By Gabrielle Wade
21 October 2008 [MEDIAGLOBAL]: Today, all the great ape species of Africa are in decline, and only ten countries still have naturally occurring populations of gorillas. Three of the four gorilla subspecies are “critically endangered” according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and trends suggest that in this century all wild great ape species could become extinct.
To prevent possible extinction, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS), partnering with the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), will name 2009 the Year of the Gorilla (YoG) on 1 December.
A young mountain gorilla. (Photo: GRASP/Ian Redmond)
UNEP/CMS Public Information Representative Veronika Lenarz told MediaGlobal, “Gorillas are important ‘gardeners’ in the forests they inhabit: they spread seeds, control weeds, keep ecological niches open for numerous other species.” Losing them would cause a loss of biodiversity; “Ultimately, locals depend on intact ecosystems, which provide essential ecosystem services like fresh water and clean air,” Lenarz said.
According to a United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) press release, a few of the main threats to gorillas are hunting for food and traditional medicine as well as loss of habitat due to logging, mining and production of charcoal.
Since locals are dependent on killing gorillas and destroying their habitats, it is tough to explain to them that gorilla protection is necessary when “people are living hand-to-mouth. This is why sustainable development and alternative livelihoods are an important part of the YoG,” explained Lenarz.
The YoG campaign hopes to ensure the implementation of the CMS Gorilla Agreement on conserving gorillas and their habitats in the ten African countries that still have natural gorilla populations, as well as create programmes to fund and train rangers, support scientific research, develop alternative sources of income, and raise education and awareness.
Lenarz said that enhancing infrastructure will help rangers work more efficiently to stop poachers, promoting ecotourism will provide an alternative source of income for locals, and increasing the yield of existing agricultural land will be important to prevent the loss of more forests.
Logging activities in gorilla habitat. (Photo: GRASP/Ian Redmond)
To educate locals, “A film project is planned that outlines new employment alternatives, education and alternative solutions to deforestation through screenings of content relevant films. It aims to alleviate local poverty through employment that will promote and disseminate knowledge of forest resources,” Lenarz explained.
The campaign will receive funding from countries as well as individuals, who will be able to contribute to specific projects on the YoG Web site. Additionally, WAZA will be important in the education and awareness raising part of YoG.
The CMS works for the conservation of endangered migratory animals, with 110 member countries, GRASP helps mobilize and pool resources by providing a communication platform for scientists to stop the decline of great ape populations, and WAZA has zoo and aquarium members from all over the world. UNEP and UNESCO will offer their support, and Dr. Jane Goodall will be the campaign patron.
Lenarz said, “In the long-term, stakeholders will reap the benefits of improvements in levels of the management of ecosystems and reforestation, education on issues of biodiversity conservation, development of sustainable use of forest resources and the construction of innovative funding mechanisms, providing a catalyst for regional cooperation.”