Introduction
In the heart of Africa, far away from any modern civilization, lies one of the last untouched wildernesses of the world, nestled deep within the Central African Republic (CAR). CAR is one of the poorest countries on earth, with an endless history of conflicts, military coups and corruption. Near the nation`s eastern border with Sudan lies a 70.000 square km uninhabited woodland savannah and tropical lowland rainforest, one of the most pristine ecosystems left in the world today where countless species co-exist.
Economic interests, environmental changes, and continual development are reshaping the world in which we live, forcing large numbers of people to leave their homelands, changing human behaviors and putting increased pressure on the earth`s limited resources. In the CAR, these elements, in tandem with rampant poverty and a lack of formal education, have led to heightened demand for ivory, bush meat, timber and exotic animal pelts, rapidly depleting the African wilderness` nonrenewable resources.
Our passion for Africa, its people and its wildlife brought us together. We believe that we can, and should, find a way to sustainably manage one of the last wildernesses on earth. We believe that there must be a way for humans to coexist with nature without endangering it. We believe that by empowering people with education, by learning from history and by being accountable, we can keep the Central African wilderness from disappearing.
We believe that we can change. Together with you.
There are many yesterdays but few tomorrows.
This is our tomorrow.
This is the Chinko Project.
David Simpson, Erik Mararv, Thierry Aebischer and Raffael Hickisch
Economic interests, environmental changes, and continual development are reshaping the world in which we live, forcing large numbers of people to leave their homelands, changing human behaviors and putting increased pressure on the earth`s limited resources. In the CAR, these elements, in tandem with rampant poverty and a lack of formal education, have led to heightened demand for ivory, bush meat, timber and exotic animal pelts, rapidly depleting the African wilderness` nonrenewable resources.
Our passion for Africa, its people and its wildlife brought us together. We believe that we can, and should, find a way to sustainably manage one of the last wildernesses on earth. We believe that there must be a way for humans to coexist with nature without endangering it. We believe that by empowering people with education, by learning from history and by being accountable, we can keep the Central African wilderness from disappearing.
We believe that we can change. Together with you.
There are many yesterdays but few tomorrows.
This is our tomorrow.
This is the Chinko Project.
David Simpson, Erik Mararv, Thierry Aebischer and Raffael Hickisch
Organisation
To implement an idea of sustainable nature management effectively, we initiated a central African NGO taking lead of the project. 'Chinko Project' is an NGO of international status, that will be chaired by a well balanced board of scientists and practitioners, as well as local representatives, and government officials.
As board and management shall include Central African personalities, local people from the region, representatives of governmental official, and internationally renowned scientists coordination work and set up might take some weeks, but we are confident to present executive staff and board members by beginning of March this year.
As board and management shall include Central African personalities, local people from the region, representatives of governmental official, and internationally renowned scientists coordination work and set up might take some weeks, but we are confident to present executive staff and board members by beginning of March this year.
Aim
Chinko Project's aim is to sustainably manage a piece of 18,000 sq km uninhabited nature in the Chinko/Mbari Drainage Basin. By introducing research, conservation work and tourism to this remote area it will provide the opportunity to preserve high biodiversity and save endangered species. And by creating hundreds of jobs for the poorest people coming from the villages nearby it will reduce pressure from poaching. Altogether these actions will work to maintain the Chinko/Mbari drainage a unique ecosystem for future generations.
Biodiversity
The particular habitat of undisturbed wooded savannah and rainforest allows for an incredible richness of species.
Some of the very puzzling phenomena are
Some of the very puzzling phenomena are
- 10 primates, forest and savannah elephant, 23 even toed ungulates, 21 carnivores (including wild dog and lion) and 4 ant eating mammals
- The largest (savannah) Antelope Lord Derby Eland, and the largest forest antelope: the Bongo
- Five wild cats (lion, leopard, serval, and very particular: also caracal and golden cat)
- Three hogs: Red river hog, Common warthog and giant forest hog (sometimes within one day in the same camera)
- Nine mongoose species (including a probable record of the hardly known Dologale dybowskii)
History
The idea of the Chinko Project was born when four different people, from four different countries, were brought together by their passion for adventure and love for the African wilderness.
Erik Mararv and David Simpson met almost three years ago. Erik, a Swedish citizen born in the Central African Republic, became one of the world’s youngest professional hunters at the age of 17, and started together with his family the hunting safari company—Central African Wildlife Adventures (CAWA). In 2010, David Simpson’s joined Erik. A pheasant farmer and pilot from England, it was David`s first encounter with the African continent. Together, they are since working in an area considered by many to be logistically impossible in which to work.
