Emergency Relief Mission for Congo's National Parks
Crossing language, cultural, and political differences a common goal
has united the abilities and commitment of an impressively large group
of international individuals and organizations toward the singular possibility
of responding to protect a national community of wildlife in crisis. The
Democratic Republic of Congo Parks Emergency Relief Mission evolved
through the common vision of Michel Hasson (Nouvelles Approches,
Belgium), Ian Redmond (Ape Alliance) and Jo Thompson (Lukuru
Wildlife Research Project, USA). Together, with the assistance of
numerous people and organizations, we recognized that only an emergency
on-the-ground response could make a difference on behalf of wildlife amidst
the chaos of warfare.
Forced to flee my study site in the summer of 1998 as word of armed conflict
advanced across the terrain of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I
regularly scoured the news for reports of Congo and maintained intense
links with Lukuru workers and contacts that remained in-country. The conflict
made information and details about the situation on-the-ground hard to
come by and sporadic at best. I knew that the outbreak of war had resulted
in the disarming of park rangers across Congo, the forced abandonment
of most "protected areas" by park guards, the influx of foreign
occupiers with a disregard for local traditions and laws about wildlife,
large-scale movement of resident human populations and subsequent absence
of agricultural subsistence, a heightened demand for bushmeat for domestic
consumption and economic betterment, large-scale availability of automatic
weapons of mass destruction and ammunitions and wide-spread human destitution.
Heavily armed rebel factions, militia and numerous groups of belligerents
occupied many "protected areas". The supply of automatic weapons
and ammunitions provided poachers with the opportunity to successfully
hunt large mammals (especially apes and elephants) and dramatically changed
the course and magnitude of wildlife extermination.
My search for information had been defined by the area south of the Congo
River, the global limit of bonobo habitat and included monitoring the
status of bonobo research sites and the Salonga National Park, directly
along the battle front-line. However, once park rangers returned to their
posts and reestablished patrols, substantial reports began to emerge detailing
the widespread annihilation of wildlife across the whole Democratic Republic
of the Congo. After reading his report where he described the poaching
and devastation of Upemba National Park, in July 1999 I contacted Michel
Hasson. Our joint focus became the dramatic loss of critical species and
wildlife communities as a result of human armed conflict across different
sites and habitats of Congo. We continued to hear details of wildlife
slaughter. I had to sound the alarm. I knew that the disintegration of
the 7 National Parks, loss of the magnificent wildlife and plants harbored
within and endemic only to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, would
constitute an irreparable loss for the world as a whole. This is not a
Congolese crisis - it is a global crisis.
We needed help raising international awareness. Furnished with increasing
details of unchecked, protracted poaching from across Congo, in October
1999 I reached out to Ian Redmond whose personal notoriety and position
as Chairman of Ape Alliance offered a leap in exposure and strengthened
our effort. He distributed my two-part missive and map to members of the
Ape Alliance. Within a matter of days, Ape Alliance members
began to contact him asking what they could do to help. With their pledges,
other groups stepped forward to join our team.
Once permitted to return to their posts, park rangers did not have the
basic means to do their jobs nor simplest essential supplies to survive.
The rangers persist as a very experienced group of men, committed to their
tasks, known to risk their very lives to protect their charges, personally
faced with desperate economic circumstances and truly the only ones who
will ultimately conserve and protect wildlife in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo. It became clear that we needed to respond to the rangers
with survival and motivational provisions. We decided to organize an immediate,
short-term, "bottom-up" emergency response effort providing
resources and support to Congolese park rangers. The success of this tangible
conservation effort continues because of the joint in-country energies
of the ICCN (Institut Congo pour la Conservation de la Nature),
resident contacts and local NGOs, especially GTZ (Gesellschaft für
technische Zusammenarbeit - developmental aid organisation of the
German government; Guy Debonnet and Carlos Schuler).
Believing in the critical nature of communication, cooperation and collaboration,
I contacted all individuals and groups known to be working in Congo and
coordinated information to ensure avoidance of duplicated efforts and
finances, especially with regard to the future UNESCO
project to support the Congolese World Heritage Sites. Through their generous
responses our colleagues revealed that our Relief Mission remains distinct
from but complementary to the UNESCO project.
It would require far too much space to identify all the people contributing
to the Relief Mission. They will be acknowledged at a future date when
we (Michel Hasson, Ian Redmond and I) compile a report of closure to our
mission. However, at the time of this writing our sponsor organisations
include IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), Born Free
Foundation, Columbus Zoo of Ohio, Gorilla Haven, HSUS (Humane
Society United States), Fund for Animals, Chester Zoo, DFGF
(Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund-Europe), Friends of Washoe and
Primate Conservation. Individual contributions have been received
from throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom and Japan.
