au marché quand nous avons commencé nos études en 2012.

Notre équipe a observé la viande de brousse à vendre au cours de 28 visites sur 63 au marché Isaac. En continuation avec les résultats de notre dernier rapport semestriel, il n’y avait aucune observation de la viande de brousse d’une espèce intégralement protégée au Marché Isaac pendant cette période de chasse. Grace à un fort partenariat entre la Commune de Lambaréné, les représentants de la Justice, le Ministère des Eaux et Forets, et les autres membres de la communauté, il y a eu des grands changements à Lambaréné

52 Appendix 13: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2016

cette année. Nous n’avons pas noté une espèce intégralement protégée depuis août 2015 au marché Isaac ! En comparaison, quand nous avons commencé nos études en 2012, il y avait la viande de brousse pendant 95% des visites et les espèces intégralement protégées pendant 65% des visites.

Nous avons effectué 59 enquêtes dans les restaurants, au cours desquelles la viande de brousse était en vente parmi 78% des visites. Nous avons enregistré le faux gavial, la seule espèce intégralement protégée observée, en vente à 4 occasions.

Nous avons observé aux restaurants :

Date L’Heure Espèces (par marmite) 18 jun 16 14h 05 1 faux gavial 19 jun 16 13h 46 1 faux gavial 11 juil 16 11h 30 1 faux gavial 23 aug16 13h 04 1 faux gavial

Une marmite de faux gavial, marché Isaac, le 23 août 2016.

53 Appendix 13: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2016

Viande de Brousse Marché Isaac, Lambaréné

4.5

3.5

2.5

2 Animaux par visite Viande de Brousse 1.5 Totale

1 Espèces Intégralement 0.5 Protegées

0 Saison de Fermeture Saison de Fermeture Saison de Fermeture Saison de Fermeture Saison de Chasse de Chasse Chasse de Chasse Chasse de Chasse Chasse de Chasse Chasse 2012 2012-2013 2013 2013-2014 2014 2014-2015 2015 2015-2016 2016

Figure 1 : Viande de brousse (animaux par visite), au Marché Isaac entre 2012 et 2016.

Especes Integralement Protegees au Marché Isaac 1.6

1.4

1.2

1 Elephant Hippo 0.8 Buﬄe Chevrotain Animals per visit 0.6 LamanCn d'Afrique Crocodile Nain 0.4 Faux Gavial

0.2

0 Saison de Fermeture de Saison de Fermeture de Saison de Fermeture de Saison de Fermeture de Saison de Chasse 2012 Chasse Chasse 2013 Chasse Chasse 2014 Chasse Chasse 2015 Chasse Chasse 2016 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

Figure 2 : Les espèces intégralement protégées au Marché Isaac entre Mar 2012 et Sept 2016. Il n’y a avait aucune espèce intégralement protégée observée entre Sept 2015 et Sept 2016. 54 Appendix 13: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2016

Viande de Brousse aux Restaurants 6

3 Viande de Brousse

2 Marmites par visite Espèces Intégralement 1 Protégées

0 Fermeture de Saison de Fermeture de Saison de Fermeture de Saison de Chasse Chasse 2014 Chasse Chasse 2015 Chasse Chasse 2016 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016

Figure 3 : Viande de brousse en vente aux restaurants au Marché Isaac.

Commerce du Faux Gavial, Marché Isaac, Lambaréné Gabon

2.5

Viande de Brousse Faux 1.5 Gavial

1 Faux Gavials aux Restaurants

0.5

Figure 4 : Faux Gavial en vente au Marché Isaac et aux restaurants. (Les études des restaurants ont commencé en Sept 2013)

55 Appendix 13: Bushmeat Market Report Sept 2016

OELO va continuer de noter les activités et les communiquer aux autorités et à nos partenaires en 2017.

56 Appendix 14: World Wetlands Day 2016

Journée Mondiale des Zones Humides

Lambaréné, Gabon | Mercredi, le 3 Février, 2016

57 Appendix 14: World Wetlands Day 2016

Le 3 février, 2016, l’Organisation Ecotouristique du Lac Oguemoué était l’hôte d’une conférence pour les clubs de la nature pour célébrer la Journée Mondiale des Zones Humides. En partenariat avec le gouvernement gabonais, la Direction Générale de l’Environnement (DGE), l’Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux (ANPN), et avec le soutien financier de GEF et la Banque Mondiale, cinq clubs de la nature des écoles primaires et secondaires ont été invités à participer à l’événement au Lycée Privé Janvier Nguema Mboumba, où ils ont appris des zones humides, ont échangé des idées et ont proposé des solutions aux problèmes environnementaux locaux.

