OUR FOREST, OUR FUTURE: COMMUNITY-LED AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANT (LOXODONTA CYCLOTIS) CONSERVATION ON LAKE OGUEMOU AND REPLICATION IN LAKE COMMUNITIES OF THE BAS OGOOU , GABON

OELO WILL ADVANCE THE OUR FOREST, OUR FUTURE INITIATIVE ON LAKE OGUEMOU TO CREATE A REPLICABLE COMMUNITY- MANAGED FOREST MODEL THAT PROTECTS AFRICAN FOREST ELEPHANTS AND THEIR HABITAT IN GABON.

A LAKE-WIDE ASSOCIATION WILLCONTINUE TO ORGANIZE MEMBERS OF SEVEN VILLAGES, COLLECT BIODIVERSITY DATA IN THE FOREST, AND LEAD LAKE PATROLS, WHILE WE ADVANCE WORK WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NGOS AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE A LEGAL PATHWAY FOR LAND TENURE.

WE WILL EXPAND SUCCESSFUL COMPONENTS OF THE OGUEMOU MODEL IN FOUR ADDITIONAL LAKE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE CONTACTED US, TO ORGANIZE COMMUNITY STRUCTURES ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY-LED CONSERVATION.

WE WILL REPLICATE SUCCESSFUL ELEPHANT ELECTRIC BARRIERS INTO FOUR ADDITIONAL LAKES, THAT HAVE GREATLY REDUCED HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT ON LAKE OGUEMOU FOR TWO YEARS.

FINALLY, WE WILL EXPAND THE IMPACT OF OUR SUCCESSFUL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH BOTH URBAN AND RURAL STUDENTS TO FURTHER REDUCE HUNTING AND CONSUMPTION OF ELEPHANTS AND CREATE PRIDE AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THIS EMBLEMATIC SPECIES OF GABON.

OUR PROPOSED PROJECT ADVANCES THE GOALS OF OUR WILDLIFE, FOREST, AND YOUTH PILLARS IN OUR 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, COMPLETED THIS PAST YEAR THANKS IN PART TO USFWS SUPPORT.