We determined that based on the Relief Mission financial status we would
be able to assist 3 parks initially and, as additional contributions become
available, we would direct our aid towards other parks with less critical
concerns. Our first priority became the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. In
January 2000 Michel Hasson joined Jean-François Segers on a trip
to Kahuzi-Biega. Shortly thereafter, Ian Redmond made a journey to the
park Kahuzi-Biega. These personal visits provided an abundant opportunity
to communicate needs of the rangers and solidify relationships between
the Relief Mission and rangers. Kasereka Bishikwabo (Conservateur Principale)
provided a priority list of needs for the park.
We have been able to successfully provide the items identified by the
rangers including rain gear (ponchos and coats), rubber boots, clothes,
blankets, books, soap, 100 back packs (knapsacks), sleeping bags, tents,
water canteens, five Garmin GPS units, rechargeable batteries, a computer,
a color printer, a scanner, computer software, materials to repair ranger
houses, medicines and office supplies. Nouvelles Approaches has
provided all channels of transport and shipment to eastern Congo in cooperation
with officials. The first shipment to Kahuzi-Biega departed from Belgium
on 15 January 2000. The second container destined for the park shipped
out from Belgium on 4 April. On 22 April another box was transported to
Kahuzi-Biega by Jean-François Segers. Preparations for subsequent
shipments of supplies destined for Upemba and Kundelungu National Parks
in Katanga progresses. The rangers now know that they do not face this
crisis alone. We care and will actively do what we can to help through
concrete actions.
To avoid administrative costs, the Relief Mission coordinators (Michel
Hasson, Ian Redmond and I) volunteer our time, efforts, and finances.
We have made the certainty of secure delivery of supplies our first priority.
We purchase specific items and deliver them into the hands of the respective
Park Conservateurs via secure contacts in-country, assuring that each
dollar spent has arrived at its destination. Our effort will not result
in an in-country structure or welfare program. In order to respond to
specific needs, we communicate with each aided park prior to purchasing
their supplies. Unfortunately, we cannot securely reach all parks at this
time and must focus on those areas with greatest need. Today, Maiko National
Park remains insecure due to the active presence of Congolese Interahamwe
and Mai-Mai militias in that area. Virunga National Park continues to
be supported by IGCP (International Gorilla conservation Programme),
DFGF, Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe, as well as the Mountain
Gorilla Veterinary Project. Garamba National Park remains secure with
the support of Projet Parc National de la Garamba and the UNF Project
for the World Heritage Sites. We consider Salonga National Park strongly
in our field of vision, although it remains insecure for the moment. Maiko
and Salonga National Parks will be areas for future aid.
Under the broad umbrella of our Relief Mission, other needs have been
identified. ICCN and GTZ produced a conservation education magazine called
le Gorille 2 as a follow-up to le Gorille 1 (1999). ICCN
and GTZ had insufficient funding to print their second publication, so
they contacted our Relief Mission. This printing did not fall under our
objective and our limited funds must finance targeted specific goals.
However, IPPL (International Primate Protection League), Nouvelles
Approaches and Wild Images provided funds for printing le
Gorille 2 as a sister initiative of the Relief Mission. The human
population in and around the Kahuzi-Biega Park receive this critical publication
at no cost. Translated to English, we widely distributed le Gorille
2 to individuals and organisations whose interests and goals focus on
African wildlife conservation.
As public awareness of the wildlife crisis in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo grew, many individuals contacted me to request options for
action that did not require a financial contribution. In January 2000
I compiled a list of US officials key to diplomatic will in Central Africa
and made the list widely available, including posting it on several websites.
I encouraged writers to implore US government officials to use policy
and practice to promote national stability, security and peace in Congo.
This campaign has been successful and continues to advance as another
sister initiative of the Relief Mission.
When Ian Redmond returned from Kahuzi-Biega in January he brought with
him a request for additional items outside the Relief Mission budget and
goals. Specifically the park defined the need for a vehicle to be used
in patrolling accessible areas, general transport and heavy-duty haulage
of materials. Born Free Foundation provided the funds to purchase
this vehicle and Ian Redmond personally delivered it to the Kahuzi-Biega
National Park.
Several other endeavors under the Emergency Relief Mission include
(but are not limited to) the active involvement of members of the European
Parliament via IUCN-Netherlands and WWF liaisons. Other groups have responded
to our awareness raising of the bonobo crisis in Congo in fellowship with
the Relief Mission. The US Department of State has offered direct diplomatic
assistance. We will continue to respond to the needs identified by sources
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo whose concern focuses on protection
of wildlife and the vital communities that they contribute to.
Jo Thompson
Dr. Jo Thompson has been studying wild bonobos at the Lukuru Wildlife Research Project since 1992. She conducts survey and educational campaign expeditions. Since 1997 she has incorporated research, conservation and education efforts within the South Block, Salonga Park.
Photo:
Carlos Schuler
Vehicle donated by the Born Free Foundation
for the Kahuzi-Biega Park