Our first major report (download in PDF, 1mb, 24 pages) in March 2008, one year after exploration began of the area spanning the Tshuapa, Lomami and Lualaba Rivers (TL2). It describes a new range extension for bonobo further southeast than they were known to exist, into the northwest of Maniema Province. Unfortunately these new relatively dense bonobo populations are being hunted for bushmeat. Furthermore, other bonobo populations that were reported a couple of decades ago have essentially been wiped out by hunting. Although forest elephants have been heavily poached in the TL2 area, there remains a critical population along the Tutu River in Orientale Province. It is still not free of poaching pressure.
A major second year report (download in PDF, 1.5 mb, 23 pages) in June 2009, described the results of the inventory phase of the TL2 project:
Having completed animal inventories throughout the three-river basins we identify an area of about 30,000 km2 that should have have heightened protection to preserve unique biodiversity that includes not only bonobo and elephant but also okapi, Congo peacock and new forms of primate with at least one new species of monkey. We have the support of the governor of Maniema and of the National Parks Insitute to work towards the protection of about a third of that area as a national park.
Having established how devastating bushmeat hunting has been to the fauna of central Congo we were able to get support for enforcement of protected species bans. These were laws that existed but were not being observed. Furthermore, the governor of Maniema instituted a three-month, no-hunting season.
Some of the annexes associated with this second report give more technical detail including:
Annex 1, above, gives the methods used to record animal sign and evidence of human exploitation.
annex 2_brochure of totally protected species
Annex 2 was first distributed at a workshop we held for all the chiefs and local village authorities from the area of Maniema province included within or near TL2. Over 150 people attended.
A record of this workshop is given in Annex 6, above.
Our report of early November 2009 (download in PDF, 0.3 mb, 17 pages) shows how the villagers of the southern TL2 landscape reacted to bushmeat hunting controls. It also describes how steady progress is being made toward a protected area. This latter is most visible in Maniema province where there is excellent participation by the politco-administrative authorities. The Province has made a National Park one of their priorities. The National Conservation Institute has now posted a representative in the capital city of Kindu, Paulin Tshikaya. He has been able to push the process along, showing unequivocally that this is a Congolese Park in the making.
Two of the annexes compiled pictures of the education campaigns surrounding the closed hunting season and the proposed protected area. These included politicians and government employees as well as traditional authorities and villagers.
Another annex describes how we monitored the bushmeat trade before and during the closed hunting season. The program was designed to assess the scale, geography and players involved in bushmeat commerce prior to enforcement of laws, as well as the degree to which laws were respected. Education was a key part of the program. All elements in the bushmeat chain were monitored from hunter to retail seller. The hunting of protected species, in particular bonobo, was assessed before and after the education program.
Our final report for 2009 to the Arcus Foundation can be downloaded as a PDF here
Our final report for 2010 to US Fish and Wildlife can be downloaded as a PDF here
Our final report for 2009 to US Fish and Wildlife can be downloaded as a PDF here
Our mid-term report for 2009-2010 to US Fish and Wildlife and the Great Ape Conservation Fund can be downloaded as a PDF here
Our July 2010 report for Woodtiger can be downloaded as a PDF here
Our July 2009 report for Wallace can be downloaded as a PDF here
