WWF is working with all stakeholders in the region to put in place more rational methods of resource exploitation. WWF is also through creation of community hunting zones that cover more than 200,000ha working with the local communities to build local management structure for their management. The local communities generated through sporting hunting last year about USD 20,000. This has never been the case and the communities given the income generated are more than ever before determined to work for protection of their village territories from poaching. WWF is providing technical and material assistance to the local communities in a bit to combat all forms of illegal resource exploitation notably poaching in community hunting zones.
Photo shows a poached elephant in one of the community hunting zones.
More support is needed from the government and WWF to help these communities protect their village hunting territories. Most poachers operating in the region are non-indigents. The gazettement of Lobeke as a National Park represents a significant development for conservation work in the region. It strongly portrays government s commitment towards nature protection and more importantly rational management of forest resources through a combined therapy of strict protection and sustainable exploitation. Lobeke represents a gateway to neighbouring protected areas in CAR and Congo-Brazaville especially in light of illegal trafficking in ivory etc.