L’évènement a été ouvert par M. Thierry, un censeur du Un exposé a suivi pour les participants et leurs enseignants, Lycée Nguema, nos hôtes pour la journée. sur les Sites Ramsar du Gabon : les zones humides d’une importance internationale par l’équipe de la DGE et l’ANPN.

Un des censeurs du Lycée Nguema a ouvert la cérémonie en disant le mot de bienvenue. Puis, la DGE a présenté un exposé sur les sites Ramsar au Gabon. Ces sites sont d’une importance internationale, et Lambaréné se trouve au milieu du plus grand site Ramsar du Gabon : le Bas Ogooué. Après cette présentation, la Coordinatrice de l’Education Environnementale, responsable des clubs de la nature, a décrit des objectifs des clubs et présenté le programme annuel de chaque club.

Le nouveau club du Lycée Nguema a fait la sensibilisation "Nature's Fuel" du Lycée Charles Méfane a fait la sur les espèces protégées. sensibilisation afin d’interpeler les jeunes à s’interesser aux métiers de l’environnement.

58 Appendix 14: World Wetlands Day 2016

Ensuite chaque club de la nature a présenté chansons, danses, poèmes, et pièces théâtrales qu’ils ont créés, en rapport avec le thème de la célébration. Tous les clubs s’étaient investis dans leurs travail et ils étaient enthousiastes de partager leurs efforts. La sensibilisation des clubs a débuté avec un groupe du Lycée Nguema qui a présenté une comédie, en guise de sensibilisation contre la chasse des espèces protégées. Ensuite, le club, Le club « Amour de la Nature » a joué une pièce théâtrale sur les conséquences de la pollution des cours d’eau. « Nature’s Fuel » du Lycée Charles Méfane, a fait la sensibilisation au sujet des métiers et leurs impacts environnementaux. Puis, le club du Complexe Scolaire Privé Noel Ikapii Iwangou a sensibilisé le public avec leur pièce théâtrale, sur le problème de la pollution des cours d’eau. L’école primaire de Saint Joseph a partagé une poésie et une danse au sujet du faux gavial et à la fin, tous les autres élèves ont chanté avec eux. Le sketch du club « Les Gardiens de la Nature » de l’école Protestante du Foyer a illustré une situation de capture accidentelle d’un lamantin et d’un faux gavial. La pièce a donné l’opportunité à la DGE de répondre à la question sur la procédure à adopter en cas de capture accidentelle. A la fin, « La Main Verte d’Immaculée » Conception a présenté un conte du lamantin, en disant plusieurs détails sur l’espèce et sa vie.

« Les Anges de la Nature » de St. Joseph ont présenté un Tout le monde chantait avec « les Anges de la Nature » qui poème au sujet du faux gavial. ont créé une chanson et une danse pour la conservation du faux gavial.

« Les Gardiens de la Nature » de l'Ecole Protestant du Foyer « La Main Verte d'Immaculée » a raconté un conte sur le ont présenté un sketch pour informer de ce qu’il faut faire au lamantin d’Afrique. cas où on capture accidentellement un crocodile ou un lamantin.

59 Appendix 14: World Wetlands Day 2016

Après une pause, Mlle Djanivenda a animé une discussion sur les services écosystémiques, spécifiques aux zones humides. Pour lancer la conversation, elle a demandé à tout le monde quels sont, les services écosystémiques. Les élèves ont proposé des exemples, comme une source d’eau à boire, les ressources halieutiques, l’oxygène, et les autres bénéfices. Pour défier les participants à réfléchir sur leurs rôles dans leur environnement, OELO a posé des questions de façon à maintenir ces services écosystémiques.

On a terminé la journée par un concours du « Projet Faux Le concours était une opportunité pour les clubs de coopérer. Gavial » : les élèves pratiquent d’utiliser WhatsApp Chaque groupe a été compris des élèves des écoles et âges comme une partie d’une initiative de science citoyenne différentes. L'équipe gagnant a posé avec le co-fondateur pour noter les observations du faux gavial et la viande de d'OELO et du Projet Faux Gavial, Cyrille Mvele. brousse à vendre partout la région des lacs.

