Exchange Program Shares Knowledge and Experience

In June, a week-long exchange workshop was held in Epulu, bringing together staff from the Okapi Conservation Project and the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Centre (GRACE). This collaborative effort aimed to enhance conservation and environmental education by sharing practical communication techniques and strategies for involving local communities in the sustainable management of natural resources.

The workshop fostered an invaluable exchange of knowledge between OCP and GRACE, laying the groundwork for future collaboration in science, management, agroforestry, and education. A key outcome was the establishment of a network for ongoing information sharing between the two organizations.

In addition, the Environmental Education Program, alongside the Okapi Wildlife Reserve’s bio-monitoring and eco-guard teams, conducted multiple visits to the forest to install camera traps and monitor wildlife, particularly the presence of wild okapi. This fieldwork is crucial to tracking the health of local wildlife populations.

Radio programs were broadcast on topics ranging from eco-guard duties and agroforestry’s benefits to poaching bans and elephant and okapi conservation. New programs in Swahili, Lingala, and French focused on agroforestry, the importance of trees, and the Reserve’s mission, expanding our outreach to local communities. These broadcasts continue to play a critical role in raising awareness and fostering a culture of conservation across the Reserve.