Author: liam_devetecho

Liberia has exceptional biodiversity and is home to many iconic and threatened species such as the western chimpanzee, forest elephant and pygmy hippopotamus. However, due to its coastal location and large port, it is a hotspot for the illegal trade in wildlife and, as a result, wildlife populations in Liberia and neighbouring countries are under serious threat.

Liberia’s Forest Development Authority (FDA) is leading the fight against international wildlife trafficking, and although the government has recently passed a number of laws around environmental conservation and wildlife trade, enforcement is difficult due to a lack of capacity and resources. Rangers are employed at key checkpoints with the aim of intercepting wildlife traffickers on their way to Monrovia and other large port cities. However, a lack of resources and communications equipment was limiting how effectively the checkpoint rangers could carry out their vital work.

Local wildlife charity, Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP), is dedicated to rescuing and caring for chimpanzees caught up in the bushmeat and international trafficking trade, and the conservation of wild chimpanzee populations. Working alongside LCRP and the FDA, we were able to provide funding to provide 20 checkpoint rangers with smart phones. This has had a significant impact on the rangers’ effectiveness, enabling them to communicate quickly with each other and with the authorities about cases of wildlife trafficking, complete online paperwork immediately as incidents occur, quickly identify species and collect photographic evidence to build up a database of incidents and species involved.

Ultimately, the provision of these smart phones will lead to more successful arrests and prosecutions, more wildlife protected from illegal trade and better protection of species and habitats in Liberia.

The rainforests and highlands of south western Cameroon, the wettest place in Africa, are a biodiversity hotspot. Extending into Nigeria, these ancient forests have high levels of endemism and support many iconic and endangered species, as well as providing essential wildlife migration corridors and being a vital resource in the global fight against climate change. The region is home to Africa’s most endangered great ape, the Cross River gorilla. With just 250 – 300 individuals left in the wild, this species is on the brink of extinction, with habitat loss and fragmentation threatening to isolate small satellite populations. Other notable endangered species include the Nigeria- Cameroon chimpanzee, drill, Preuss’s monkey, three different species of pangolin and many birds. African forest elephants have important migration routes through the area and it is a key stop-off area for long distance migratory birds.

Much of the area is community land with no formal protected status, and the forest is under threat from illegal logging, unsustainable agricultural practices and poaching. Exploitation of natural resources in the region has increased in recent years due to an influx of refugees fleeing conflict in neighbouring areas and the pressure of the covid -19 pandemic giving people no alternative but to turn to bushmeat and timber collection for survival.

Working with our partners at the African Conservation Foundation, we have been able to contribute funds for training, equipment, salaries and thus capacity building for 30 community rangers. The 21 men and 9 women have been selected by their local communities, and work conducting monitoring and nest counts of Cross River gorillas, as well as surveying many other species and mapping conservation threats. They are also best placed to deliver humanitarian action to meet the needs of displaced people that are fleeing to the area.

These rangers were signifcantly under-equipped. However, the provision of smart phones, GPS, tracking equipment, camera traps and software has enabled them to undertake more extensive and accurate monitoring and data collection, as well as training and field safety equipment such as tents and sleeping mats. Just £500 can cover the cost of equipment, training and a year’s salary for one ranger.

A large, landscape scale, community based approach to conservation, connecting protected areas with community forest reserves and sanctuaries, is key to protecting these species and their habitats, whilst also providing sustainable livelihoods for the area’s increasing population (see Cameroon Wildlife Corridor Project). If successful, the long term outcomes of this project are far reaching and of huge benefit not only to the conservation of the extraordinary biodiversity of south west Cameroon and in particular the Cross River gorilla, but also to ensuring secure sustainable use rights of the approximately 15000 people that live in the region and rely on the forest for their livelihood.