Dans le but d’entretenir la collaboration entre les élèves des écoles différentes, OELO a organisé un petit concours de « Projet Faux Gavial. » Dans des équipes mélangées, les élèves ont pratiqué un projet de science citoyenne et ont cherché des peluches de faux gavial et des photos de viande de brousse qui ont été caché partout le long de la cours du lycée. Sur l’application WhatsApp, les chefs des équipes ont envoyé toutes les informations complètes de chaque observation pour gagner un point.

Le succès de la journée n’aurait pas été possible sans l’engagement de tous les encadreurs des clubs de la nature. Mlle Djanivenda les a présentés pour les remercier de leur dévouement et de tous leurs efforts pour accompagner La journée n’aurait pas été possible sans le support et l’engagement les élèves dans la conservation de la de nos enseignants qui organisent ces activités. De gauche à droit: Le nature. OELO a hâte de continuer ce Président du club au Lycée Charles Méfane, les encadreurs des clubs à partenariat. l’Ecole Primaire St. Joseph, Complexe Scolaire Privée Noel Ikapii Iwangou, Immaculée Conception, et l’Ecole Protestant du Foyer.

60 Appendix 14: World Wetlands Day 2016

Les partenaires de la DGE et de l’ANPN ont honoré les gagnants en leur partageant les tee-shirts du Projet Faux Gavial

Pour clôturer la cérémonie, les agents de la DGE et l’ANPN ont distribué les prix, des tee-shirts du Projet Faux Gavial au groupe gagnant du projet science citoyenne « Projet Faux Gavial ».

Avant la proclamation du groupe gagnant, les participants ont fait une pause goûté pour joindre l’utile à l’agréable. Au départ de chacun, les tee-shirts de la célébration de la Journée Mondiale des Zones Humides ont été distribués aux élèves membres des clubs et leurs différents encadreurs.

61 Appendix 15: Mayoral decree forbidding commerce of protected species

62 Appendix 15: Mayoral decree forbidding commerce of protected species

63 Appendix 16: Collaborative agreement with the city of Lambaréné

64 Appendix 16: Collaborative agreement with the city of Lambaréné

65 Appendix 16: Collaborative agreement with the city of Lambaréné

66 Appendix 16: Collaborative agreement with the city of Lambaréné

67 Appendix 17: Youth Nature Center contract

68 Appendix 17: Youth Nature Center contract

69 Appendix 18: Classroom Presentation, “Gabon, the Last Stronghold of the Slender- snouted Crocodile”

70 Appendix 18: Classroom Presentation, “Gabon, the Last Stronghold of the Slender- snouted Crocodile”

71 Appendix 19: Environmental Education Classroom Activities

72 Appendix 20: Student Questionnaires

73 Appendix 21: Projet Faux Gavial Scholarship

Prize awarded to student most active in the citizen science effort. Scholarship amounts are paid directly to schools to cover fees or are given to parents and guardians to buy school supplies. Parents provide our EE coordinator with receipts to justified spending.

74 Appendix 22: Slender-snouted crocodile mural

Club “Nature’s Angels” designed a slender-snouted crocodile mural at the entrance of their elementary school, St Joseph with the help of local artist Achille Mombo. They chose their slogan “Let’s protect the slender-snouted crocodile for future generations.”

75 Appendix 23: Student Protected Species Mural

Club “Nature’s Fuel” from the public high school Lycée d’Etat, negotiated with the fishing center themselves to create a mural they designed and painted on the center walls next to the principal landing site for fishing boats. The mural is not quite finished in this photo, but reads “Together let’s fight for the conservation of our protected species.”

76 Appendix 24: Slender-snouted crocodile TV special

Team members Rebecca Djanivenda and Cyrille Mvele with nature club presidents organized a TV special on the slender-snouted crocodile

The students led sketches about what to do if you find crocodile meat for sale and how to participate in the citizen science project using WhatsApp on phones.

