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De la Forêt: Meet Mathieu Bolaa, Wildlife Works Head of Biodiversity for the DRC
By Jerry Nguwa, DRC Communications Lead From a societal point of view, Wildlife Works has worked with local communities to build schools, hospitals, and clean water wells, among many other achievements. It is on the ecosystem level that Wildlife Works has marked the province of Mai Ndombe, if not the whole world. Wildlife Works has given the world what no one thought was possible: the restoration of long extirpated species from the project area such as forest elephants and bonobos. The architect behind this grandiose fit is none other than Mathieu Bolaa, also known as “De la Forêt” (from the forest). An alumnus of the University of Kinshasa, Mathieu “De…
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Three Elephant Rescues in One Day: the Product of Intensifying Tensions During a Period of Severe Drought
The reality of human-wildlife conflict is hitting home during the severe drought that most of Kenya is currently experiencing. The afternoon of 31st August 2022 was an intense day in the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project. While on their daily patrol, a team of rangers spotted RF1, one of the oldest and most distinctive female elephants within the project area. RF1 was spotted grazing with her 4 year-old calf with a large arrow stuck in her trunk, digging so deep that the arrow had split in half. The rangers immediately informed the Wildlife Works Head of Security, who alerted the aerial surveillance team, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Kenya Wildlife Service.…
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Family Planning Workshops for Both Men and Women
In the southeastern part of Kenya lies Marungu, a village surrounded by highlands. Once a week, community members converge in a hall to discuss social matters, usually in the presence of an area chief and other local representatives. But this time a different kind of discussion emerged: one designed to bring men together to discuss community health and family planning topics. In the presence of the area chief, a community health assistant, nurse, and the Wildlife Works team, the dialogue focused on health services available, in aim to improve attitudes towards family planning services and the different methods of contraceptives. “Why are you against our wives having children and what…
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Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project Sees an Elephant Population Increase
In the western region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the forest adjacent to Lake Mai Ndombe, an ecologically rich and diverse area, which is part of the second biggest rainforest in the world, the Congo Basin. The forest is home to a vast array of species including bonobos, forest elephants, and includes some of the most important and endangered wetlands of the world. The forest has been facing degradation for the past 20 years, with industrial logging being one of the biggest drivers. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was home to about 400,000 forest elephants in the mid-90s and the forest was largely intact. Today,…
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Scholarships Success Stories from the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project in Kenya
By Jane Okoth If you wanted a glimpse into the Kenyan educational crisis in the early 90s, there is no better place to look than in the rural areas. During those times, there was unequal access to education, with less development in terms of infrastructure, with schools being few and understaffed. Thousands of students as old as ten did not have access to school because it was either not affordable for their guardians, or not made accessible for relevant stakeholders. Julius Mkala grew up in those times, in a small village called Kale in the southeastern part of rural Kenya. Born in 1993, Julius was the 6th born in a…
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Wildlife Works Recognised With an East African Climate Action Award
On 19th October 2021, Wildlife Works was among the conservation organizations to receive a prestigious Climate Action Awards courtesy of ICPAC. Wildlife Works is honoured to be among the awardees of the Climate Action Awards East Africa, for its role in empowering local communities in activities related to climate change adaptation and mitigation. The competition was organized by ICPAC, a specialized institution of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) with member countries in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania. The competition drew participants from these member countries, shining a spotlight on their groundbreaking innovations and ideas to mitigate the effects of climate change. Congratulations to Kenyan journalists…
- Adventures in REDD+, Agriculture, Climate Change, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Forest Communities
Enhancing Food Security in the Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project Through Agronomy Training
By Jane Okoth Millions of people around the world still face the challenges of food security and malnutrition. One of the main targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger is to ensure sustainable food production and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity. On the west side of Lake Mai Ndombe is an indigenous forest community that is part of the Wildlife Works Mai Ndombe REDD+ Project. The area protects over 740,000 acres of rainforest, which is home to chimpanzees, bonobos and forest elephants, and includes some of the most important wetlands in the world. Despite the rich biodiversity of the region, the community still…
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An Exclusive Interview With Mike Korchinsky, President and Founder of Wildlife Works
Do something to support forest conservation and don’t wait for someone to do it for you, says Mike Korchinsky, the founder and President of Wildlife Works. Watch this exclusive interview with our Media and Communication Officer Jane Okoth What motivated you to start Wildlife Works? What fascinates you most about elephants? What was the status of forests, wildlife and the people before the project started? What is your approach to forest conservation? How did you engage local communities back then? How do you engage local communities to support the conservation plan? Why is the REDD+ mechanism so effective for conservation and sustainable development? With continued REDD+ market success, what could…
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Honoring fallen forest heroes: Joseph Ngeti and Jessica Njeri
By Jane Okoth In 2020, Wildlife Works lost two of our most devoted rangers after they were each fatally attacked by an elephant in separate incidents. To honor their memory, we take a look at the story of their lives. Joseph Ngeti was a husband, father of three, and one of the longest serving rangers who had worked with Wildlife Works for 15 years. “When we talk about one of the most accomplished rangers in the task force, we are talking about Joseph Ngeti.” says Eric Sagwe, the Head of Security who worked closely with Joseph. “We are also talking about a good, gentle, soft-spoken guy, and a role model…
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Interview with Dr Mwangi Githiru, Director of Research, Biodiversity and Social Monitoring at Wildlife Works Global program
Dr Mwangi Githiru is the Director of Research, Biodiversity and Social Monitoring at Wildlife Works Global program. His department plays a key role in monitoring and reporting on the impact of Wildlife Works’ REDD+ projects on biodiversity and local communities living adjacent to the project areas in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia and Cambodia. He gives his insight on his department and the role it plays. What is the purpose of your department? The Biodiversity and Social Monitoring Department is responsible for defining, designing and overseeing the implementation of Wildlife Works Biodiversity and Social Monitoring Strategies, both for the Kasigau Corridor Project as well as supporting development…