There is also great potential for the development of sustainable agroforestry in the area. A new species of coffee has recently been discovered in another highland region of Cameroon with very similar environmental conditions, as well as a rare medicinal tree, Okoubaka aubrevillei, which is being used by a Swiss company to make a herbal remedy against intestinal problems and has a growing market in Europe. These high value crops, along with the production of gorilla honey, could provide a viable alternative to slash and burn agriculture which is a major contributing factor to deforestation and habitat fragmentation.

The Bikut Tigapuluh Ecosystem in central Sumatra, Indonesia, is a globally important area of lowland rainforest. As well as harbouring valuable biodiversity and acting an important carbon storage resource for the mitigation of climate change, and being home to several indigenous groups who depend on the forest for survival, the area is particularly important for the conservation of several critically endangered large mammal populations.

It is a priority area for one of the largest populations of wild Sumatran elephants, home to 10–15% of remaining Sumatran tigers and covers one of only two release sites for ex–captive Sumatran orangutans.

The lowland buffer zone of the Bikut Tigapuluh National Park is extremely important for these species, but increasingly is under threat of encroachment from logging, poaching and illegal farming. Over the last few years, economic pressures arising from the covid 19 pandemic have led to more and more illegal activity in the area.

The area is patrolled by dedicated wildlife protection units – multi task community ranger teams who undertake habitat and wildlife monitoring, anti-poaching patrols and human wildlife conflict resolution, however, funding pressures were making the future of these patrols uncertain, with the risk of leaving the area inadequately protected and vulnerable to poaching and other illegal activity.

Working with our on the ground partners, Wildlife Conservation International, funding was provided to enable the 24 strong ranger team to continue its vital work protecting the area and its wildlife in the following ways:

• maintaining their continuous anti-poaching efforts and keeping numbers of critically endangered wildlife killed to a minimum
• continuing the successful Community Based Conflict Mitigation Programme to reduce conflict between elephants and farmers
• patrolling key areas for large mammal conservation
• training and equipping existing rangers and new recruits with SMART wildlife monitoring technology
• covering the ongoing costs of uniform, transport, patrol equipment (tents, cookers), technology (comms, GPS, SMART) and food rations

Upemba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of Africa’s most important protected areas. The 4500 square miles of habitat, including grasslands, wetlands, woodland and mountains, is home to exceptional biodiversity, including lions, elephants and DRC’s last remaining herd of zebras.

Wildlife has been in decline in recent years due to pressure from poaching, wildlife trafficking and illegal strip mining. In addition, the rangers working to protect the area and its iconic wildlife risk their lives every day, working in remote and often extreme environments with limited communication. As well as the risk of conflict with poachers, the volatile political situation in the country means they face the very real danger of the armed militia groups who are increasingly present in the area. Tragically, in recent years the park has suffered one of the highest numbers of ranger deaths; the majority being homicides by armed militia.

In 2022, we ran an appeal to raise funds to provide Upemba’s 247 strong ranger team with the technology to enable them to communicate whilst on patrol in this vast area which has no radio or telephone signal. The £10000 raised in the appeal enabled our on-the-ground partners, the Forgotten Parks Foundation, to provide the Upemba rangers with 13 GPS units, supporting software subscription and training. This equipment is a game changer for this ranger team, enabling them to communicate with each other whilst on patrol and, crucially, to call for help in an emergency.

Although this communication equipment has been a significant help to rangers, improving their own safety and the effectiveness of their patrols, the situation in DRC is still very challenging for those working in wildlife conservation. Tragically, the park has lost three more rangers in the past year, and we have been working to provide financial support to their families in this tragic and difficult time, as well as covering the cost of life and emergency evacuation insurance for all the frontline rangers.

India is home to around 3600 tigers, which is approximately 75% of the remaining wild tigers worldwide. The country has a network of protected areas where dedicated rangers work tirelessly to protect these iconic animals, their habitats and other wildlife and endangered species.

In many areas, rangers often lack the equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. Working in remote areas, they face risks from poachers, forest fires, accidents and wildlife attacks. Very sadly, India has one of the highest rates of ranger fatalities in the world.