77 Appendix 25: Independence Day Parade

Students from 6 nature clubs paraded in the 2016 Independence Day parade in Lambaréné chanting slender-snouted crocodile and manatee protection slogans

78 Appendix 26: Participatory survey route

On trips to Tsam Tsam with tourists, the boat leaves Lambaréné, travels down the Ogooué River, down a meandering tributary leading to lake Onangue, across lake Onangué, and then to the site on lake Oguemoué. We will record crocodile sightings along the meandering tributary, known locally as “la rive des pelicans” beginning at the top red x and ending at the bottom red x. We commonly see slender-snouted crocodiles sunning on logs along this small river. Surveys will allow us to record seasonality of sightings, sizes of crocodiles, in addition to hippo observations, pelican observations, and other species on the transect with any changes over the long term. It will also allow us to explain “Projet Faux Gavial” to tourists and visitors. T-shirts sold at Tsam Tsam will raise funds for the project. This will be incorporated into the tour to Tsam Tsam, it will not cost anything additional, and it will add minimal extra time to the journey as we already stop for wildlife sightings.

79 Appendix 27: Survey route data sheets

Date______Observers______

Water depth at start______Weather Conditions______

Slender-snouted Crocodiles:

Time GPS location Size (S < 1m, M 1-2m, L 2-3, XL 3m+)

1 2 3

Hippos:

Time GPS location Group Size (Adults and Juveniles)

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

Pelicans (Colony Size Estimate)______African skimmers (Colony Size Estimate) ______

Other species spotted:

Other Observations:

80 Appendix 28: Projet Faux Gavial Cards

Front side of card.

Back side of card.

81 Appendix 29: Student Photos of Bushmeat

Students have so far recorded crocodiles in fishing boats, at the fishing center, in restaurants, and at houses in the cooking pot helping us to better understand the market for crocodile meat. They include additional data like size of animal and GPS coordinates.

82 Appendix 30: National Press

83 Appendix 31: Projet Faux Gavial page of OELO Programs Report (2015-2016)

Biodiversity Research

In 2015, two members of the OELO team were awarded MENTOR manatee fellowships to lead research and When we began surveys of the Lambaréné bushmeat market in 2012, the critically endangered slender-snouted conservation efforts on the African manatee. OELO programs manager Cyrille Mvele led interviews with fshers to crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) was the most commonly observed bushmeat for sale. Between 2012 and 2015, slen- learn more about manatee hunting, by-catch, and bushmeat commerce. He documented manatee bushmeat for sale der-snouted crocodile bushmeat represented over half of all bushmeat from protected species recorded in market and collected genetic samples of dead manatees. Concurrently, EE coordinator Rebecca Djanivenda led education and restaurant surveys. While the slender snouted crocodile has been fully protected under national law in Gabon and outreach initiatives with youth clubs, churches, and schools. Both participated in three training workshops, led since 2011, local hunters, vendors, restaurant owners and consumers either did not fear law enforcement or did not by Dr. Lucy Keith Diagne of the African Aquatic Conservation Fund, with other participants from Central Africa. understand that the species was protected as they continued to openly advertise crocodile meat on restaurant menus The frst workshop was hosted at Tsam Tsam in 2015. Other research initaitives supported by OELO included a and on bushmeat tables. participatory study of lake fsheries on Lake Oguemoué to monitor changes in the quality of lake fsheries over time, in partnership with local associations Amven and Otiti, and partner TNC. We continued our work to record In 2015, OELO program coordinator Cyrille Mvele, with a Conservation Leadership Programme grant, launched an bushmeat commerce at local markets and launched a citizen science effort “Projet Faux Gavial” to better under- outreach campaign “Projet Faux Gavial” (Project Slender-snouted crocodile) to raise awareness about the species, stand commerce of slender-snouted crocodile. rally pride for crocodile conservation, encourage local leaders and law enforcement to enforce laws, and change the preferences of the next generation of bushmeat consumers. Between October 2015 and September 2016 the Projet BELOW LEFT: MENTOR manatee workshop held at Tsam Tsam. BELOW RIGHT: Slender- Faux Gavial team presented an environmental education curriculum on crocodiles at 14 local schools, launched snouted crocodile on the Ogooué river. BOTTOM LEFT: Cyrille interviews fshers about manatee student-led nature clubs that engaged in outreach about crocodile conservation, led community outreach with hunt- by-catch and hunting practices. BOTTOM RIGHT: Market surveys at Marché Isaac record bushmeat for sale. ers and vendors at the local market, created a community green space with a crocodile mural, erected an informative

Heather Arrowood panel on the protected status of the crocodile at the bushmeat market, and worked closely with local leaders to fnd ways to reduce commerce.

