Bonobo (Pan paniscus) Conservation Strategy 2012–2022
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31 Indirect threats (contributing factors) I. The bushmeat trade and the proliferation of guns and ammunition are the two most important indirect threats. Both are considered reversible but will require enormous effort. II. Issues of law enforcement and knowledge of the law are important contributing factors. Law enforcement is extremely weak and, globally, DRC is one of the lowest ranking nations on all World Governance Indicators (World Bank 2012) and on the Corruption Perceptions Index (Transparency International 2011). Non-respect of the law and ignorance of the law were both scored highly. III. The difficult socioeconomic context, in particular the absence of subsistence alternatives, has a strong influence on levels of threat, driving people to turn to unsustainable activities such as poaching, the bushmeat trade, and slash-and-burn agriculture. This situation is reversible, but would be difficult to change in the current context. IV. The weak commitment of stakeholders at the local level is undoubtedly linked to lack of under- standing of the law, the absence of subsistence alternatives and lack of understanding of conservation issues. Although the spatial scope and level of impact are relatively high, they are nevertheless considered reversible with sufficient commitment (1.5). This would require compelling awareness-building efforts and funding of alternative livelihood projects. V. The weak commitment of local administrative authorities appears to vary regionally. Although the reasons for this variability are not clearly understood, participants considered that weak commitment could be reversed with enough effort (1.5). VI. Industrial logging (both legal and illegal) is generally considered to be a moderately severe threat. Currently the impact of logging is greatest in the Lac Tumba region, due to easy river access for transporting timber to Kinshasa. This situation is considered reversible if sufficient effort is made (1.5 to 1.75), such as proactive closing of logging roads, rehabilitation of natural vegetation, and allowing long recovery times between logging cycles. Overall, none of the threats are considered totally irreversible, although it will be difficult to mitigate the majority. In conclusion, the ranking exercise clearly shows that poaching is by far the most important direct threat to bonobos. Reducing bonobo mortality caused by poaching should therefore be the high- est priority for this conservation strategy. Although there is agreement that habitat loss and disease are likely to become more important threats in the future, the ranking of the various threats was different in each stronghold, which means that the appropriate strategies will need to take into consideration the local context. Areas where habitat loss to agriculture is occurring are necessarily close to human settlements, and it is likely that great apes in those areas have already been hunted out. Human population growth, agricultural expansion and the likelihood of logging and mining development in the bonobo's range will all make the threat of habitat loss an important considera- tion in the near future. 4.3 Conceptual Models Conceptual models in the form of flowcharts are a useful way of understanding the relationships between direct threats and their contributing factors (indirect threats). Combined with threat-rank- ing exercises, conceptual models can be used to identify entry points for intervention strategies that will reduce the impacts of the threats. Conceptual models for the three direct threats to bonobos are presented in Figures 6a–c. Figure 6b. Habitat model Figure 6c. Disease model 35 4.4 Vision and Goal of the Conservation Strategy An over-arching Vision
status of a species (including range, ecological role and relationship with humans) over a given period (which should be long-term, typically 30–40 years). A Goal describes what can be real- istically achieved in the medium-term (typically 5–10 years). The following Vision and Goal were developed by the workshop participants: Vision
By 2050, bonobo populations across their range are viable and increasing relative to 2008–2015 surveys, face minimal threats, and their long-term survival is ensured. Goal
By 2022, priority areas for bonobo conservation 6
rent main threats are reduced, there is no further habitat loss, and known bonobo populations are stable relative to baseline surveys. 4.5 Intervention Strategies and Objectives The threat analysis and conceptual models enabled a series of entry points to be identified where strategies could be developed to tackle the contributing factors and thus reduce the impacts of the threats. The entry points are indicated by yellow hexagons in the conceptual models. The threat-ranking exercise highlighted the importance of illegal activities (poaching, bushmeat trade, circulation of guns and ammunition) and the problems of poor law enforcement (tainted by a lack of political will and widespread corruption). Therefore, a strong emphasis was placed on intervention strategies that would improve law enforcement and create a real deterrent for the perpetrators of wildlife-related crimes. Law enforcement has a greater chance of succeeding if stakeholders are informed, convinced of the need for it and fully aware that there are real risks to law breaking. For this reason, as it will also be necessary to develop awareness-building strategies targeting the different groups of stakeholders, including high profile media coverage of all arrests and sentencing of traffickers, dealers and poachers of bonobos and other protected species. Finally, bonobo conservation activities must be conducted over the long-term and sustainable sources of funding must be secured. To achieve this, workshop participants proposed five main intervention strategies: • Strengthening institutional capacity • Consultation and collaboration with local actors • Awareness building and lobbying • Research and monitoring activities • Sustainable funding The following tables present priority actions needed for each strategic objective. Due to time con- straints during the workshop, participants did not elaborate detailed projects and activity plans for the specific objectives. This will be done once the mechanism for coordination is in place. 4.5.1 Strategy 1 Strengthening Institutional Capacity This strategy addresses the fundamental problem of weak capacity for law-enforcement and for ensuring conservation of the habitat. On the one hand, conservation and forest management leg- islation in DRC is generally sound but poorly applied for various reasons (inadequate human, tech- nical and financial resources, poor governance, corruption, lack of political will, ignorance of the law). On the other hand, the human, administrative, infrastructure and financial resources needed 6 PAs and other key areas in the four strongholds and eventually newly-discovered viable populations outside the strongholds
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