Recipes for Survival_English_tcm46-28192

WSPA/APE ALLIANCERECIPES FOR SURVIVALIn June 2004, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) were finalising revised standardsfor chain of custody and product labelling (green label = pure FSC, brown label = partFSC, and another label to indicate recycled) (Ambus & Dempsey, 2004).5.1.3 Public awareness and educationMedia coverage of the bushmeat issue has increased from an estimated 35 articlesbefore 1999 to more than 800 during the period 2000 – 2004 (BCTF, 2004c).The proportion of babirusas making up the trade in wild pig meat in Sulawesi, Indonesia,was approximately 39% from 1993 – 1997; in 1998, it had decreased to 14%. Duringthis time, much effort was made in public education, guarding particular forest sites anddiscussions with dealers and villagers. The observed drop in proportion of babirusasindicates, at first sight, that this effort had a very positive impact, but an overall declinein the availability of babirusas has also had an effect (though such a sudden drop isunlikely to be due to population decline alone) (Milner-Guland & Clayton, 2002).Born Free, in conjunction with Kenyatta University Travelling Theatre has a touringproduction called Carcasses, performed in schools and communities in Nairobi to raiseawareness of the implication of bushmeat hunting and trade.In Central Africa, environmental education about the bushmeat crisis remains mostlyineffective, and in some cases, non-existent (CITES, 2004). Nevertheless, in NorthernCongo, education efforts have been successful in achieving local, regional and nationalawareness through meetings, seminars, television, media, individual contact and schoolnature groups (Elkan, 2002).5.1.4 Protection and managementVolcans, Rwanda. Over a two-year period, protection efforts in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, NorthernCongo, resulted in the confiscation of 15 high-calibre elephant guns, 27 tusks and15,000 snares; snaring subsequently decreased by an order of magnitude and, duringthe same period, 160 prosecutions were made (Elkan, 2002).Anti-poaching patrols in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, resulted in convictions of ninepoachers, some receiving prison terms and fines of up to US$6,000. Since October 2002,there have been no more records of mountain gorilla poaching in Rwanda (WWF, 2003).Anti-poaching patrols in Dzanga-Sangha Dense Forest Special Reserve, Central AfricanRepublic (CAR), have led to the arrest and imprisonment of 20 poachers, and subsequentlya noticeable decline in bushmeat availability at Bayanga market (Raffaele, 2005). In thesame area, several discouraged poachers now work as guards, encouraged by the highsalary offered by WWF-employed park adviser David Greer (Raffaele, 2005).Between May & July 2003, 630 anti-poaching patrol days in Kahuzi-Biega National Park,Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), resulted in 52 arrests and seizure of 700 snares,3 firearms and 2 live chimpanzees (WWF, 2003).In the 1990s, WWF proposed that Lomako Forest, DRC, be designated a protectedarea for bonobos, since the only national park within the species’ range (SalongaNational Park) did not have a sizeable bonobo population. But, because of the civil war,this plan was not followed up.Law enforcement activity in Indonesia, involving overnight checkpoints on the Trans-Sulawesi highway and visits to the market by government wildlife staff, resulted in areduction in babirusa sales, but no prosecutions were made. As traders graduallyrealised that no significant punishment would follow, sales increased again (Milner-Guland & Clayton, 2002).5.1.5 Capacity buildingIn Central Africa, the capacity to tackle the bushmeat trade has improved and thisshould be capitalised upon. Improvements include increased awareness of the crisisproportions of the trade, as well as the establishment of trans-boundary parks, statecollaboration and increased donor interest and funding to governments (CITES, 2004).The CITES Bushmeat Working Group states that adequate knowledge of national andCITES trade regulations fortifies the capacity of governments to enforce legislation.5.1.6 Symposia and conferencesIn 2001, The World Conservation Union (IUCN), UN Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) and TRAFFIC held a conference in Yaounde, Cameroon, to discuss the linksbetween bushmeat, livelihoods and food security. The conference highlighted theproblems that conservation agencies were having in relation to development agencies.The relationship between these two parties is incredibly important in overcoming thebushmeat crisis.ACTIONS ONGOING67WSPA/APE ALLIANCE66Left: Educationactivities forcommunitiesbordering aNational Parkin Kenya.Right: Antipoachingteam,Park National des© WSPA© Ian Redmond