Difference between revisions of "Lac Télé Community Reserve"

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<!-- INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING SITE INFORMATION
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<!-- INSTRUCTIONS FOR UPLOADING SITE INFORMATION
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   3) To make information comparable across wiki pages, keywords must be taken from the list of permitted words, or added to the list of permitted keywords. This is why we use official lists, e.g., IUCN classification lists, in our tables.
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   2) Keyword format should not change, i.e. they are comma separated lists, not bullet points or numbered lists.  
 
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   3) Keywords must be taken from the list of permitted words, or added to the list of permitted keywords. A link to the keyword list page is found adjacent
 
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    rather than several keywords such as "Industrial mining", "Large-scale mining", and "Mining".  
 
 
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[[Central Africa]] > [[Republic of the Congo]] > [[Lac Télé Community Reserve]]
  
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[[Region]] > [[Country]] > [[Site]]
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= Summary = <!-- An overview of the site, with one sentence for each section. May include a site map -->
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<div style="float: right">
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= Summary = <!-- An overview of the site, with a one sentence overview of each of the following sections. can include a site map -->
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{{#display_map: height=200px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers= OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap
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|1.316971, 17.223215 ~[[Lac Télé Community Reserve]]~Western Lowland Gorilla & Central Chimpanzee
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* Ape taxa present  
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}}
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* Ape population size
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</div>
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* Ape population trend
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* Central chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes troglodytes'') & western lowland gorillas (''Gorilla gorilla gorilla'') are present in Lac Télé Community Reserve.
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* This site has a total size of XX km².
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* It has been estimated that 7,323 (CI: 3,781-14,184) gorillas and 642 (CI: 297-1,390) chimpanzees occur in the site.
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* Key threats to apes are ...
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* The chimpanzee and gorilla population trends are increasing.
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* Additional information
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* The site has a total size of 4,400 km².
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* Key threats to great apes are hunting and habitat loss due to expected increase in road construction.
−
 
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* Conservation activities have focused on monitoring with SMART, anti-poaching patrols, and providing alternative forms of income and protein to reduce the bushmeat trade.
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= Site characteristics =  
+
[[File: Gorilla gorilla gorilla Lac Tele.jpg | 400px | thumb| right | © Guido Trevillini, WCS]]
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= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->
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[[File: Pan troglodytes Lac Tele.png | 400px | thumb| right | © Guido Trevillini, WCS]]
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This section includes a paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, a brief history of the site and on animals and plants that are known to occur at the site.
+
Lac Télé Community Reserve is located in the northeastern Republic of the Congo. Consisting of 70% wetland, Lac Télé Community Reserve is one of the world's largest swamp-forest ([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]). The site is located between the Sangha and Oubangui rivers, which seasonally flood the forest, grassland, and floating prairies, and pump water into the lakes, ponds and rivers found at the site. In the centre of the reserve lies an area of firm land, which is an important habitat for gorillas ([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]). The reserve supports one of the densest populations of western lowland gorillas, and it is also home to chimpanzees, elephants, buffaloes, duikers, and hippopotamuses ([https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/950 Ramsar]). The reserve was designated a Ramsar site in 1998. In 2017, the Lac Tumba Transboundary Ramsar Site was established, which includes Lac Télé and Grands Affluents in Congo, as well as Ngiri-Tumba-Maindombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo ([https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/950 Ramsar]). The reserve is owned by the local communities; approximately 20,000 people in the reserve ([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]; [https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/950 Ramsar]). These communities heavily depend on the reserve's natural resources for fish, agriculture, construction materials canoes, and medicines ([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]; [https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/950 Ramsar]).
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'''Table 1: Basic site information for XXXX'''
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'''Table 1. Basic site information for Lac Télé Community Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"
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| Area             <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha   -->
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| Area <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha -->
−
|
+
|4,400 km²
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Coordinates
+
|Coordinates
−
|
+
|1.316971 N, 17.223215 E
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Designation     <!-- National Park, Nature Reserve, etc.  -->
+
|Designation
−
|
+
|Community Reserve
 
