The Last Stand of the Gorilla

GORILLA CONSERVATION AT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL LEVEL

Wildlife law enforcement efforts Anti-poaching campaigns Reforestation Development of eco-tourism Community development projects in the regions bordering the areas protected for gorilla conservation Programmes of reintroduction of orphaned gorillas into the wild. CMS itself is a GRASP partner and its main contribution in the coming years will be to facilitate the implementation of the Agreement and Action Plans. The Gorilla Agreement, as well as the activities derived from its Action Plans, will contribute to promoting the long-term surviv- al of gorillas, their forest habitat and dependent human popula- tions. This should in turn help the States concerned to combine conservation and sustainable economic development. • • • • • •

Because many populations of gorilla are trans-boundary, the UNEP Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) lists gorillas. In an effort to help preserve the remaining gorilla populations, CMS, in conjunction with GRASP, developed a legally binding agreement, which was negotiated in 2007 and entered into force in 2008. It provides a legal framework that will reinforce and integrate conservation efforts. Action Plans for the four subspecies of gorillas and their habi- tats were agreed at the first Meeting of Parties to the Gorilla Agreement in November 2008. The agreement aims to consolidate efforts of national and international, governmental and non-governmental organisa- tions working for gorilla conservation. Activities include:

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