More than 3 million hectares of elephant, gorilla habitat get new protection
Anada Tiega, Secretary General of the International Convention on Wetlands, congratulated the Republic of Congo for this major conservation milestone achieved with WWF’s support. Tiega said these new designations come at an opportune time, as nations meet in Hyderabad, India, to shore up commitments to protecting biological diversity.
“During the last meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 193 member nations set a target to protect at least 17 per cent of their terrestrial and inland water ecosystems by 2020. This move by the Republic of Congo demonstrates how protecting wetlands through Ramsar can help countries meet their commitments,” said Tiega.
The new sites harbour a wealth of plant and animal species, including several IUCN Red-Listed species such as hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), African elephant (Loxodonta africana), western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes).
They are also home to hundreds of fish species, which are both a source of nutrition and income for surrounding communities. The marshes, ponds, lakes and flooded forests are part of the migration path of more than 200 species of bird. The sites are:
• Odzala Kokoua: 1,300,000ha, West Basin Division
• Ntokou Pikounda: 427,200ha, Sangha Basin Division
• Vallée du Niari: 1,581,000ha, South of the Republic of Congo
Protecting habitat for charismatic species could enhance tourism opportunities in the Republic of Congo, with potential economic, environmental and social benefits. Sustainable tourism practiced in and around wetlands can contribute to poverty alleviation through the improvement of livelihoods, regional and national economies and support to local cultures.
For further information:
Gretchen Lyons, Conservation Communications Manager, firstname.lastname@example.org +41 79 916 0136
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
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The Convention on Wetlands – called the “Ramsar Convention” – is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the “wise use”, or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.