|-
 
|-
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|Habitat types   <!-- List IUCN Habitat Classification 3.0 categories present (Without number), see link below -->
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|Habitat types <!-- List IUCN Habitat Classification 3.0 categories present (without number), see link below -->
−
|
+
|Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, wetlands (inland) – bogs, marshes, swamps, fens, peatlands, subtropical/tropical moist shrubland, subtropical/tropical seasonally wet/flooded grassland, wetlands (inland) – shrub dominated wetlands
 
|}
 
|}
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[http://www.unitar.org/hiroshima/sites/unitar.org.hiroshima/files/Annex%201%20-%20IUCN%20Classification%20Schemes.pdf IUCN habitat categories]   [[Site designations]]
+
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habitat-classification-scheme IUCN habitat categories] [[Site designations]]
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<br>
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
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= Ape status =  <!-- a text overview of ape status (population sizes, trends etc), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
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This section includes a brief summary of the survey history, the most recent abundance estimate, date of the estimate, and, if available, the population trend (if explicitely stated in a report/paper).
 
  
 +
= Ape status = <!--An overview of ape population status (population sizes, trends, etc.), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->
  
 +
Three surveys were conducted in the study area in 2006, 2010-2011 and 2016-2017. A new survey will be conducted in 2022 (). Data have shown a growing population trend for the two species and particularly for ''Gorilla gorilla gorilla''. While for the chimpanzee ''Pan troglodytes'' Lac Tele does not show the highest densities (but the species is found), the centre of the reserve, as well as the northern areas and the external areas of Batanga, seem to host a density of gorillas up to 2.5 individuals/km2 (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
  
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'''Table 2: Ape population estimates in XXXX'''
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'''Table 2. Ape population estimates in Lac Télé Community Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
 
! Species
 
! Species
 
! Year
 
! Year
−
! Abundance estimate (95% confidence interval)
+
! Abundance estimate (95% CI)
−
! Density estimate (per km²)
+
! Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)
 
! Encounter rate (nests/km)
 
! Encounter rate (nests/km)
 
! Area
 
! Area
Line 72: Line 59:
 
! A.P.E.S. database ID
 
! A.P.E.S. database ID
 
|-
 
|-
 +
|''Gorilla gorilla gorilla''
 +
|2006
 +
|5,402 (2,778–10,486)
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 +
|1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests
 +
|Line transects (Distance)
 +
|Rainey et al. 2010
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 +
|-
 +
|''Pan troglodytes troglodytes'' & ''Gorilla gorilla gorilla''
 +
|2006
 +
|7,647 (4,044–12,183)
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 +
|1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests
 +
|Line transects (Distance)
 +
|Rainey et al. 2010
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 +
|-
 +
|''Gorilla gorilla gorilla''
 +
|2017
 +
|7,323 (3,781-14,184)
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests
 +
|Line transects (Distance)
 +
|Brncic et al. 2017
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|''Pan troglodytes troglodytes''
 +
|2017
 +
|642 (297-1,390)
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests
 +
|Line transects (Distance)
 +
|Brncic et al. 2017
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 86: Line 106:
 
= Threats =    <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->
 
= Threats =    <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->
  
 +
As a result of the civil war occurring in the country in the 90s, many war guns are still present in the country. Poaching is widespread, and the laws and regulations of legal hunting do not follow direct scientific criteria. Apes are less targeted than small monkeys, nonetheless the threat is present (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
 +
The proposed road between Bene (north LTCR) and Epena (east LTCR) would cut the northern area into two pieces, leading to fragmentation and poaching inside an area that is nowadays considered as virgin flooded forest. For this road, authorities have already "posed the first stone"; there is no ESIA foreseen and the funding mechanism is not clear (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
  
−
This sections describes threats at the site, particularly those relevant for apes and thereby provides context for the threats listed in the table below.
+
'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Lac Télé Community Reserve'''
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'''Table 3: Threats to apes in XXXX'''
 
