Save Endangered Bonobos in the Congo Rainforest

HELP THE BONOBO PEACE FOREST GROW!

At this season of the year, we are filled with gratitude for the caring and generosity of people like you.  Your donations on Global Giving’s Bonus Day (a record-breaking event for us!) and throughout 2011 have enabled BCI to build upon our extraordinary achievements in the Congo rainforest.  Thanks to you, our vision for the Bonobo Peace Forest—an integrated chain of community-managed reserves is becoming a reality...

• Two nature reserves spanning 12,000 square miles—the size of Massachusetts and Rhode Island combined
• Accords in place and projects initiated in ten key sites where bonobos are protected by local people
• More than 250 conservationists and eco-guards working daily
• Community development programs, including a health clinic, sustainable agriculture programs, scholarships, and microcredit for women
• Initiated the first reforestation project in the bonobo range
• Established the first college for sustainable rural development in the bonobo habitat

You are a vital partner as we continue our mission in 2012 to protect bonobos, preserve the rainforest, and empower the Congolese people to lead conservation efforts.  We’ve made tremendous strides and we need your help now to keep our work going strong!

The progress is encouraging, but the situation for many bonobos remains dire. This year, we performed surveys in two regions, which have shown that in the areas where eco-guards and monitoring teams are active and communities are committed to conservation, the bonobos are thriving. But in areas where such protections do not exist, bonobos are struggling for survival—or have disappeared entirely. We need more eco-guards, more boots on the ground.

See what your donation helps us do!  

Click below to view our full-size 2011 interactive progress map. You can scroll over the project sites to see pictures and a short description of our efforts. A PDF version of the map is also available below.

Thank you sincerely for your support. Your donation makes all the difference!

Links:

• 2011 Interactive Map
• Happy Holidays from BCI!

• Map PDF (PDF)
  

Recently, scientists from the Max Planck Institute conducted an intensive 10-day training program in survey methodology at the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve. More than thirty people—including local eco-guards, recent graduates from the University of Kisangani and our own Djolu Technical College, and representatives from neighboring Bonobo Peace Forest sites—came from miles around to learn advanced survey and reporting skills.

This training is already being put to excellent use. Working with our local partner Vie Sauvage, we are performing a full survey of the 4875 km2 Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve (now in progress). As we track bonobo ranges and map important sites, we are learning more about bonobo behavior and how we can best protect them—and all of the biodiversity in the forest.  

In addition to our growing information about bonobos, we are learning about the other animals that share their Congo Basin rainforest home. These amazing creatures include Congo peacock, bongos, and the rare salongo monkey (Cercopithecus dryas). Our work marks the first time that the salongo monkey has ever been studied!

None of this progress would be possible without the expertise of the Max Planck Institute, the dedication of our trackers in the field, and the generous contributions of supporters like you. Your funds help us equip our trackers and eco-guards with GPS systems, binoculars, stopwatches, and all the necessary equipment to survey and protect this vital part of our world.