The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) was founded in 1987 for the protection of the okapis (Okapia johnstoni) and their habitat. Okapis are found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo[1] and are seen as the major flagship species of the Ituri Forest.[2] The OCP has about one hundred staff members and one hundred and ten government rangers under the direction of the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature. The Okapi Conservation Project is partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Network.[3] OCP's founder John Lukas is also a founding member of the Wildlife Conservation Network.[4] In 1992 the project helped create the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, encompassing 13,700 square kilometers of the Ituri Forest, which was designated as a United NationsWorld Heritage Site in 1996.[1][5]
In June 2012 the headquarters for the Okapi Wildlife Reserve was taken over by poachers, intent on retaliating against the staff who had been stopping their elephant poaching and mining operations. Six guards and other staff as well as 14 okapis were killed in the incident. The local village was looted, women were raped and the conservation center was burned down.[6]
Programsedit
Okapi Wildlife Reserveedit
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve – an area 13,700 square kilometers, about one-fifth of the Ituri Forest – was created with the help of the Okapi Wildlife Project in 1992. The project continues to support the reserve by training and equipping wildlife guards and by providing assistance to improve the lives of neighboring communities.[1] The Okapi Wildlife Reserve was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1996, and since 1997 it has been listed as a World Heritage Site in danger.[7]
Agro-forestryedit
The program provides farmers with resources to make their farmland more productive, thus decreasing farmers' need for forest land.[1] The program also works to reforest unused areas.[8]
Conservation education and community assistanceedit
OCP offers an education team that travels throughout the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, providing workshops, lectures, and presentations on the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of forest resources. The team also distributes education materials to all of the twenty-three schools in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. They also assist in school construction.[1]
Other projectsedit
Other projects include finding alternatives to hunting bush meat, such as raising tilapia and cane rats. Another activity is providing air surveillance and wildlife guard response to stop illegal activities in the reserve.[1]
okapi, conservation, project, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, september, 2012, learn, when, remove, . This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Okapi Conservation Project news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Okapi Conservation Project OCP was founded in 1987 for the protection of the okapis Okapia johnstoni and their habitat Okapis are found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo 1 and are seen as the major flagship species of the Ituri Forest 2 The OCP has about one hundred staff members and one hundred and ten government rangers under the direction of the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature The Okapi Conservation Project is partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Network 3 OCP s founder John Lukas is also a founding member of the Wildlife Conservation Network 4 In 1992 the project helped create the Okapi Wildlife Reserve encompassing 13 700 square kilometers of the Ituri Forest which was designated as a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1996 1 5 Founded1987FounderJohn LukasTypeNon profit OrganizationFocusOkapi ConservationLocationDemocratic Republic of CongoArea servedIturi ForestWebsiteokapiconservation org Contents 1 2012 attack 2 Programs 2 1 Okapi Wildlife Reserve 2 2 Agro forestry 2 3 Conservation education and community assistance 2 4 Other projects 3 See also 4 References 5 External links2012 attack editIn June 2012 the headquarters for the Okapi Wildlife Reserve was taken over by poachers intent on retaliating against the staff who had been stopping their elephant poaching and mining operations Six guards and other staff as well as 14 okapis were killed in the incident The local village was looted women were raped and the conservation center was burned down 6 Programs editOkapi Wildlife Reserve edit The Okapi Wildlife Reserve an area 13 700 square kilometers about one fifth of the Ituri Forest was created with the help of the Okapi Wildlife Project in 1992 The project continues to support the reserve by training and equipping wildlife guards and by providing assistance to improve the lives of neighboring communities 1 The Okapi Wildlife Reserve was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1996 and since 1997 it has been listed as a World Heritage Site in danger 7 Agro forestry edit The program provides farmers with resources to make their farmland more productive thus decreasing farmers need for forest land 1 The program also works to reforest unused areas 8 Conservation education and community assistance edit OCP offers an education team that travels throughout the Okapi Wildlife Reserve providing workshops lectures and presentations on the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of forest resources The team also distributes education materials to all of the twenty three schools in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve They also assist in school construction 1 Other projects edit Other projects include finding alternatives to hunting bush meat such as raising tilapia and cane rats Another activity is providing air surveillance and wildlife guard response to stop illegal activities in the reserve 1 See also edit nbsp Environment portal nbsp Ecology portalWildlife Conservation Network Conservation movement Environmental movement Natural environment SustainabilityReferences edit a b c d e f Okapi Conservation Project Wildlife Conservation Network Okapi Conservation Project African Conservation Foundation permanent dead link Okapi Conservation Project Wildlife Conservation Network WCN Board of Directors Wildlife Conservation Network UNESCO World Heritage Centre 1992 2017 Okapi Wildlife Reserve Retrieved 2017 10 27 Tragic Losses in the Heart of Darkness Huffington Post 29 June 2012 Poachers Attack Okapi Wildlife Reserve Wall Street Journal Market Watch The Okapi Conservation Project Houston Zoo Archived from the original on 2010 12 18 Retrieved 2012 08 11 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Okapia johnstoni nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Okapia johnstoni okapiconservation org Okapi Conservation Project Website wildnet org Wildlife Conservation Network Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Okapi Conservation Project amp oldid 1208198709, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