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
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!align="left"|Category <!-- Do not change threat categories -->
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!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE THREAT CATEGORIES -->
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!Specific threats   <!-- For specific threats, please use list of comma separated keywords from the list linked below -->
+
!Specific threats <!-- For specific threats, please use list of comma separated keywords from the IUCN list linked below -->
−
!Threat level       <!-- For threat level, please use keywords: unknown, low, high -->
+
!Threat level <!-- For threat level, please use keywords: low, medium, high, present, absent, unknown-->
−
!Quantified severity <!-- e.g., encounter rate, number of miners etc. (with reference)-->
+
!Quantified severity <!-- Enter any available quantification of the threat, e.g., the proportion of the area affected by the threat, hunting sign encounter rates-->
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!Description         <!-- You can add descriptive information here -->
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!Description <!-- Add descriptive information -->
−
!Year of threat     <!-- if ongoing or unknown add year of reference in brackets-->
+
!Year of threat <!-- Enter specific year(s), “ongoing”, or “unknown”. If the threat is ongoing, please add the year of reference in parentheses -->
 
|-
 
|-
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 108: Line 127:
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 115: Line 134:
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 121: Line 140:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
 +
|4.1 Roads & railroads
 +
|High
 
|
 
|
 +
|A road project between Epene and Bene is foreseen and proposed by the State. The road would cut the northern area of the reserve, increasing the access to nowadays inaccessible flooded forest and potentially fragmenting the humid environment (if the road will be built on a stripe of terra firma) (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
 +
|Future, but public authorities already organised events to publicly announce the project will be done.
 +
|-
 +
|5. Biological resource use
 +
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals
 +
|Present, but threat severity is unknown
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Mammal species hunted for commercial bushmeat markets, not only locally, but also in urban areas further away, e.g., in Kinshasa ([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]).  Hunting gorillas in the area seems to be opportunistic (Meyer K., unpubl.data) but some cases of poachers targeting gorillas are known (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
−
|
+
|Ongoing (2022)
−
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|5. Biological resource use
 
|5. Biological resource use
 +
|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
 +
|Low
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Deforestation concentrated along the rivers and in terra firma forests. Trees are logged mainly for firewood collection and slash-and-burn agriculture. Although at the moment is it small-scale, the threat is expected to increase as road networks expand in the area ([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]).
−
|
+
|Ongoing
−
|
 
−
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
|6. Human intrusions & disturbance
+
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
−
|
 
 
|
 
|
 +
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
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|7. Natural system modifications
 
|7. Natural system modifications
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 150: Line 176:
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Unknown
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 157: Line 183:
 
|9. Pollution
 
|9. Pollution
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Unknown
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 164: Line 190:
 
|10. Geological Events
 
|10. Geological Events
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
−
|11. Climate change & severe weather
+
| 11. Climate change & severe weather
−
|
 
 
|
 
|
 +
|Unknown
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 178: Line 204:
 
|12. Other options
 
|12. Other options
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
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[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/threat-classification-scheme IUCN Threats list]
 
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/threat-classification-scheme IUCN Threats list]
  
 +
= Conservation activities =      <!-- A summary of the conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->
  
 +
The reserve is managed by the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF) in partnership with WCS Congo. WCS implements surveys every 5 years, in order to establish the densities and the most important areas for management. Anti-poaching activities are constantly funded and implemented. Two PhD projects about a) coexistence between apes and humans, and b) spatial ecology of the gorillas will provide further information in the future, to improve management at the local scale. Community-based conservation is constantly implemented, having hunting as a main theme; for example, sustainable fishing in order to provide alternative proteins to bushmeat and to reduce great ape poaching (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
  
−
= Conservation activities =      <!-- a text overview of conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->
+
'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Lac Télé Community Reserve'''
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
This sections describes conservation interventions implemented at the site, including information on which organizations are implementing them and thereby provides context for the conservation activities listed in the table below.
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''Table 4: Conservation activities in XXXX'''
 
