UNEP Launches a Project for Great Apes

On 21 May 2001, the UNEP Executive Director launched a global partnership to combat the threats faced by the great apes of Africa and Asia, as flagship species for forest habitats and hotspots for many other species of wildlife.The partnership is called GRASP - GReat Apes Survival Project. UNEP, together with CITES, the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the African Wildlife Foundation, the Ape Alliance, Born Free Foundation, Conservation International, the Jane Goodall Institutes, World Wide Fund for Nature and other partners, will bring world-wide attention to the ape crisis, raise funds for conservation, and develop a global conservation strategy for all great ape populations.
The project will cost more than one million US$, UNEP allocated US$ 150,000 for the first projects. UNEP have allocated seed funds for the project. They will need to raise several million dollars from other sources in order to make a lasting impact on the problem. Russ Mittermeier, Chair of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group and President of Conservation International, has been appointed the lead UNEP Envoy for Great Apes. He will work with a team of the world's foremost primatologists. GRASP will send missions to each range state and, it is hoped, obtain endorsements there at the highest political level for improved protection, strengthened support for conservation and the preparation and adoption of National Great Ape Survival Plans. The Envoy team will give particular priority to fund-raising activities for the priority activities identified by the national plans.

One of the first 5 projects that will be supported by GRASP is the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, where a population of the critically endangered Cross River gorilla is living.

At the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, Klaus Töpfer presented a report about the situation of the great apes. According to this report, the rain forests, their habitat, will be destroyed drastically during the next few decades if no efficient measures are taken quickly. The report is available as PDF file.

First intergovernmental meeting organized by GRASP

Bushmeat overview

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