AFECOGO and UGADEC Join Forces
There is no doubt that there is strength in numbers, among conservationists
as among anyone else. UGADEC (Union des
Associations de Conservation des Gorilles pour le Développement
Communautaire à l’Est de la République Démocratique
du Congo - Union of Associations for the Conservation of Gorillas
and Community Development of the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo)
cannot achieve its goals in isolation, whether they relate to protected
areas or people.
It is widely acknowledged that to educate a woman is to educate a nation.
Women play a central role in African society. They are the main educators,
both in urban and rural environments. They have a strong influence on
their husbands and children.
Currently, African women actively participate in the destruction of the
environment while going about their daily activities. In the field of
biodiversity conservation, we need only mention the use of firewood for
cooking, the establishment of fields inside protected areas, and the use
of bushmeat for consumption and trade.
As a response, the AFECOGO (Association des Femmes pour la Conservation
des Gorilles - Women’s Association for the Conservation of Gorillas)
was set up in order to support UGADEC. It was created by women who work
in various UGADEC reserves in order to promote the education of women
and their public awareness activities for nature conservation in general
and the conservation of gorillas in particular. The idea is that these
women will act as "multipliers" by carrying the message into
their homes and influencing their husbands and children.
AFECOGO has the following goals:
- to fight against the dangers threatening the gorilla and its habitat,
- to inform the public about the status of the gorilla population,
- to sensitise and educate children to the necessity of conservation,
- to raise the awareness of women in rural and urban environments.
In the future, AFECOGO will discourage women from selling bushmeat by
making them aware of the need for conservation and by introducing them
to other income generating activities. AFECOGO will also introduce those
people who destroy habitats of flagship species to reafforestation methods,
enabling them to produce firewood for use and trade. In order to achieve
these goals, AFECOGO interviews rural people to determine the local situation
and people’s opinions.
Since its establishment, AFECOGO has already
- conducted surveys on the extent of the bushmeat trade,
- conducted surveys on the extent of the destruction of gorilla habitat,
- conducted media campaigns over the local radio,
- identified the owners of captive primates and bushmeat sellers,
- participated in International Women’s Day by showing a documentary about Dian Fossey, organizing a cultural meeting, and by joining efforts with other organisations.
The organisation’s resources come mainly from membership fees,
donations, legacies and other contributions from people inside the country
and from abroad.
AFECOGO owes thanks to all UGADEC protected areas where the organisation
has members, in particular to the people responsible for the Tayna Gorilla
Reserve, who helped AFECOGO to conduct activities there. AFECOGO is deeply
grateful to the DFGF-I, particularly to Clare Richardson and Alecia Lilly,
for their moral and financial support. Lastly, AFECOGO would like to invite
other people and organisations to support the efforts of the organisation
in promoting conservation.
Annie Kahindo Muyisa, Pierre Kakule Vwirasihikya
Dr. Annie Kahindo Muyisa is President of AFECOGO
and Coordinator of Ecosystem Health and Development for DFGF-I in eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Pierre Kakule Vwirasihikya has been working in the Virunga National
Park since 1982 and became a Senior Warden in 1988. He took part in gorilla
monitoring in the park. Currently, he is both the Tayna Gorilla Reserve
Coordinator (since 1998) and the UGADEC Executive Secretary (since 2002).
He won the ASP Conservation award in 2002.