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
−
!align="left"|Category <!-- Do not change threat categories -->
+
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE CATEGORIES -->
−
!Specific activity   <!-- For specific threats, please use list of comma separated keywords from the list linked below -->
+
!Specific activity <!-- For specific threats, please use list from the list linked below, OR enter “Not reported” -->
−
!Description         <!-- You can add descriptive information here -->
+
!Description <!-- Add descriptive information -->
−
!Year of activity         <!-- if ongoing or unknown add year of reference in brackets -->
+
!Year of activity <!-- Add descriptive information -->
 
|-
 
|-
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|3. Energy production & mining
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|5. Biological resource use
 
|5. Biological resource use
 +
|5.11. Provide training to anti-poaching ranger patrols
 +
|WCS Congo, together with the Government of Congo, are recruiting and training rangers to patrol and protect the landscape and its wildlife ([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]).
 +
|Ongoing (2022)
 +
|-
 
|
 
|
−
|
+
|5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols
−
|
+
|Provide rangers with training on the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART)([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]).
 +
|Ongoing (2022)
 
|-
 
|-
−
|6. Human intrusions & disturbance
+
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|7. Natural system modifications
 
|7. Natural system modifications
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|9. Pollution
 
|9. Pollution
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|10. Education & Awareness  
 
|10. Education & Awareness  
−
|
+
|10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management
−
|
+
|A WCS community based conservation team is always active, involving local population writing and signing agreements and management plans (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
−
|
+
|Ongoing (2022)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|11. Habitat Protection
 
|11. Habitat Protection
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|12. Species Management
 
|12. Species Management
−
|
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives  
 
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives  
−
|
+
|13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development)
−
|
+
|Providing alternative forms of income (to reduce bushmeat trade) by developing and implementing a cocoa conservation management program; sustainable fisheries and commerce of dried fish; and a microcredit program ([https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS]).
−
|
+
|Ongoing (2022)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 
[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]
 
[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]
  
 +
= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->
  
 +
A new road could dramatically impact the conservation status of the site (see threats). The most important local challenge is finding a way to improve the local economy: bushmeat is nowadays a widely used source of income. Tourism is not easy to create, due to the lack of a regularly working airport (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
  
−
= Impediments = <!-- Overview of impediments to ape conservation -->
+
'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Lac Télé Community Reserve'''
−
 
+
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="challenges-table"
−
 
+
!align="left"|Challenge <!-- Do not change categories -->
−
Description of impediments that may hamper conservation activities.
+
!Source <!-- Source for challenge mentioned -->
−
 
+
|-
−
 
+
|Corruption
−
'''Table 5: Impediments reported for XXXX'''
+
|Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022
−
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="impediments-table"
 
−
!align="left"|Impediment  <!-- Do not change categories -->
 
−
!Source   <!-- source for impediment mentioned -->
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
|
+
|Lack of national protection
−
|
+
|Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
−
 
  
 
= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->
 
= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->
  
−
 
+
Two PhD projects are active in the area. The first one is anthropological research focusing on the coexistence of humans and great apes. The second project regards the spatial ecology of gorillas, targeting movements in function of resources (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).
−
Short description of past and ongoing research activities at the site.
 
−
 
 
  
 
===Documented behaviours===  <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->
 
===Documented behaviours===  <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->
  
−
'''Table 6: Ape behaviors reported for XXXX'''
+
'''Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Lac Télé Community Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"
−
!align="left"|Behavior <!-- Do not change categories -->
+
!align="left"|Behavior
−
!Source   <!-- source for behavior -->
+
!Source
 
|-
 
|-
−
|
+
|making ground nests
−
|
+
|Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
 
+
=External links=
−
===Relevant datasets===
+
[https://congo.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Lac-T%C3%A9l%C3%A9-Community-Reserve.aspx WCS Lac Télé Community Reserve] <br>
−
[http://apesportal.eva.mpg.de/database/archiveMap A.P.E.S Portal]
+
[https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/950 Ramsar Lac Télé/Likouala-aux-herbes] <br>
−
 
 
−
<br>
 
  
  
 
= References =
 
= References =
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Rainey, H. J., Iyenguet, F. C., Malanda, G.-A. F., Madzoké, B., Santos, D. D., Stokes, E. J., Maisels, F., & Strindberg, S. (2010). Survey of Raphia swamp forest, Republic of Congo, indicates high densities of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla. Oryx, 44(01), 124. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003060530999010X <br>
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Brncic et al 2017. Ndoki Likouala large scale mammal Survey, 2017. WCS Internal report<br>
  
 
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Latest revision as of 12:00, 10 April 2022

