Inza Koné is Head of Biodiversity and Food Security at the Swiss Centre for Scientific research in Ivory Coast and the leader of the Country’s Research and Actions for the Conservation of Primates programmeme (RASAP-CI).
Forming a natural border between Ivory Coast and Ghana, the 12,000 hectare Tanoé Forest is currently un-protected and has previously received little conservation attention. Recent surveys however, have revealed it to be a rare location where populations of both the critically To maintain local commitment, Inza and his team are improving access to safe drinking water, medical supplies and education to demonstrate that conservation does not have to be a choice between protecting wildlife and human welfare, but instead that conservation and poverty reduction can go hand-in-hand.endangered roloway guenon and white-naped mangabey monkeys still occur. Evidence of Miss Waldron’s red colobus, a species declared as ‘probably extinct’ in 2000, has also been found here, making the Tanoé Forest the only place where all three primates are thought to still exist.
Despite their conservation significance, Ivory Coast’s forests are being rapidly destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations. As Inza explains, “The only natural forests which still exist in the region are small sacred forests and the swampy Tanoé Forest which was preserved only because of the difficulties of access.”
Lutando por uma maior protecção dos Tanoé, bem-sucedida campanha Inza contra propostas para drenar e converter 8.000 hectares de Mata Tanoé em uma plantação de óleo de palma em 2008, já ajudou a ganhar o apoio do governo e população local e começar a desenvolver uma comunidade baseada sistema para a sua conservação e gestão. "chefes locais estavam entusiasmados com o início de um programa de conservação com base no fortalecimento das comunidades locais. Discussões com eles e outros membros da comunidade destacou a vontade de ser organizado para proteger a herança ancestral e da biodiversidade para as gerações futuras. "
“Local chiefs were enthusiastic about initiating a conservation programme based on the empowerment of local communities. Discussions with them and other community members highlighted their willingness to be organized to protect ancestral heritage and biodiversity for future generations.”
Inza is handing responsibility back to local people who are now involved in forest management and biodiversity monitoring. The development of alternative livelihoods in animal rearing is also further reducing demand for bushmeat whilst providing people with new skills. In doing so, Inza is helping to create a more sustainable way of life and ensure greater awareness, and so protection of West Africa’s three most threatened primates.
Em: http://whitleyaward.org/winners/endangered-primates-ivory-coast/
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