Copyright 2001 EarthVision Environmental News
September 25, 2001

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 25, 2001 - Substantial support for an international effort to save the Earth's remaining great apes was today pledged by the Government of the United Kingdom in a move that has been welcomed by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

In a statement to a gathering of government representatives, held at UNEP's headquarters, the UK government said it would be lending significant expertise and giving crucial financial backing to the Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP).

GRASP, which has brought together wildlife groups and charities from across the globe to save humankind's closest-living relatives, was announced in May by Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's Executive Director.

At the time he said: "The clock is standing at one minute to midnight for the great apes." Today Mr. Toepfer said: "This generous statement of support by the Government of the United Kingdom means we have shaved a few seconds off this Doomsday clock. I would call on private industry and other Governments to join us in this important endeavor.

"Rescuing the great apes is not just about saving these important and special creatures. It is a blueprint for sustainable development. In conserving and guaranteeing a future for the great apes we are also be tackling the poverty and environmental degradation which is blighting the lives of the people in Africa, Sumatra and Borneo where the great apes live", he said.

The UK Government, the first to formally back GRASP, told the gathering that it was "deeply concerned and has been active in addressing some of the most pressing problems, such as hunting for bushmeat and habitat destruction due to illegal and indiscriminate logging."

Under GRASP, key ape projects in Africa, Sumatra and Borneo have been and are being drawn up for support. The problems are many. Some sites are in need of equipment and training for wildlife protection staff and park rangers. Others need help in areas such as developing eco- tourism schemes so as to give local people alternative livelihoods.

The UK Government said backing for GRASP built on existing work by its Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The UK Department for International Development's work on poverty reduction and promoting sustainable forest management also has a positive impact on great ape conservation.

"We are already working with UNEP to identify specific parts of the GRASP program which could be supported by expertise and financial resources from the UK. We are planning to make a substantial contribution. We will encourage other countries to do likewise and we would expect such government contributions to be matched by comparable sums from other sources," the UK Government said.

"The United Kingdom fully supports GRASP in its efforts to bring world-wide attention to the ape crisis, raise funds for conservation, and develop a global conservation strategy for all the great ape populations. The role of the UN Special Envoy will be particularly valuable in obtaining endorsements at the highest political level. It would be a tragedy if great apes were to vanish from the wild. We therefore wish UNEP every success in its efforts to prevent this from happening," it added.

Mittermeier Named Special Envoy

The news came as the GRASP team announced Dr Russell Mittermeier, President of Conservation International, as the initiative's Special Envoy. The distinguished scientist and primate champion is currently Chairman of the World Conservation Union's Primate Specialist Group and Research Associate at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. He is also author of numerous scientific papers and books on primates and conservation and leader of numerous wildlife-related expeditions and field trips.

Dr Mittermeier, whose organization is based in Washington DC, welcomed his new role: "I am delighted to take on the role as Special Envoy in the new GRASP program. We currently recognize about 15 different kinds of great apes. All of these are currently considered endangered and five are in the critically endangered category, which means they could go extinct in the next few years if rapid action is not taken now. Will you join us and participate in this effort to ensure that our closest-living relatives continue to share this planet with us."

Goodall, Nishida and Redmond

He will be working with a team of the world's foremost primate experts, including Dr. Jane Goodall, the British conservationist and UNEP Global 500 Laureate best know for her pioneering work with chimpanzees, Professor Toshisada Nishida, the world-famous Japanese primate researcher and Ian Redmond of the British-based Ape Alliance which works with other wildlife groups to further ape conservation.

Dr. Goodall urged countries and industry to act swiftly to back great ape survival plans: "The plight of the great apes in the wild is extremely serious. The situation for all four species is truly terrible. I am absolutely delighted that UNEP is developing such a strong program to raise awareness of their plight both in the range States and overseas. I wholeheartedly support this initiative and am ready to do everything possible to help it succeed," she told the gathering.

