Conducting surveys of local markets and restaurants to improve understanding of bushmeat sales and the black market for protected species, particularly the slender-snouted crocodile

Environmental education targeted at the next generation of consumers to increase public awareness of protected species and hunting laws (through school programs, citizen science initiatives, outreach with tourism partners, local media, and local authorities);

Sponsorship of nature clubs, wildlife murals, road cleanup programs, World Environment Day 2016 celebrations, field trips by local leaders to OELO’s ecotourism site at Tsam Tsam, and student questionnaires to improve attitudes towards biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship; and

Ecotourism development at Tsam Tsam to increase sustainable revenue for conservation and identify alternative activities to hunting in the lake region of Gabon. Increased funds will support the participation of 2-3 project staff in a USFWS-hosted meeting on the commercial bushmeat trade in Central Africa. The meeting will be held October 3-7, 2016 in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The primary purpose of this meeting is for USFWS and its grantees to better address the commercial bushmeat trade by assessing current USFWS-supported interventions, developing communications to key audiences, and strengthening connections between USFWS grantees.