New York, June 27, 2019 – The following statement was released today by Tim Tear, Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Africa Program: “The Wildlife Conservation Society is deeply concerned by the announcement of the Uganda Electric Regulatory Authority (ERA) that it seeks approval for a new hydroelectric plant connected to Murchison Falls. The falls represent the centerpiece of the Murchison Falls National Park—one of Uganda’s most popular tour...

The Municipal Government of Reyes has created a new protected area in northwestern Bolivia that will serve the needs of local communities while safeguarding rare wildlife such as titi monkeys, river dolphins, wattled curassows and other species, said WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and Rainforest Trust.

By analyzing records in countries of the Amazon and Orinoco basins—which include Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador—a paper published today in Oryx—The International Journal of Conservation, categorized 85 past and present initiatives or projects that work to preserve the South American River Turtle, or charapa (Podocnemis expansa), a critically endangered species. These projects are protecting more than 147,000 female turtles across the basin, an unprecedented figure.

— The new Boma-Badingilo Landscape program was launched by the US Government, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Government of South Sudan, and Local Community Representatives, on June 18^th, 2019 at the Boma National Park Headquarters, South Sudan. 

On June 14th, Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson agreed on $92.8 billion budget aimed to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers; protect those in need; and safeguard New York City’s future wellbeing. On Wednesday, June 19th, the New York City Council voted to adopt the Fiscal Year 2020 budget, which included more than $50 million in funding to the cultural community in the city budget.

Leading conservation organizations, including Global Wildlife Conservation, Panthera, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and World Wildlife Fund, alongside The Belize Zoo, Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and Field School, and the University of Belize and its Environmental Research Institute, have joined together to applaud the government of Belize for declaring new plans to protect the Maya Forest Corridor – a critical link in Central America’s largest forest and a vital wildlife pathway.

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, formed between WCS, the government of the Republic of Congo, and the local communities, is arguably the most advanced and demonstrably successful conservation models of its kind in Africa

 

WCS and partners have reported an astounding success, registering zero instances of elephant poaching for the past 12 months in Mozambique’s Niassa Reserve, a massive protected area plagued by rampant wildlife crime just a few years ago. 

The Wildlife Conservation Society extends congratulations to conservationist Lee White who was named this week by President Ali Bongo Ondimba as Gabon’s Minister for Forests, Sea, the Environment and Climate Plan.

WCS congratulates the Indian government for expanding protected areas in the wildlife-rich Western Ghats region to safeguard populations of endangered lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus), critically endangered Kolar leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideros hypophyllus), and other species.