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The world isn't paying enough attention or investing sufficient resources to help the countries of the Congo Basin preserve their rainforest which is home of about 250 indigenous tribes with more than 212 different languages. The forest of the Congo Basin in equatorial Africa is home to significant populations of gorillas and chimpanzees. However, numbers are declining owing to hunting and to alteration of their habitat. Further, the forest of the Congo Basin is of critical importance for elephants, comprising over 23% of the total continental elephant range, and the largest contiguous elephant habitat left on the continent.
Worldwide funding to protect the no.2 rainforest is far too little, and too slow coming, with many pledges still unfulfilled. Without major investments and donations, Congo Basin tropical forest will keep disappearing at an alarming rate.
Endangered Species International (ESI) is a major conservation player in the region with strong track record in saving rainforest and protecting over 20 endangered species in the Congo Basin. Our strong Congolese team with the full involvement of local tribes and communities has already achieved stunning results by stopping illicit wildlife trafficking and preserving forest. We have saved many groups of wild gorillas, chimpanzees, and forest elephants over 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) of wilderness. With your monthly support, we can continue our great conservation achievements. We need your help to stop companies from leasing forestlands to cut timber and to convert to plantations and mines.
Photo on the left: Gorilla observation by ESI in the Congo forest. Photo on the right: ESI wildlife monitoring field site in the Congo Basin.
In the last 15 years, ESI has accomplished some of the following conservation milestones:
13 years of surveillance and monitoring of the bushmeat trade in the city of Pointe Noire, Congo with no gorilla and chimpanzee sold in last 10 years due to our surveillance work. Our data are freely available here
No more western gorilla killed or injured in our vast rainforest project area
No more western gorilla killed or injured in our vast rainforest project area
30 forest local villages and more than 1,200 indigenous tribal people involved and benefiting from the protection of rainforest and endangered animals
At least 10 gorilla and chimpanzee groups identified and protected
Supported new livelihood opportunities for local communities
12 years of effective forest and gorilla conservation campaign and educational activities
Made significant progress into the creation of new protected areas
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