Biodiversity—a word often thrown around by environmentalists—is the variety of life on Earth. Preserving it is important, but human influence is often associated with having a negative impact on biodiversity.
Still, there are several organizations making an effort to change that. The Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program aims to restore the rich biodiversity of Bioko, an island in Equatorial Guinea, off the west coast of Africa. The program's main focus is on the island's critically endangered primates and nesting sea turtles.
Seven species of primate are being protected: the Bioko drill, the black colobus, the Pennant's red colobus, the red-eared Guenon, the crowned guenon, the Preuss's monkey, and the greater spot-nosed monkey.
The survival of these species was in jeopardy primarily due to hunting. Wild game, known locally as bushmeat, is a delicacy, and can fetch high prices on the market.
The state of the primates is very delicate. Some of the critically endangered species, such as the black colobus and the Pennant's red colobus, do not exist in captivity.
To ensure the protection of the species, the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, or BBPP, contracts teams of locals to serve on forest or beach patrol to deter hunting. The program also conducts annual expeditions to the Gran Caladera de Luba, where a census of primates and sea turtles is conducted. BBPP conducts an ongoing analysis of the bushmeat market to gauge attitudes towards bushmeat, and it sponsors awareness campaigns to stem its demand. Finally, the program has also held environmental awareness meetings, which took place in the villages of Baney, Batoicopa, Riaba, and Luba.
Fortunately, the program has been successful. Thanks to the BBPP, the government of Equatorial Guinea decided to ban the hunting and consumption of primates entirely, an important step forward in preserving the biodiversity of Bioko.
Image: The red-eared Guenon, or red-eared monkey, an endangered species found in Bioko. (Source: National Geographic
Sources:
"2010 International Year of Biodiversity." Convention on Biological Diversity. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. <http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/>.
Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. <http://www.bioko.org/index.php>.
"Definition of Biodiversity." Saskatchewan Eco Network. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. <http://www.econet.sk.ca/issues/biodiversity/definition.html>.
Morell, Virginia. "Bioko Primates." National Geographic Magazine. Aug. 2008. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/08/bioko-primates/morell-text>.
Blogs I commented on:
http://jamie-bioblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/arctic-is-on-thin-ice.html#comment-3591924584466364573
