Year of the Gorilla is now underway – here are some interesting things to look out for.

The Gorilla Agreement has been signed. It is an international treaty, a legally binding agreement among the ten countries with gorilla habitats, requiring that they protect and conserve the gorillas. Implementation will include anti-poaching campaigns, reforestation work, and developing eco-tourism along with community development projects. Six of the ten governments have signed the agreement: Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Gabon. Still to sign are Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda.

A gorilla appears on Rwanda’s largest banknote, the pink 5,000-Franc bill, which is worth almost $10. But the apes carry an even greater responsibility on their hairy shoulders: they have effectively become national mascots.

Recycling phones – A company called Eco-Cell recycles cell phones, collecting them at zoos and other places around the country. The company recently announced that the Louisville Zoo led the more than 100 zoos across USA that recycled cell phones in 2008.

At WildlifeDirect we have done several things already.

With partners Clinton Foundation, Turtle Pond, Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation and Scholastic Publications we Published a childrens book “Looking for Miza”- the true story about how 2 year old baby Miza survived after her mother was killed in the DR Congo last year

In partnership with with Scholastic and Turtle PondHeld the Kids Gorilla Summit and got thousands of signatures on the Kids Global Act Pact

American and Rwandan children met with President Clinton to sign the Act Pact

This is only the beginning of the Year of the Gorilla. Throughout this year we will be bringing even more news about gorilla conservation from across the continent and working with new partners in many gorilla range states. We will of course be letting you know how you can help save one of our closest living relatives.

A number of conservation organizations are announcing their commitments to actions this year. The following activities are planned by the The Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe organization

Reforestation of a Buffer Zone on Mt. Tshiaberimu
Near Mt. Tshiaberimu (a part of the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo) trees are grown in a tree nursery. The Congolese initiative SAGOT planted 40,000 seedlings that will be planted at the border of the national park in 2009. The aim is to create a forested buffer zone for the Mt. Tshiaberimu gorillas who frequently use the area. The whole project is funded by us.

HuGo in Uganda und Ruanda
Conflicts between humans and gorillas are common if the forests for the gorillas shrink and land is cultivated right next to the conservation areas. In Rwanda und Uganda the program HuGo (Human-Gorilla Conflict Resolution) was initiated to solve and avoid such conflicts. Teams with members from the villages close to the park observe the gorillas’ ranging and become active as soon as they leave the parks. If the situation is critical, the HuGo teams chase the gorillas away with loud noise.
We support the HuGo teams in Rwanda and Uganda in 2009 by funding training and equipment (rain jackets, gumboots, bicycles).

Emergency Support for Cameroon
The international financial crisis now also affects gorilla conservation. We received an urgent request for support from Cameroon because a sponsor had to cancel his funds. The projects for the conservation of the Cross River gorillas there need the followind:
The solar power system needs repair after having been damaged by lightning. The daily patrols for gorilla monitoring and protection have to continue in Kagwene. In the Mone Forest a botanical survey is planned. And the employees of the project need additional funds for their families because highly elevated food prices in the markets.

Do you know of any other planned YOG activities? Are you going to do to celebrate the Year of the Gorilla?