In early 2016, the OELO team launched a citizen science project where students use WhatsApp to record slender- snouted crocodile sightings and crocodile bushmeat for sale. In 2016, for the frst time in four years of surveys the team found no slender-snouted crocodile bushmeat for sale during the closed hunting season September 2015- March 2016 and only 4% of market res- !#22("$(*%4*7/45*8/,&/'9*1/"$:;*<)//$9*=/2>/";+;*8/>#+* taurant surveys included slender-snouted crocodile for sale. By comparison, dur- Lucy Keith Diange ing the previous closed hunting season &#$"

September 2014- March 2015, 27% of &"

market surveys recorded slender snouted :)(,-."-." ;2+5**."1(5<" crocodile for sale and 61% of restaurant %#$" =(>)(?"

surveys recorded slender-snouted croco18- %" 1(5<"=(>)(?*"(5<" dile stew on the daily menu. the team @.*4(52(,4*" will be looking for hidden black markets, !#$"

identifying livelihood alternatives to hunt- !" '()*+,"-." 1.23.452." '()*+,"-." 1.23.452." '()*+,"-." 1.23.452." '()*+,"-." 1.23.452." '()*+,"-." ing and selling crocodiles, and collabo- /0(**." -."/0(**." /0(**." -."/0(**." /0(**." -."/0(**." /0(**." -."/0(**." /0(**." &!%&" &!%&6&!%7" &!%7" &!%76&!%8" &!%8" &!%86&!%$" &!%$" &!%$6&!%9" &!%9" rating with local community leaders to !"#$#%&'()*(+*,(+-(*./"*,&)&-(01/"2&-()*%(*3/45*6/,&/')*/45*"()-/4"/+-)*./"*,&)&-(* protect this critically endangered species. Slender-snouted crocodile commerce in market and restau- 18 13 rants decreases in 2016. 19 Heather Arrowood Heather Arrowood

84 Appendix 32: Oryx Conservation News

Conservation news

Surveys in southern Myanmar indicate global such as the Endangered Gurney’spittaandStorm’sstork importance for tigers and biodiversity Ciconia stormi. A primary objective of this research is to assess the Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region is part of the Indo-Burmese conservation status of tigers in southern Myanmar. We biodiversity hotspot, at the Indochinese–Sundaic faunal successfully confirmed the continued presence of tigers in transition. This region contains the largest remaining the southern Tanintharyi Region and individually identified areas of biologically rich Sundaic lowland forest in mainland a minimum of five individuals in the Lenya Proposed South-east Asia. Over one third of Tanintharyi Region’s National Park, based on their stripe pattern. For the  remaining lowland evergreen forest falls within the bound- trap stations at which tigers were detected, the mean num- aries of the Lenya Proposed National Park and extension, ber of days until the first observation was  ± SD .. The first nominated for National Park status in . These maximum time to first detection was  days. Hunting was forests are home to the world’s largest population of the also observed to be widespread within lowland areas of the Endangered Gurney’s pitta Pitta gurneyi, now endemic to Lenya Proposed National Park. Hunters were detected at Tanintharyi, and support one of the three most significant a total of .% of camera trap stations, including  of  tiger Panthera tigris populations in Myanmar. In spite of the locations where tigers were observed. known biodiversity value of the area, decades of armed The results of these surveys indicate that the Lenya for- conflict previously restricted access for scientific study and ests still retain a unique assemblage of globally threatened biological monitoring. wildlife, including at least a small but possibly globally sig- Tanintharyi remains predominantly forested, although nificant population of tigers. Surveys are ongoing but large areas have been selectively logged since at least the deforestation is widespread and accelerating in the sur- s, and there has been widespread land-use change in re- rounding landscape. High hunting pressure, logging, forest cent years. Since the s the introduction and subsequent clearing and mining activity are commonly observed within rapid expansion of oil palm plantations has been the single the proposed protected area boundaries during surveys and biggest threat to these forests. Over , ha of land was pose a considerable risk to sensitive wildlife populations. We allocated to the crop by , just over one third of which is and our partners are slowly addressing these threats. reportedly planted, although this is almost certainly an Following a review of oil palm by FFI, for example, the underestimate. In addition, new road development and for- new government of democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu est clearing for other agricultural products, particularly rub- Kyi has revoked some oil palm licences as a result of legal ber and areca (betel) nut, have caused additional habitat loss infractions, and has declared that it intends to review the and fragmentation for forest-dependent species. remainder. With financial support from the KfW-funded The need to balance ongoing development with tradition- Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Project, FFI is cur- al livelihoods and biodiversity conservation requires reliable rently helping establish education, law enforcement and baseline information on the distribution of priority species. In sustainable buffer zone management to support these ef- response, and with the support and permission of the forts, while building multi-stakeholder support for conser- Myanmar Forest Department, Fauna & Flora International vation in this globally irreplaceable paradise of biodiversity. (FFI) and partners have so far conducted five camera trap surveys targeting large mammals within lowland areas of SAW SOE AUNG,NAY MYO SHWE,JACKSON FRECHETTE and the Lenya forests. These surveys were conducted during MARK GRINDLEY Fauna & Flora International Myanmar May –May , spanning  camera trap locations Programme, Yangon, Myanmar and , trap-nights. We primarily used grid-based survey E-mail [email protected] designs to guide overall camera spacing, but typically de- ployed cameras near ridge lines, footpaths, animal trails, GRANT CONNETTE Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian streams or salt-licks that were likely to be used by wildlife. Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, USA Results confirmed a total of  mammal species, including many that are globally threatened. The Critically Endangered Sunda pangolin Manis javanica was detected at Projet Faux Gavial reduces commerce of slender- two camera trap stations. We also recorded the Endangered snouted crocodile in Gabon tiger, dhole Cuon alpinus, Asian elephant Elephas maximus, Malayan tapir Tapirus indicus and banteng Bos javanicus.A Lambaréné, at the crossing of the Ogooué River with number of bird species were also identified from camera- National Highway , has long been an important market trap data, including several Sundaic lowland forest species for wildlife trade in Gabon. When the Gabonese NGO