Already in 2009 Thierry Aebischer and Raffael Hickisch got struck by the idea of conducting biological field research in this area, that has not been under research for more than a century. With the lack of experience in organizing such an expedition, raising institutional support was difficult, and it took several years until the final setup was clear.
In Erik Mararv, and Central African Wildlife Adventures, Raffael and Thierry found the logistical support they needed to make it possible for them to operate in this area. In spring 2012 the two set off to join Erik and David in the eastern CAR to conduct a three month expedition with the aim to create a scientifically valid inventory of the areas large and medium sized mammals.
David, Erik, Thierry and Raffael fully dedicated themselves to their work in Central Africa. Their will is to save this wilderness and to provide opportunities for coming generations to be able to admire and learn from this great wilderness. Having seen far too many areas in the region where abundant wildlife disappear because of human negligence, they initiated the Chinko Project - today incorporated in the Central African Chinko Project NGO.
Erik Mararv and David Simpson met almost three years ago. Erik, a Swedish citizen born in the Central African Republic, became one of the world’s youngest professional hunters at the age of 17, and started together with his family the hunting safari company—Central African Wildlife Adventures (CAWA). In 2010, David Simpson’s joined Erik. A pheasant farmer and pilot from England, it was David`s first encounter with the African continent. Together, they are since working in an area considered by many to be logistically impossible in which to work.
Already in 2009 Thierry Aebischer and Raffael Hickisch got struck by the idea of conducting biological field research in this area, that has not been under research for more than a century. With the lack of experience in organizing such an expedition, raising institutional support was difficult, and it took several years until the final setup was clear.
In Erik Mararv, and Central African Wildlife Adventures, Raffael and Thierry found the logistical support they needed to make it possible for them to operate in this area. In spring 2012 the two set off to join Erik and David in the eastern CAR to conduct a three month expedition with the aim to create a scientifically valid inventory of the areas large and medium sized mammals.
David, Erik, Thierry and Raffael fully dedicated themselves to their work in Central Africa. Their will is to save this wilderness and to provide opportunities for coming generations to be able to admire and learn from this great wilderness. Having seen far too many areas in the region where abundant wildlife disappear because of human negligence, they initiated the Chinko Project - today incorporated in the Central African Chinko Project NGO.
Publications
The Chinko Project: Sustainable Nature Management in the Chinko/Mbari Drainage Basin, Central African Republic
T. Aebischer, R. Hickisch, E. Mararv, and D. Simpson - March 2013Conserving Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function.We propose a nature management plan for the hunting sections currently operated by Central African Wildlife Adventures (CAWA), based upon the forthcoming results of an expedition to eastern Central African Republic (CAR) conducted in spring this year. Download PDF »
An Update on African Elephant Loxodonta Africana in the Chinko/Mbari Drainage Basin, Central African Republic
T. Aebischer and R. Hickisch - February 2013In this contribution to the elephant database we present data that we collected in the Central African Republic (CAR) in 2012. We detected tracks and dung of African Elephant when walking more than 500 km of standard- ised line transects, and captured photographs in a camera trapping study, originally tailored to estimate abundance of leopard by spatially explicit capture/recapture. Download PDF »
Study design: Using camera traps to survey Bongo antelope in the Chinko/Mbari drainage basin, Central African Republic
T. Aebischer and R. Hickisch - October 2012Field schedule and methodoligical baseline for a follow up expedition to study Bongo Antelope from December 2012 to February 2013. Download PDF »
Study design: Survey of large an medium sized mammals in the Chinko/Mbari drainage basin, Central African Republic
T. Aebischer and R. Hickisch - September 2011This proposal illustrates the methodological strategy (survey large mammals, and particularly the leopard) and field scheduled, we then implemented in the first expedition from February to May 2012. Download PDF »
Donations
Chinko Project operates under very particular conditions, in an area classified among the most remote on the continent. Therefore, national institutions have dificulties in supporting us. We can only operate with support by passionate private partners, joining our path to the future. Please contact us on chinkoproject@gmail.com
News
Up to date news from our progress in the Chinko Area. Provided by Twitter.com
Tweets by @chinkoprojectMap
This map indicates proposed zoning, currently used hunting sections and available infrastructure. This shows the heterogeneous mixture of forest (dark green) and savannah (brown-light green).