Strengthening Levels of Protection and Monitoring in Key Protected Areas

Project overview

Introduction: Numbering less than 300 individuals, the Cross River Gorilla is critically endangered and occurs in approximately 11 forest sites across a 12,000km2 landscape. Seven of these sites fall within the boundaries of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries or Forest Reserves in Cameroon and Nigeria. These protected areas therefore provide crucial refuges for these gorillas. Support to improve levels of protection and monitoring is urgently needed in four of the most important protected areas- Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Cross River National Park in Nigeria and the Mone Forest Reserve and Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary in Cameroon. If the capacity of government staff is not improved and logistical support provided to these protected areas, the Cross River gorillas found here will be under increased threat from habitat loss and hunting.

Objectives: Strengthening monitoring and protection activities in 4 key protected areas through the provision of supplies, equipment and performance bonuses for government staff, and in doing so improve the survival prospects for Cross River gorillas and other species in these areas.

Alignment to Cross River Gorilla Regional Action Plan: This proposal supports site-based Action Plan recommendations for improving protection measures at these 4 protected areas.

Benefits: Approximately 50% (~150 individuals) of all known Cross River gorillas occur within these 4 protected areas.

Funding needed: €225,000
Support to annual gorilla monitoring activities (Afi Mountain) – €15,000
Support to improved protection (Afi Mountain) – €35,000
Support to regular gorilla monitoring (Cross River NP) – €20,000
Support to protection of key gorilla sites (Cross River NP) – €30,000
Provision of essential equipment (Afi Mountain & Cross River NP) – €20,000
Support to regular gorilla monitoring (Mone FR) – €15,000
Initiation of patrol activities (Mone FR) – €20,000
Support to long-term monitoring (Kagwene GS) – €30,000
Initiation of government protection (Kagwene GS) – €20,000
Provision of essential equipment (Mone and Kagwene) – €20,000

Timeframe for implementation: 12 months.

Implementing Partners: Fauna and Flora International, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Pandrillus, World Wide Fund for Nature, Cross River State Forestry Commission and Cross River National Park and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (Cameroon).