Working with our on-the-ground partners, the Wildlife Trust of India, we have been able to provide the equipment rangers need to carry out patrols safely and to monitor and protect tigers and other wildlife. The equipment provided varies across different areas depending on the specific needs of different ranger teams, but includes waterproof clothing, backpacks, torches, tents, PPE and water filters. As well as improved safety for the rangers, being properly equipped is a huge morale boost for these dedicated frontline workers and will lead to better habitat conservation and protection for the tigers and other endangered wildlife in India long into the future.

The equatorial dry forests of Peru and Ecuador are one of the most threatened neotropical ecosystems with just 10% of original coverage remaining. It is home to unique wildlife including the iconic spectacled bear which is increasingly threatened due to habitat loss.

The spectacled bear is the only bear species native to South America, with its range confined to the dry forests, cloud forests and deserts of the Andes mountains. In forested areas, the bears often spend a lot of time in the trees, whilst in deserts, they live in the undergrowth. Like many bear species, they are omnivorous and adapt their diet to what is readily available, which can include fruit, cacti, leaves, bark, bromeliads, carrion, insects, birds and small mammals.

Their strength and solitary nature have made them the subject of important local folklore, while around the world, the spectacled bear is best known as the inspiration for the much loved children’s character, Paddington.

Spectacled bears are an important umbrella species – conserving the bears has the knock-on effect of protecting numerous other species that share their habitat, including mountain tapir, ocelots, puma, jaguarundi, Andean condor and white winged guan.

The Laquipampa Wildlife Refuge in the Lambayeque region on north east Peru is an important protected area for spectacled bear conservation. In 2021, the park was protected by just three official rangers. Previously, these rangers were supported by a network of volunteers from local communities, however, this programme had to be suspended due to lack of funds. The knock-on effects of this, along with the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic meant that surveillance of the bears and other wildlife had to be reduced, monitoring of conservation agreements were unable to be carried out effectively, and the rangers often had to work alone in dangerous conditions.

Working with our on the ground partner the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society of Peru, provision of training for a network of 20 local voluntary rangers, as well as vital equipment, has hugely improved safety and capacity for the teams protecting the spectacled bear and its habitat. Equipping the rangers with essential skills, including surveillance, first aid and conflict resolution, means that rangers can stay safe, carry out more effective monitoring and also transfer these skills for the benefit of the local community. As well as basic patrol equipment such as uniform, PPE, torches, stationery, first aid kits and tents, the rangers now also have access to technology to improve the monitoring of spectacled bears, including GPS and cameras.

Impact/Update

As a result of this capacity building, SBSC have been able to expand their conservation work to new areas of the buffer zone of the park. Through installing new camera traps in this area, rangers have managed to establish that bears are using the buffer zones as corridors between areas of habitat, and have also managed to capture images of pumas and ocelots in the region.

The team have also found a unique way to spread the word about their work and the importance of conservation to communities in the buffer zone through setting up football tournaments to bring people together.

The Rukhavorn Community Forest spans over 30,254 hectares, with many villagers living within the forest. Hunting, fishing and illegal logging are a danger to all the wildlife within the forest. This region of Cambodia has a culture of forest protection by local communities going back generations and, until recently, with no external support.

Several of the species found in the forest are on the IUCN Red-List of threatened species: Sunda pangolins, bantengs and doucs are Critically Endangered; long-tailed macaques, silvered langurs are Endangered; sambar, stump-tailed and northern pig-tailed macaques are Vulnerable species. Alongside their intrinsic value, all these species play a vital role in maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem.

Barbaric snares, made from rope, metal wire and/or nylon, are set in the thousands throughout forests in Cambodia and are the biggest threat to the country’s wildlife, causing a painful death to anything that strays into their path. In addition, the loss and fragmentation of habitat has seen further declines in populations and have made poaching easier for the hunters, giving them closer access to dense forest areas.

