Project GACEBB, an initiative to protect bonobos

The evolution of bonobos as we know them today happened in the equatorial forests south of the Congo River, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This, simply put, means that it is their home: they can’t survive anywhere else in the world. This is key to understand why a project at that exact location is key to maintain an ensure their survival. Project GACEBB, which is acronym for Groupe D'appui À La Conservation Des Ecosystèmes De Basankusu Et Bolomba, took on the mission to safeguard them.

How does GACEBB work? By implementing income generating micro-projects for the local communities to improve their socio-economic conditions and by that, to reduce pressure on bonobos and their habitat. They also have an education program to sensitize the population about the importance and fragility of ecosystems and a climate change fight program aimed to restore deforested areas. To be precise, GACEBB initiatives are:

• Giving Bonobos a Chance: Finding Alternatives to Hunting and Consumption

GACEBB is all about finding practical solutions to protect bonobos. They work hard to set up micro-projects that offer sustainable alternatives to hunting and eating bonobos meat. By providing better choices, they reduce the threat to this endangered species.

• Spreading the Word: Educating Communities on Nature and Bonobos

GACEBB believes that awareness is the key to conservation. That's why they run environmental awareness programs in local communities. By teaching people about the importance of safeguarding nature and protecting bonobos, they encourage everyone to be part of the solution.

• Keeping a Close Eye on Bonobos: Monitoring for Their Well-Being

To keep tabs on bonobo populations and their habitats, GACEBB carries out ecological monitoring of bonobos (SEB). But that's not all – they team up with local communities for community monitoring (PC) initiatives. Together, they ensure that bonobos have a fighting chance at survival.

• Supporting Farmers to Protect Nature: A Win-Win Approach

GACEBB provides vital support to partner farmer organizations (OC) to help them manage their natural resources responsibly. By working with these organizations, they find ways to strike a balance between human needs and nature's well-being.

• Empowering Women for a Better Future: Gender Integration Matters

GACEBB has a special focus on empowering women and girls in the Southern Basankusu region. They offer training and support to Women's FO on gender integration issues. Through these efforts, they promote gender parity in conservation and beyond.

• Involving Communities in Forest Conservation: Everybody's Responsibility

GACEBB believes that local communities play a crucial role in protecting forests. That's why they train them in the Community Forestry (CF) process. By understanding how to obtain forest concessions and manage forests sustainably, communities become stewards of their own natural resources.

With practical initiatives and a down-to-earth approach, GACEBB is making a real difference in bonobo conservation. By working hand in hand with communities, they are fostering a brighter future for these incredible creatures and the environment. But they need the help of a broader community, and that includes you. If you feel you want to support bonobos, download the Lemu app, register and find ways to do so.

Bonobos: who they are and why do they need us

On the left shore of the Congo River, a group of bonobos (Pan paniscus) hug, play, kiss, and enjoy peaceful afternoons with the family. Is it Friday already? They don’t know, and don’t seem to care. This is the way Bonobos, our closest cousins from the anthropomorphic ape community, live and probably want to keep on living. And honestly, who wouldn’t?

A quick look at them could mistake them with chimpanzees (and that wouldn’t be exactly wrong). But a closer look, observing their peaceful behavior and more slender bodies would be conclusive: we are in the presence of a different species. In fact, science has discover recently that our most peaceful traits as humans have evolved from these amazing creatures.

Is it possible that our long for peace is stronger than our long for war? Indeed, the scientists behind the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), agree in the fact that we Bonobos more prone to peace than violence.

Unfortunately, they can’t be at ease as they would want to, because many threats lurk within their borders: deforestation, soil degradation, poaching and the poverty that force communities to hunt them to eat their meat or sell it. Today, it is estimated that the world has between 15,000 to 50,000 bonobos left and their population continues to decline due mainly to poaching and habitat loss, as well as their low reproduction rate due mainly to long interbirth intervals. This is why they are classified as endangered by the IUCN list and why they need us to protect them.