Central Africa > Republic of the Congo > Lac Télé Community Reserve

Summary

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  • Central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) & western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are present in Lac Télé Community Reserve.
  • It has been estimated that 7,323 (CI: 3,781-14,184) gorillas and 642 (CI: 297-1,390) chimpanzees occur in the site.
  • The chimpanzee and gorilla population trends are increasing.
  • The site has a total size of 4,400 km².
  • Key threats to great apes are hunting and habitat loss due to expected increase in road construction.
  • Conservation activities have focused on monitoring with SMART, anti-poaching patrols, and providing alternative forms of income and protein to reduce the bushmeat trade.
© Guido Trevillini, WCS

Site characteristics

© Guido Trevillini, WCS

Lac Télé Community Reserve is located in the northeastern Republic of the Congo. Consisting of 70% wetland, Lac Télé Community Reserve is one of the world's largest swamp-forest (WCS). The site is located between the Sangha and Oubangui rivers, which seasonally flood the forest, grassland, and floating prairies, and pump water into the lakes, ponds and rivers found at the site. In the centre of the reserve lies an area of firm land, which is an important habitat for gorillas (WCS). The reserve supports one of the densest populations of western lowland gorillas, and it is also home to chimpanzees, elephants, buffaloes, duikers, and hippopotamuses (Ramsar). The reserve was designated a Ramsar site in 1998. In 2017, the Lac Tumba Transboundary Ramsar Site was established, which includes Lac Télé and Grands Affluents in Congo, as well as Ngiri-Tumba-Maindombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Ramsar). The reserve is owned by the local communities; approximately 20,000 people in the reserve (WCS; Ramsar). These communities heavily depend on the reserve's natural resources for fish, agriculture, construction materials canoes, and medicines (WCS; Ramsar).

Table 1. Basic site information for Lac Télé Community Reserve

Area 4,400 km²
Coordinates 1.316971 N, 17.223215 E
Designation Community Reserve
Habitat types Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, wetlands (inland) – bogs, marshes, swamps, fens, peatlands, subtropical/tropical moist shrubland, subtropical/tropical seasonally wet/flooded grassland, wetlands (inland) – shrub dominated wetlands

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

Three surveys were conducted in the study area in 2006, 2010-2011 and 2016-2017. A new survey will be conducted in 2022 (). Data have shown a growing population trend for the two species and particularly for Gorilla gorilla gorilla. While for the chimpanzee Pan troglodytes Lac Tele does not show the highest densities (but the species is found), the centre of the reserve, as well as the northern areas and the external areas of Batanga, seem to host a density of gorillas up to 2.5 individuals/km2 (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).

Table 2. Ape population estimates in Lac Télé Community Reserve

Species Year Abundance estimate (95% CI) Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) Encounter rate (nests/km) Area Method Source Comments A.P.E.S. database ID
Gorilla gorilla gorilla 2006 5,402 (2,778–10,486) 1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests Line transects (Distance) Rainey et al. 2010
Pan troglodytes troglodytes & Gorilla gorilla gorilla 2006 7,647 (4,044–12,183) 1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests Line transects (Distance) Rainey et al. 2010
Gorilla gorilla gorilla 2017 7,323 (3,781-14,184) 1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests Line transects (Distance) Brncic et al. 2017
Pan troglodytes troglodytes 2017 642 (297-1,390) 1,029 km2 of the south-eastern Reserve periphery including Raphia swamp forests Line transects (Distance) Brncic et al. 2017

Threats

As a result of the civil war occurring in the country in the 90s, many war guns are still present in the country. Poaching is widespread, and the laws and regulations of legal hunting do not follow direct scientific criteria. Apes are less targeted than small monkeys, nonetheless the threat is present (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022). The proposed road between Bene (north LTCR) and Epena (east LTCR) would cut the northern area into two pieces, leading to fragmentation and poaching inside an area that is nowadays considered as virgin flooded forest. For this road, authorities have already "posed the first stone"; there is no ESIA foreseen and the funding mechanism is not clear (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).

