Frankfurt/Bonn,
10 June 2008 - Under the title 'Gentle Giants
in need' 160 government officials, experts,
corporate representatives and conservationists
from 20 countries attended a conference
in Frankfurt, 9-10 June to mark the UN Year
of the Gorilla, a global campaign to help
implement the gorilla agreement. In the
"Frankfurt Declaration" they highlighted
major threats to gorillas and their habitats,
as well as the strategies available for
the conservation of the second closest relative
to humankind.
In the Declaration delegates
appeal to governments, the international
community and industrial companies to enhance
activities to reduce threats to the remaining
gorilla populations in the wild, which can
contribute to peace-making and prosperity
in Central Africa.
Although gorillas are
protected by law in every one of the ten
African range states, they are hunted for
their meat, which is sold at local markets
and abroad. Enforcement of wildlife laws
is necessary to control the bushmeat trade.
1 million tons of bushmeat is harvested
every year in the Congo Basin alone. The
Frankfurt Declaration calls upon the international
community and national authorities to enforce
laws regulating the taking and trading of
gorillas, including the wider bushmeat trade.
Diseases are also a
major threat to gorillas, in particular
the ebola virus. They can be transmitted
through close contact with humans. Tourism
however needs to be controlled by national
park authorities, which control permits
issued for gorilla ecotourism.
Natural resource exploitation
can be accelerated by armed conflict, especially
when affected local people depend on these
resources for food, shelter and income.
As a result, addressing mining and other
exploitation of natural resources such as
coltan, uranium and gold as a major cause
for armed conflicts, is central to peace
keeping missions and development in the
region.
Second only to elephants,
gorillas by dispersing seeds, play a key
role in maintaining the African rainforests
and hence the world's climate. Conserving
forests does not only contribute to preserving
ecosystems but also underpins efforts to
mitigate climate change, reduces poverty
and ensures a sustainable supply of energy.
Expanding human settlements
and commercial exploitation of forests increases
the demand for energy resources. Experts
are calling for a comprehensive approach
to reducing deforestation along the entire
value chain of wood for energy, in which
the forestry industry should play a pivotal
role. The protection of biodiversity and
climate change, poverty alleviation as well
as sustainable use of natural resources
are closely interlinked. Forests inhabited
by gorillas provide ecosystem services and
livelihoods to local communities.
Given the huge complexity
of the interactions, scientists advocate
a comprehensive approach to be undertaken
by governments, the scientific community
and the industrial companies operating in
the Congo Basin to protect forests within
their management plans.
Ian Redmond, Ambassador
of the UN Year of the Gorilla, said: "The
Frankfurt Declaration is an important statement
of common purpose and good intent. Its success
will depend on the signatories to commit
to their pledges."
Gorillas and their habitats
have the potential to support post-conflict
reconstruction efforts and advance long-term
regional economic development through ecotourism.
A gorilla can generate indirectly US$ 4
million during its life time. In Rwanda
and Uganda tourism has developed into the
leading contributor to the national economy
exceeding the tea and coffee exports.
Serapio Rekundo, Ugandan
Minister for Tourism said: "The total
revenue of Bwindi and Mgahinga National
Parks increased by almost 80% between 2005
and 2008. In addition to providing a boost
to the national economy, gorilla tracking
can even support wildlife conservation in
other Protected Areas."
Robert Hepworth, Executive
Secretary of the Secretariat of the Bonn
Convention (UNEP/CMS) said: "We must
use all the means at our disposal to halt
threats to gorillas and preserve forests
as carbon sinks. Local communities need
our support as guardians of these animals
using revenues from gorilla tours. Following
the focus on the conservation of mountain
gorillas preventing them from extinction,
we need to expand this approach to the lowland
gorillas and to other migratory animals.
"
The conference has been
held to mark the UN Year of the Gorilla
and the 30th Anniversary of the Convention
on the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animals. Co-organisers include the
German Federal Ministry for the Environment,
the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
and Development, the Federal Agency for
Nature Conservation, the Frankfurt Zoological
Society and Frankfurt Zoo.
Notes to Editors
The Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Animals (UNEP / CMS or Bonn Convention)
develops inter-governmental agreements and
action plans for the protection of endangered
migratory animals and ensures its implementation.
In June 2008, the international CMS Agreement
on the Conservation of Gorillas and their
Habitats entered into force. It provides
a legal framework that will reinforce and
integrate conservation efforts and has been
signed by six of the ten gorilla range states
so far.
Supporting the implementation
of the Gorilla Agreement is the overarching
goal of the Year of the Gorilla 2009.Together
with its partners, the UNEP / UNESCO Partnership
for the survival of great apes (GRASP) and
the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(WAZA), the Bonn Convention 2009 at year
of the gorilla says.
The Year of the Gorilla
(YoG) is a joint initiative of the UNEP-CMS,
the UNEP/UN Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization's Great Ape Survival
Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association
of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). CMS has 110
governments supporting as Parties.
For more information, please contact:
UN Year of the Gorilla:
www.yog2009.org
