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More Money Designated for Lomako Yokokala Faunal Reserve in DRC |
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KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, Dec. 7 -/E-Wire/--
On Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and the French Development Agency signed an agreement designating 781,000 Euros (approximately 1,025,000 USD) for the recently created Lomako Yokokal Faunal Reserve, situated in the equatorial region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Financing is provided by the French Fund for Global Environment (FFEM).
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Present at the signing were Mr. Bernard Provost, French Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Kalambay Wa Kabongo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Conservation of Nature, Waters and Forests and Mr. Jef Dupain, Congo Heartland Director for the African Wildlife Foundation.
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This agreement - and the designated funds - will directly support the local programs of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). Specifically, this initiative, along with other efforts by the ICCN, will assist the populations located near and within the reserve to develop alternative economic activities to curb the hunting of bushmeat. AWF will lead this initiative, under the control of a committee presided by the ICCN.
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Over the course of three years, AWF and other stakeholders plan to focus on the following in the Lomako Yokokala Faunal Reserve:
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Wildlife and habitat conservation. Conservation in the Lomako Yokokala Faunal Reserve will include direct support for ICCN's operational capacities in the reserve creation of surveillance teams in the surrounding villages and development of ecotourism within the reserve, particularly scientific tourism for the endemic species of primate such as the bonobo or pigmy chimpanzee.
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Fauna management. The development of sustainable management of the fauna in the periphery of the reserve the localization and analysis of existing systems and management plans, the mapping of the distribution of animals to allow the production of a new management plan, the implementation of this new plan to be carried out by local populations working in concert with AWF and ICCN.
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Economic development. The development of economic activities that offer a nutritional and economically viable alternative to the bushmeat trade the reactivation of agricultural practices abandoned since the war, the organization of professionals, and the re-establishment of economic exchange within the region. Contact Info:
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Paul Thomson
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Communications Officer
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African Wildlife Foundation
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Tel : 202-939-3321
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E-mail: pthomson@awf.org Website : African Wildlife Foundation
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