AFRICAN
CONSERVATION AND WEB SITES FOR AFRICA FROM
AFRICANWEBSITES.NET
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Global Witness has been working on forest issues
on a country specific basis since its inception in 1995. Throughout 1995,
Global
Witness conducted ground breaking undercover
investigatio
ns.
Global
Witness is leading the debate on illegal logging and conflict timber
at an international policy level but at the same time
continues to focus on individual countries building
on its experiences in Cambodia. These countries include Cameroon where Global
Witness is the official Independent Monitor, DRC, Liberia and Zimbabwe. Conflict
timber is timber that has been traded at some point in the chain of custody
by armed groups, be they rebel factions or regular soldiers, or by a civilian
administration, or its representatives, involved in armed conflict, either
to perpetuate conflict or take advantage of conflict situations for personal
gain. Illegal logging is the felling of trees or the export of timber in
contravention of domestic regulations or laws.
Global
Witness aims to:
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Photos Copyright Global Witness
The
discovery of the Mountain Gorillas took place in the Virunga Mountains, on
October 17th, 1902, by Robert von
B
eringe. In celebration of this event and to promote
the preservation of the Mountain Gorillas, the
Mountain
Gorilla Conservation Fund (MGCF) is undertaking several projects
to achieve the goal of saving these gorillas from extinction. The Current
Projects section of their website gives a brief description of eight of these
projects. The "Preservation through Visualization" portion of this
proje
ct promotes the number one task set before the
MGCF. In 1987, only 248
Mountain Gorillas lived in the wild. Because
of projects such as these, coordinated by the
Mountain
Gorilla Conservation Fund, there are now about 650 living in the
wild. The
Mountain
Gorilla Conservation Fund is dedicated to ensuring the future of
the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. By providing a partnership of business, wildlife conservation, and
community development, MGCF addresses the single biggest challenge facing
preservation of these animals today; how do we help communities in developing
areas grow and prosper without destroying precious habitat or the Mountain
Gorillas, who call it home.
The Bushmeat Project has been established to develop
and support community based partnerships that will
hel
p the people of various African countries, to
develop alternatives to unsustainable bushmeat commerce. The programme is
a long-term effort to provide economic and social incentive to people to
protect great apes and other endangered wildlife. Some of the largest wildlife
and animal welfare organizations in North America have joined them in agreement
that the Bushmeat Crisis is a top priority concern and that it is time to
act. Some of the largest wildlife and animal welfare organizations in North
America have joined them in agreement that the Bushmeat Crisis is a top priority
concern and that it is time to act. To learn more about this effort
check the website
or email to hq@biosynergy.org. Donations
will be used to help turn poachers to protectors, educate people about the
intrinsic values of wildlife, and to create new protected areas in which
apes will be safe for people to study and observe.
Much of Africa's habitat
and its wildlife is threatened by overpopulation and unsustainable use of
natural resources
by poor people. Raptors are no exception; over 100 species
either breed in Africa or migrate there each winter from Europe and Asia.
Conservation of far ranging species like raptors and other migratory birds
presents special problems to biologists. How do we protect animals that range
so far and need widely dispersed habitats in which to survive?
The Peregrine
Fund's Pan Africa Program aims to establish projects throughout Africa
that train local people to do the studies needed to achieve conservation
of birds of prey and other species. The programme will bring biologists from
diverse countries and cultures together in a common effort to protect Africa's
natural resources. You can email The Peregrine Fund at
tpf@peregrinefund.org.
The
International Rhino
Foundation (IRF) has supported conservation efforts for both black
and southern
white rhino in Zimbabwe. This support has included provision
of a helicopter with operating support. The helicopter has been used to
facilitate: consolidation of rhino into the Intensive Protection Zones (IZPs)
that have proven crucial to rhino survival; de-horning which is an integral
part of the Zimbabwe rhino conservation strategy; and anti-poaching activity.
If you'd like to find out how you can assist them visit their website and
help protect some of the most endangered and unique animals ever known.
Since 1982, the
Berggorilla &
Regenwald Direkthilfe has been dedicated to the conservation of gorillas,
especially the mountain gorillas, and their habitats. They focus their work
on
th
e eastern gorillas by supporting projects
contributing to the conservation of these animals.
Occasionally they also support projects for the conservation
of certain populations of western gorillas that are particularly at risk.
In addition, they support research activities of (predominantly local)
scientists. Finally, they provide necessary equipment to support the important
work of the rangers. Another important goal of their organisation is raising
the general public's awareness of the problems of gorilla conservation and
the changing situation in habitat countries through their magazine Gorilla
Journal, which was published for the first time in 1992. It is printed twice
a year in German and English (presently also in French). Their work is financed
by donations and members' contributions. They are recognized as a non-profit
organisation in Germany.
For more information on Democratic Republic of Congo, click
here.
If you would like to
contact us please email
terry@africanconservation.org
