PALF (Project to Apply the Law on Fauna) – MEF (Ministry of Forestry Economy) COLLABORATION for WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT, The Republic of Congo
GOAL
To assist the government of The Republic of Congo to increase wildlife law enforcement capacity, produce effective deterrents to the killing of great apes and other threatened wildlife by hunters and traders, and monitor the illegal wildlife trade and other activities detrimental to ape survival.
Project Summary
Orphan Western Lowland Gorillas. Congo contains significant numbers of four sub-species of great apes, including several key populations of gorillas identified by the IUCN and GRASP. The most immediate threat to most ape populations in The Republic of Congo is illegal hunting for meat, body parts and live infant pets. These activities are all illegal, but laws are not properly enforced and thus deterrence is low. Consequently the hunting of apes and the trade in their meat, body parts and live young has been conducted quite freely.
The mission of this project is to fight commercial poaching and the related trade in endangered species by increasing effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement. By working closely with the Ministry of Forestry Economy (MEF) and other government bodies the project (run by WCS, The Aspinall Foundation and LAGA Last Great Ape Organization) intends to bring about significant convictions in The Republic of Congo under wildlife legislation. This will not only curtail the activities of those prosecuted but, supported by a pro-active media campaign, will also act as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in such activities. In this way the trade in illegal wildlife products is reduced, and hence the incentive to hunt great apes and other endangered species is minimized.
Objectives
– To identify large-scale dealers in great ape meat and live great apes, and other illegal wildlife products, and provide evidence to support action against them.
– To bring about the arrest of large-scale illegal wildlife exploiters.
– To ensure the prosecution of large-scale illegal wildlife exploiters, and that sentences are handed down and served.
– To raise public awareness of the increased enforcement of wildlife law and the risks and penalties for wildlife criminals.
Main Activities
INVESTIGATIONS – to identify perpetrators and provide evidence for prosecution
OPERATIONS – to ensure the arrest of perpetrators whilst engaged in the criminal act
LEGAL ASSISTANCE – to ensure that convictions are achieved and sentences served
MEDIA PROMOTION – to raise public awareness that wildlife law is actively enforced
ANIMAL RESCUE – to ensure rescued animals are transported to a specialized sanctuary with a developed reintroduction program
REPORTING – to ensure transparency and provide necessary information for replication
The results of these activities will be frequent arrests and prosecutions for wildlife crimes involving great apes and other species, an increased national capacity to enforce wildlife laws, an increased public awareness of improved enforcement, and hence a reduced demand for illegally hunted apes. Outputs will include numerous media articles as well as regular, publicly available reports.
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