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4.8 Priorities for the First Year of Implementation of the Conservation Strategy
As noted above, many bonobo conservation projects exist, several of which have been operational
for many years. Therefore, one of the main objectives of this plan is to set a strategic framework for
bonobo conservation in order to federate the efforts of all the actors, and in this way improve the
coherence and effectiveness of bonobo conservation activities.
Due to the limited time during the Kinshasa workshop, it was not possible to elaborate detailed
activities and workplans for the five strategies identified. The first year of implementation of this
plan should therefore focus on joint planning of priority interventions. In the case of new activities,
it will be necessary to refine intervention strategies and develop project proposals for submission
to funding agencies. In the case of existing activities, it will be a question of pursuing the activities
underway with the resources available.
During the first year, priority should be given to the following actions:
Coordination
Decide, in full consultation with all stakeholders, upon the coordination mechanism for imple-
mentation of the bonobo conservation strategy. Discussions could take place in conjunction with
a meeting of the CoCoCongo. During these discussions, stakeholders will also decide how joint
funding proposals will be prepared and joint projects implemented.
Strategy 1 Strengthening institutional capacity for law enforcement and sustainable management
of forest diversity
• Continue activities in support of the management of existing and proposed PAs
(capacity building and support for antipoaching and biomonitoring (LEM), manage-
ment plans, antipoaching, community conservation, etc.)
• Lobbying military authorities regarding the illegal circulation of automatic weapons
• Lobbying provincial governments to introduce closed hunting periods
• Engage with logging companies active in the region with a view to establishing col-
laborative agreements for wildlife management in their concessions
Strategy 2 Consultation and collaboration with local actors
• Identify priority areas for land-use and macro-zoning plans and begin to collect the
relevant information about the areas in question (ecological, social, economic)
• Elaborate a detailed plan for interventions aimed at improving the sustainability of
subsistence activities. It is essential to clearly define the scope of the interventions and
to remain coherent with respect to the capacity and resources available. It will not be
possible to resolve all problems, so the approach should be realistic and pragmatic.
These discussions should involve all partners
Strategy 3 Awareness building and lobbying
• Elaborate a detailed awareness-building and lobbying strategy, clearly defining the
target groups, the objectives to be achieved and methods of intervention with respect
to each target group. The roles and contributions of the various partners should also
be clearly defined and the strategy should include a monitoring plan to evaluate the
impact of the interventions (indicators, attitude surveys before and after, etc.)
• Elaborate a detailed programme of activities to submit to funding agencies
Strategy 4 Research and monitoring activities
• Draw up an overall bonobo monitoring framework that includes:
• Population and distribution surveys (full surveys of each site every 5 years)
• Threats monitoring (signs of hunting, illegal logging, habitat destruction and disease in
both bonobos and humans at key bonobo sites)
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• Law enforcement monitoring (continuous, using SMART/MIST)
• Elaborate a health monitoring, disease prevention and emergency intervention plan to
address eventual outbreaks
Strategy 5 Sustainable funding
Start the process of evaluating the long-term financial needs for bonobo conservation. This will
involve producing business plans for all existing and proposed PAs and their buffer zones, includ-
ing community conservation activities, and estimating the operational costs for nationwide activi-
ties such as public awareness and lobbying.
Adult female bonobo with her
infant at Wamba © Takeshi
Furuichi
Bonobo orphans – victims of
the bushmeat trade – with their
carers at Lola ya Bonobo © Liz
Williamson
Synthesis of Priority
Actions for Year 1
Actions
1st quarter
2nd quarter
3rd quarter
4th quarter
Coordination
Establish coordination mechanism
Strategy 1 Strengthening institutional capacities for conservation of bonobos and their habitat
Continue actions in support of PA management
Lobby military authorities on the issue of circulation of automatic weapons
Lobby provincial governments to institute closed hunting seasons
Contact logging companies regarding collaboration for wildlife management
Consolidate existing data on bonobo populations
Design a programme of surveys for priority zones
Elaborate and submit funding proposals
Strategy 2 Consultation and collaboration with local actors
Identify priority zones for land-use and macro-zoning plans
Design detailed plans for interventions targeting improved sustainability of subsistence activities
Strategy 3 Awareness building and lobbying
Design a detailed awareness-building and lobbying strategy
Elaborate and submit funding proposals
Strategy 4 Research and monitoring
Develop a framework for monitoring bonobo population size and distribution, threats and law enforcement activities (LEM)
Establish a system for data storage and analysis (MIST or SMART)
Elaborate a health monitoring, disease prevention and emergency intervention plan to address eventual outbreaks
Strategy 5 Sustainable funding
Assess funding needs (business plans for PAs, nationwide interventions)