85 Appendix 32: Oryx Conservation News

14 Conservation news

Organisation Ecotouristique du Lac Oguemoué began These early successes are promising but the team will surveys of the Lambaréné bushmeat market in , need to maintain momentum to ensure that commerce the Critically Endangered slender-snouted crocodile does not restart or go onto the black market. In the forth- Mecistops cataphractus was the most commonly observed coming months the team will be looking for any black mar- bushmeat for sale. Between  and  slender-snouted kets, identifying livelihood alternatives to hunting and crocodile bushmeat represented over half of all bushmeat selling crocodiles, and collaborating with local community from protected species recorded in market and restaurant leaders, including market representatives, teachers, law en- surveys. Although the slender-snouted crocodile has been forcement, conservation partners, elected leaders and reli- fully protected under national law in Gabon since , gious leaders to keep this Critically Endangered crocodile local hunters, vendors, restaurant owners and consumers off the bushmeat table and out of cooking pots. either did not fear law enforcement or did not understand We thank the Conservation Leadership Programme and that the species was protected, because they continued to the USFWS Wildlife Without Borders Program for their openly advertise crocodile meat on restaurant menus and support. For more information on this project and the bushmeat tables. other work of Organisation Ecotouristique du Lac In  the Organisation launched an outreach campaign Oguemoué, see www.oelogabon.org. in Lambaréné—Projet Faux Gavial (Project slender-snouted crocodile)—to raise awareness about the species, rally pride HEATHER ARROWOOD and CYRILLE MVELE Organisation for crocodile conservation, encourage local leaders and law Ecotouristique du Lac Oguemoué, Libreville, Gabon enforcement to enforce laws, and change the preferences E-mail [email protected] of the next generation of bushmeat consumers. Between October  and September  the Projet Faux Gavial team presented an environmental education curriculum Evaluating the impacts of conservation on crocodiles at  local schools, launched student-led na- interventions on human well-being: guidance for ture clubs that engaged in outreach about crocodile conser- practitioners vation, led community outreach with hunters and vendors at the local market, created a community green space with New guidance has been developed to help conservationists a crocodile mural, erected an informative panel on the pro- evaluate the impacts of their interventions on human tected status of the crocodile at the bushmeat market, and well-being. Published by the International Institute of worked closely with local leaders to find ways to reduce Environment and Development, these guidelines draw on commerce. As a result of these efforts, in February , insights provided by a wide range of conservation practi- the Mayor of Lambaréné signed a decree forbidding the tioners, academics and funding bodies for navigating the commerce of protected species in the city and pledging methodological decisions to be made in developing an support to enforce protected species laws. In early  evaluation strategy for a wide variety of situations. The the project team launched a citizen science project in document draws on robust scientific approaches while tak- which students use WhatsApp to record slender-snouted ing into account practical issues. crocodile sightings and crocodile bushmeat for sale. The Conservationists are increasingly recognizing the im- most active students in this effort will win scholarships for portance of evaluating their impacts, to ensure accountabil- the upcoming school year. ity and to learn what works and what doesn’t. As part of this, Organisation Ecotouristique du Lac Oguemoué compiles they are increasingly interested in impacts on human well- biannual market surveys, at the opening and closing of each being because of the moral imperative to at the very least do annual hunting season (March and September of each year). no harm and, pragmatically, a growing number of conserva- For the first time in  years of surveys the team found no tion strategies rely on improved livelihoods or other positive slender-snouted crocodile bushmeat for sale during the social outcomes. Although a number of social impact evalu- closed hunting season of September –March  and ation tools and methods have been designed, by both aca- only % of restaurant surveys included slender-snouted demics and conservationists, no single tool or method will crocodile meat for sale. In comparison, during the previous work for every intervention. Therefore, instead of providing closed hunting season (September –March ), another evaluation method, these guidelines aim to provide % of market surveys recorded slender-snouted crocodile an understanding of the different steps and issues that are meat for sale and % of restaurant surveys recorded slen- involved in social impact evaluation. They aim to enable der-snouted crocodile stew on the daily menu. During the conservationists to make the right decisions, and signpost open hunting season of March–Sept  no slender-snout- appropriate methods and tools along the way. In particular, ed crocodiles were recorded on bushmeat tables and only the guidelines aim to help small NGOs consider why they two incidences of crocodile meat for sale were recorded in wish to evaluate their social impacts, and what is feasible restaurants. given their funding and capacity constraints.

