09/09/2005 - The week long
UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Project (GRASP)
Conference, ending today in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, has adopted a declaration
recognizing the immense and immediate threats
facing apes, as well as their critical importance
as part of forest ecosystems.
The final declaration underlines the importance
and value of ape habitat to local people and
that great ape projects will be more acceptable
if clearly linked to broader poverty reduction
strategies.
African range states and conservationists
alike placed the Millennium Development Goals
and the WSSD (World Summit on Sustainable
Development) target at the heart of an effective
strategy to reduce biodiversity loss, reduce
poverty and help save critically endangered
primates.
WWF, the global conservation organzation,
believes this is an historic meeting as it
is the first time a large diversity of partners
— range states, donor states, UN agencies,
non-governmental organizations, academic and
scientific communities, and the private sector
— have jointly committed to great ape conservation.
The signatories pledged to "do everything
in our power to ensure the long-term future
for all great ape species and to encourage
the citizens of the world, in whatever capacity,
to assist and support this initiative".
The Declaration further says that all partners
have agreed on several efforts to be made,
including to: commit to the global great ape
strategy set up at the meeting; support range
states to counter threats to apes; enhance
cooperation on law enforcement; encourage
provision of sustainable direct and indirect
benefits to local people (ie through ecotourism);
significantly reduce the rate of loss of ape
populations and their habitats by 2010; and
ensure that GRASP realizes its potential to
save apes.
"It is reassuring to see that so many
countries and agencies have agreed to make
more effort to conserve great apes,"
said Dr Peter J. Stephenson, Programme Officer
at WWF's Africa/Madagascar Programme.
"WWF, as a major GRASP partner, is pleased
to see that such a political commitment will
justify and support our projects and activities
on the ground."
The conference also adopted a GRASP work
plan which details what needs to be done to
achieve the objectives of the declaration.
Proposed actions revolve around developing
partnerships, raising awareness, building
capacity, establishing pilot projects, and
best practices; and fundraising.
WWF's main on-going activities — such as
developing and managing protected areas and
their broader landscapes, running projects
involving and supporting local communities,
tackling the bushmeat trade, and training
and building capacity — can clearly be included
within these actions.
"The key now is for everyone to go home
and implement their promises to save great
apes from extinction," said Stephenson.
"WWF will play its part and ensure we
continue working across Africa and south-east
Asia to reduce threats to apes and their habitats."