The Sunda pangolin is the most trafficked animal in the world. These shy and gentle creatures are hunted for their meat, skin and scales to be used in food, clothing and traditional medicine. Already critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, Sunda pangolins are predicted to decline by a further 80% over the next two decades unless urgent action is taken.

Douc langurs are small primates whose highly specialised diet of leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers, makes them especially habitat dependent. Adult douc langurs are hunted for food and traditional medicine, with their babies being captured and sold as illegal pets. Due to their specialised diet the babies usually die in captivity due to gastric distress.

Banteng are a beautiful species of wild cattle which play an important ecosystem role as large herbivores, circulating nutrients and dispersing seeds. Their main threats are habitat loss and hunting for their meat and horns. They have experienced an estimated 80% global population decline over the past 20 years and the latest IUCN Red List assessment puts the global population of banteng at just 8,000, with over half living in eastern Cambodia.

Rukhavorn Community Forest rangers, located within the Sorng Rokha Vorn Wildlife Sanctuary, are managed by former monk, Bun Saluth. He coordinates with Ministry of Environment rangers and approximately 80 local people and monks to protect the forest and its wildlife. They patrol alongside Ministry of Environment officials and police. The wildlife rangers here are very committed to the forest’s protection but are in urgent need of financial and technical support in order to sustain their activities.

While on patrol the rangers often have to stay 2 or 3 nights out in the forest, travelling by quad bike or ox and cart, removing snares set by poachers, confronting armed hunters and monitoring wildlife and illegal activity. To control illegal activities, patrols are divided into two teams: the forest team, responsible for checking snares and opening forest fire trails, and the wetland team, which patrols by boat to deter illegal fishing. Snares are set randomly so are difficult to detect, but their specialised ranger units over 10 stations have removed approximately 250,000 snares to date.

Our on the ground partner in the area is Wildlife Alliance. Through their Community Conservation Support programme, they respond to requests from the ranger teams, helping to provide them with the training, equipment and support they need to work safely and effectively to protect the forest and its wildlife.

Through this project, we aim to support the community rangers in 4 specific ways:

1. Build a natural pool that provides water for wildlife during the dry season.
2. Purchase 10 additional patrol equipment kits to enable 10 additional Rukhavorn rangers to patrol and protect the forest’s natural resources and wildlife.
3. Purchase 3 GPS units so rangers can track and analyse patrols, discourage hunting, remove snares and address other threats to forest and wildlife.
4. Increase ranger effectiveness and wildlife monitoring through hands-on training on site selection, re-installation of camera traps during the dry season, patrol analysis and strategic planning for future patrols.

Past project impact

In 2023, we worked with Wildlife Alliance in the Srae Chis Community Forest, in another part of Cambodia. Through this project, we were able to supply the ranger team with essential patrol and monitoring equipment: camera traps, radio devices, hammocks, headtorches, raincoats, backpacks and boots. The impact on ranger patrols has been significant in this area, including giving rangers the ability to record new data and thus provide a more accurate picture of the importance to biodiversity protection. As one small example, the camera traps recorded footage of the critically endangered banteng which, due to their elusiveness, had never been officially recorded in the area before.

Dja Biosphere Reserve is a World Heritage Site considered as one of IUCN’s fifteen critical zones for the conservation of central African biodiversity. This corridor links a significant population of critically endangered western lowland gorillas and other globally threatened large mammals such as Central chimpanzees, African Forest elephants, drills, mandrills and White collared mangabey, found in the Deng Deng National Park to those in the DBR. The corridor is estimated to be 620,000 ha. Currently, 80 percent of the corridor has received some sort of protection (community forest, council forest, and forestry concessions).

However, this leaves 52,000 ha of the proposed Deng Deng-Dja Corridor still unprotected. All of these threatened species are experiencing increasing threats from bushmeat poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. The population of western lowland gorilla is known to have decreased significantly in recent decades. Isolation will increase occurrences of inbreeding, leading to weak genes and extinction in the long-term. Fragmented habitat means that populations of many species cannot increase due to limited space and resources.

