Project number: 76
Project title: 'Dzamba Ya Lobi' Neuron Expedition
Donor: The Neuron Fund
Programme: Expedice Neuron 2019
Project leaders: Arthur F. Sniegon, Mgr. Tomáš Jůnek, Ph.D.
Project partners: Fondation Odzala-Kokoua (African Parks), Save-Elephants, z.s.
Project coordinatorand contact person: Ing. Pavla Jůnková Vymyslická Ph.D.
Team members: Arthur F. Sniegon, Mgr. Tomáš Jůnek, Ph.D., Ing. Markéta Swiacká, Mgr. Stanislav Lhota, Ph.D., Ing. Pavel Zoubek, Ing. Pavla Jůnková Vymyslická Ph.D., Ing. Michal Lodin
Project schedule: 2019 – 2020
Total project budget: 957 100 Kč
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExpediceDzambaYaLobi/
Abstract
Central Africa's fauna gradually disappears with the increase of the accessibility of forest for humans. Finding sustainability between the functioning of local communities and the survival of wild animals is one of the most important challenges for conservationists and scientists. Systematic research of communities of animals in the rainforest has been conducted usually within protected areas, but they represent only a fraction of the total forest area designated for harvest. If e.g. the logging is selective, the remaining forest can still serve as a valuable habitat or bio-corridor for wildlife. The mechanisms of survival of large animal species in such landscape (also under intense pressure from hunters) with paths, roads, settlements, plantations, mines, etc. are not entirely known.
The 'Dzamba Ya Lobi' (means Forest of Tomorrow) expedition heads for one of Africa's last wilderness - the forests on the border between Republic of Congo and Gabon. The goal is to map endangered populations of elephants, gorillas and other land mammals in areas with or without protection, to verify the status of bio-corridors and to specify and quantify threats to local wildlife and populations. We will focus on the Lossi reserve and the neighboring forests forming bio-corridors for the national parks of Odzala-Kokoua (Congo) and Mwagne (Gabon).
With standardized methods (line transects survey, camera-trapping, remote sensing), we will initiate and postulate a design of systematic monitoring of the land animal community with the emphasis on flag species most important for ecotourism - elephants and gorillas. It will include the collection of genetic material for the research of elephant, gorilla and chimpanzee dispersion. We will also focus on illegal activities, their origins