2022 Retrospect from John Lukas
OCP Staff
Two thousand twenty two was a year of notable events; OCP celebrated 35 years of continuous efforts to conserve okapi in DRC, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve commemorated the 30th Anniversary as a protected area encompassing a unique and diverse array of plants and animals found in no other place in the world and personally important, I was able to visit with our Project staff after a 2-year absence due to COVID-19 restrictions. Our weekly zoom calls notwithstanding, it was so special to feel the warmth of the people, the smell of the forest and the immensity of the place where okapi live.
Flying over the Ituri Forest.
The state of our base in Epulu was outstanding with many repairs and upgrades completed thanks to the donors who supported the opportunity to keep the employees busy during the COVID lockdown. The campus was impeccably clean and well-organized and all offices received a fresh coat of interior paint. Work was well underway on repairing damages caused by a storm to the Epulu primary school funded by WCN donors.
The Okapi Epulu Primary School receiving a fresh coat of paint after the storm damages were repaired by support from generous WCN donors.
The indigenous Mbuti performed a welcome dance and made it known to me that they were very thankful for OCP’s support of their medical care and periodic food assistance. All OCP educators and agronomists came to Epulu from our five offices located around the Reserve to meet and discuss what they have accomplished over the last two years and proposed activities for 2023 that would respond to the needs of the population that would benefit people and wildlife alike.
Indigenous Mbuti welcoming John Lukas back to the station.
Many exciting concepts were discussed that would make strategic additions to our agroforestry and education programs to engage communities more holistically across the Ituri landscape. We will need your continued support to turn staff-generated proposals into a reality that preserves forest and conserves wildlife.
OCP educators planning for 2023.
Walking around, monkeys filled the trees and hornbills were calling flying from tree to tree, just as I remembered this extraordinary place but it remains under threat as the atrocities of war-torn eastern DRC draw closer. OCP staff work and travel under very dangerous conditions, living alongside communities that live in constant fear of a rebel attack. If there is a future for okapi and this country it lies in the people and those who care about them. Overcoming fear, instilling hope and caring about the needs of families will give the forest and okapi a chance of surviving until the turmoil fades away and new opportunities for coexistence arise.
Everyone associated with OCP and our programs thank our donors and supporters and I encourage you to continue to assist the people helping conserve okapi for future generations. Through the end of 2022, all donations up to $50,000 will be matched by a generous donor.