Working with our on-the-ground partners, this project aims to support the protection of the remaining unprotected section (52,000 ha) of the Deng Deng-Dja Corridor, whilst also supporting the livelihoods and economic development of the local people. The community forestry approach will improve community engagement in forest management, enhance forest conservation and reduce poverty for forest dependent people.

The creation of this protected wildlife corridor will significantly benefit biodiversity, connecting isolated sub-populations of iconic endangered species including the western lowland gorilla, increasing genetic mixing and resilience, and increasing overall wildlife populations as available habitat expands.

Improved forest management across the 8 new community forest areas will have a substantial impact on the local economy and livelihoods, diversifying the economy and providing employment opportunities in agroforestry, regenerative agriculture and the production of high value forest products such as honey and soaps. Community rangers will be at the heart of the project, working to patrol existing habitat and monitor wildlife, as well as undertaking habitat restoration where necessary.

The Greater Adjutant Stork, or Hargila, is the world’s rarest stork, breeding only in Cambodia and the Assam region of north East India, with Assam hosting 80% of the global population. This remarkable bird is 5ft tall with an 8ft wingspan, and is a vital part of its wetland ecosystem. Wetland ecosystems worldwide are in critical need of protection and restoration with around 90% already lost. The Hargila is also a very effective scavenger, which is crucially important in reducing the spread of diseases for both wildlife and people.

It is this association with death and disease which has historically given the stork a bad reputation. As the human population of Assam has increased and wetland areas reduced, the storks have come into closer contact with people and moved onto feeding on rubbish dumps. The birds are often seen as dirty and a pest in rice paddies and on farms and in villages, leading to misunderstanding and persecution. Nesting sites face numerous threats in addition to human disturbance, including from winds, storms and predators, which combined have put the species on the IUCN red list. Immediate interventions such as rescue operations, protective nets, and community outreach are crucial for their survival.

We are delighted to be working with Purnima Devi Barman, dedicated champion of the greater adjutant stork and founder of the community conservation group the Hargila Army, also known as the Stork Sisters. She recognised the value of the storks and saw how their numbers were declining and she has been working to inspire thousands of women in communities across rural Assam to join her in protecting the storks and their habitats through species and habitat restoration, rescue operations and cultural outreach.

As well as planting thousands of trees to safeguard nesting habitat into the future, Purnima and her team are dedicated to maximising the chance of survival of every stork chick. They build their nests at the top of very tall trees and sadly many chicks fall or try and leave the nests before they are ready to fly. To help protect these chicks, the team set up nets below the nesting sites to catch fallen chicks so they can be rescued and if necessary hand reared and then released back into the wild. The project has already brought the Hargila back from the brink of extinction, increasing numbers in Assam from a low of 115 to today’s estimate of 1830 individuals.

Conservation without livelihood is not sustainable, and the key to the Stork Sisters’ success has been to tap into Assam’s rich tradition of weaving. Purnima secured funding for 30 looms, set up a weaving centre and provided training in weaving the Hargila motif into fabrics which are then used in their traditional textiles and scarves. This is integrating the stork into the culture of Assam as a source of pride and providing women with an independent income. Those women who live in more remote villages  make small groups sharing 2 or 3 looms and some were also given sewing machines to make bags, cushion covers and other items from the handwoven fabrics. All of the women do conservation work alongside their weaving and sewing. Many of the women are very isolated, working on farms with only their immediate family for company, so the project provides them with a social network and support. They meet with other women in the group, visit villages as part of their community outreach work and get together to weave and sew.

Impact

This project is not only benefitting the stork and the wider ecosystem, but crucially the rural communities in Assam, transforming the lives of the members of the Hargila Army. To date, around 10,000 women have joined the organisation, becoming passionate conservationists dedicated to protecting the storks, whilst at the same time improving their own economic status and financial security. It is a perfect example of how small scale community based conservation initiatives can make a real difference to protecting biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for people and wildlife.