Professor Nishida said: "I am very pleased that the UNEP has appointed a team of envoys in order to save the great apes from the brink of extinction. I believe that this will be a most important step to halt the rapid decline of great ape populations as a result, in particular, of the ape meat trade and illegal logging. I have been studying wild chimpanzees for 36 years and I have come to know that great apes share common emotions, feelings and intelligence with ourselves. I will work hard as one of the team members of the UNEP project," he said.

Mr. Redmond will be directing GRASP's technical operations together with Dr. Eve Abe, a conservationist formerly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The first technical visits will begin in November and December to key ape States, including Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Congo (Brazzaville).

"A critical aspect of this work is the drafting of detailed great ape survival plans, tailored to each country's and species needs. It is also to raise awareness of the plight of the great apes among the Governments and citizens of their range states. We will be working closely with the wildlife departments of the relevant Governments," said Mr. Redmond.

Ape Eco-tourism Offers Hope

Dr. Abe told the gathering that ape-related tourism was having a positive impact on the plight of gorillas and people in Uganda: "I know from first hand just how important great apes are for my country. Wildlife tourism is one of the mainstays of Uganda's economy and mountain gorillas are certainly the biggest draw, closely followed by chimpanzees.

"Uganda has pioneered the sharing of revenues from great ape tourism with local communities, and thousands of families now benefit directly from the presence of their gorilla and chimpanzee neighbors," she added.

Today it was also announced that Richard Leakey, the former head of the Kenyan Wildlife Service and world-famous conservationist, has agreed to be a special advisor to GRASP.

Robert Hepworth, Deputy Director in the Division of Environmental Conventions and leader of UNEP's internal GRASP team, said: "One of the exciting elements of GRASP is they way we are forging new and extensive partnerships between UNEP and wildlife groups, conventions, Governments, private industry, the voluntary sector, the UN family and the zoo community."

First Corporate Sponsor

Meanwhile, the project also announced its first corporate sponsor. Dorling Kindersley, a leading publisher of reference and educational books, has pledged to give one-pound sterling from Internet sales of its new book "Animal" to the Born Free Foundation, the UK-based wildlife charity that is one of the partners in the GRASP initiative.

The book, which will be published on October 4th, has been four years in the making and has involved 70 key experts including Mr. Redmond who was the consultant for the sections on apes and elephants. "Animal" profiles over 2,000 species including great apes.

Will Travers of the Born Free Foundation said: "As a GRASP partner, Born Free Foundation is enormously grateful to world-famous publishers Dorling Kindersley for being the first corporate sponsor of this project. Sales of their ground breaking new wildlife reference book, 'Animal', will generate much needed funds for great ape conservation. I hope this is the first of many corporate sponsors to come forward. The one-pound a copy going towards our urgent work is on Internet sales of the book only. So I urge people to log on, buy the book and save the apes."

The Great Apes Survival Project aims to raise an initial $2.9 million over two years to conserve the great apes. UNEP is working with Conservation International and the Ape Alliance, whose partners include the African Wildlife Foundation, the Born Free Foundation, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Fauna and Flora International, the Orangutan Foundation, the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Jane Goodall Institute.

Other partners include the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Convention on Migratory Species.

The GRASP web site is http://www.unep.org/grasp.

Private donations (Sterling Pounds) can be made to HSBC, 67 West St., Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1BW, England. Sort Code: 40 19 22; Account Number: 41283677; Account Name: Born Free Foundation Ltd.

Private donations (US Dollars) to Leopold Joseph, 99 Gresham St., London EC2V 7NG, England. Sort Code: 40 52 26; Account Number: 73216555; Account Name: Born Free Foundation Ltd

For government contributions, please make checks payable to UNEP Trust Fund GRASP Account and mail to The Treasurer, United Nations Environment Program, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya.

"Animal" will be published on Thursday, October 4th, by Dorling Kindersley. Their web site is http://www.dk.com/animal. Error: Unable to read footer file.