Table 3. Threats to apes in Lac Télé Community Reserve

Category Specific threats Threat level Quantified severity Description Year of threat
1. Residential & commercial development Absent
2. Agriculture & aquaculture Absent
3. Energy production & mining Absent
4. Transportation & service corridors 4.1 Roads & railroads High A road project between Epene and Bene is foreseen and proposed by the State. The road would cut the northern area of the reserve, increasing the access to nowadays inaccessible flooded forest and potentially fragmenting the humid environment (if the road will be built on a stripe of terra firma) (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022). Future, but public authorities already organised events to publicly announce the project will be done.
5. Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals Present, but threat severity is unknown Mammal species hunted for commercial bushmeat markets, not only locally, but also in urban areas further away, e.g., in Kinshasa (WCS). Hunting gorillas in the area seems to be opportunistic (Meyer K., unpubl.data) but some cases of poachers targeting gorillas are known (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022). Ongoing (2022)
5. Biological resource use 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting Low Deforestation concentrated along the rivers and in terra firma forests. Trees are logged mainly for firewood collection and slash-and-burn agriculture. Although at the moment is it small-scale, the threat is expected to increase as road networks expand in the area (WCS). Ongoing
6. Human intrusion & disturbance Absent
7. Natural system modifications Absent
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases Unknown
9. Pollution Unknown
10. Geological Events Absent
11. Climate change & severe weather Unknown
12. Other options Absent

IUCN Threats list

Conservation activities

The reserve is managed by the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF) in partnership with WCS Congo. WCS implements surveys every 5 years, in order to establish the densities and the most important areas for management. Anti-poaching activities are constantly funded and implemented. Two PhD projects about a) coexistence between apes and humans, and b) spatial ecology of the gorillas will provide further information in the future, to improve management at the local scale. Community-based conservation is constantly implemented, having hunting as a main theme; for example, sustainable fishing in order to provide alternative proteins to bushmeat and to reduce great ape poaching (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).

Table 4. Conservation activities in Lac Télé Community Reserve

Category Specific activity Description Year of activity
1. Residential & commercial development Not reported
2. Agriculture & aquaculture Not reported
3. Energy production & mining Not reported
4. Transportation & service corridors Not reported
5. Biological resource use 5.11. Provide training to anti-poaching ranger patrols WCS Congo, together with the Government of Congo, are recruiting and training rangers to patrol and protect the landscape and its wildlife (WCS). Ongoing (2022)
5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols Provide rangers with training on the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART)(WCS). Ongoing (2022)
6. Human intrusion & disturbance Not reported
7. Natural system modifications Not reported
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases Not reported
9. Pollution Not reported
10. Education & Awareness 10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management A WCS community based conservation team is always active, involving local population writing and signing agreements and management plans (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022). Ongoing (2022)
11. Habitat Protection Not reported
12. Species Management Not reported
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives 13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development) Providing alternative forms of income (to reduce bushmeat trade) by developing and implementing a cocoa conservation management program; sustainable fisheries and commerce of dried fish; and a microcredit program (WCS). Ongoing (2022)

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

A new road could dramatically impact the conservation status of the site (see threats). The most important local challenge is finding a way to improve the local economy: bushmeat is nowadays a widely used source of income. Tourism is not easy to create, due to the lack of a regularly working airport (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).

Table 5. Challenges reported for Lac Télé Community Reserve

Challenge Source
Corruption Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022
Lack of national protection Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022

Research activities

Two PhD projects are active in the area. The first one is anthropological research focusing on the coexistence of humans and great apes. The second project regards the spatial ecology of gorillas, targeting movements in function of resources (Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022).

Documented behaviours

Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Lac Télé Community Reserve

Behavior Source
making ground nests Trivellini, G. pers. comm. 2022

External links

WCS Lac Télé Community Reserve
Ramsar Lac Télé/Likouala-aux-herbes


References

Rainey, H. J., Iyenguet, F. C., Malanda, G.-A. F., Madzoké, B., Santos, D. D., Stokes, E. J., Maisels, F., & Strindberg, S. (2010). Survey of Raphia swamp forest, Republic of Congo, indicates high densities of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla. Oryx, 44(01), 124. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003060530999010X
Brncic et al 2017. Ndoki Likouala large scale mammal Survey, 2017. WCS Internal report


Page completed by: Guido Trivellini & A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: 08/04/2022

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