Bibliography Arrowood, H. C. and C. Mvele 2017. Projet Faux Gavial reduces commerce of slender- snouted crocodile in Gabon. Conservation News. Oryx, 2017, 51(1), 13–18.

OELO Market Survey Report 2013a. Rapport de Vente Illegale de la Viande de Brousse, Marché Isaac, Lambaréné, 15 Mars 2012- 15 Mars 2013.

OELO Market Survey Report 2013b. Rapport de Vente Illegale de la Viande de Brousse, Marché Isaac, Lambaréné, 16 Mars 2013- 15 Sep 2013.

OELO Market Survey Report 2014a. Rapport de Vente Illegale de la Viande de Brousse, Marché Isaac, Lambaréné, 16 Sept 2013- 15 Mar 2014.

OELO Market Survey Report 2014b. Rapport de Vente Illegale de la Viande de Brousse, Marché Isaac, 16 Mars 2014- 15 Sept 2014.

OELO Market Survey Report 2015a. Rapport de Vente Illegale de la Viande de Brousse, Marché Isaac, Lambaréné, 16 Sept 2014- 15 Mar 2015.

OELO Market Survey Report 2015b. Rapport de Vente Illegale de la Viande de Brousse, Marché Isaac, 16 Mars 2015- 15 Sept 2015.

OELO Market Survey Report 2016a. Rapport de Vente Illegale de la Viande de Brousse, Marché Isaac, Lambaréné, 16 Sept 2015- 15 Mar 2016.

OELO Market Survey Report 2016b. Rapport de Vente Illegale de la Viande de Brousse, Marché Isaac, 16 Mars 2016- 15 Sept 2016.

Address list and Web links OELO BP 3292, Libreville, Gabon Office: Sahoty, Derierre Adiwa Moyen-Ogooué, Lambaréné

GPS Coordinates Tsam Tsam:

OELO Website: www.oelogabon.org

OELO Facebook page: www.facebook.com/oelogabon

Tsam Tsam Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TsamTsamGabon

Nature club fieldtrips to Tsam Tsam https://www.facebook.com/pg/OELOGabon/photos/?tab=album&album_id=5715435 23004054

World Environment Day 2016 https://www.facebook.com/pg/OELOGabon/photos/?tab=album&album_id=6282618 23998890

OELO programs report 2015-2016 http://www.oelogabon.org/resource/programs-report-2015-2016

Nature club activities: The Green Thumbs of Immaculee Conception: https://www.facebook.com/pg/OELOGabon/photos/?tab=album&album_id=5900095 07824122 Club of CES Georges Modjeckou: https://www.facebook.com/pg/OELOGabon/photos/?tab=album&album_id=5843167 71726729

CLP article on Projet Faux Gavial: http://www.conservationleadershipprogramme.org/news/removing-rare-crocs- menu/