Eastern Afromontane hotspot news

CEPF EAM

 

The Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot is one of the Earth’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, the most biologically rich yet threatened areas around the globe. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) has invested USD 12 million in this amazing hotspot (2012-2020). BirdLife International was the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) that facilitated this investment.

CEPF supported civil society groups to conserve Key Biodiversity Areas, and the species who live at these priority sites, in the region. This page provides news from the field, to show you who has been implementing this much-needed work, where, how, and to what effect.

No mountain was too high, no species too 'uncharismatic', no threat too scary - CEPF grantees have been going out of their way to protect this region's unique biodiversity. Read their stories, here below.

How the Eastern Afromontane RIT became carbon-neutral - and other greening efforts Basic page 31 August 2020
The BirdLife Eastern Afromontane regional implementation team, managing CEPF's investment in the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot between 2012 and 2020, found various ways to make their operations as environmentally-friendly as possible.
Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) © Emilie Chen
Eight years in the Eastern Afromontane: a conservation milestone News 3 July 2020
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) programme in the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot ended on 31 March 2020. We look back at some of the highlights of this programme in the past eight years.
(c) M Jocque
New species discovered in the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot! Basic page 29 June 2020
CEPF grantee BINCO (Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation) explored a mountain in Mozambique, prepared the information to propose it as a KBA, and discovered a new spider species in the process.
Building relationships © Stuart Paterson/FFI
Ten Hot Tips Basic page 10 May 2020
Ten Hot Tips for organisational development, gender and biodiversity mainstreaming, from the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot programme.
Lake Ol’ Bolossat, Kenya © Fabian Haas
Lake Ol’ Bolossat - a wetland worth protecting Basic page 20 March 2020
With funding support from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership (CEPF), three grantees working in the Eastern Afromontane Hotspot have been at the forefront of efforts to conserve Lake Ol’Bolossat - the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), the East African Wildlife Society (EAWLS) and Cranes Conservation Volunteers (CCV).
Community calculating the Dragonflies Biotic Index © National Museums of Kenya
The Jewel Mountains Basic page 10 March 2020
The National Museums of Kenya, supported by CEPF, implemented activities at two KBAs to support three rare species of dragonfly - the jewels in the crown that are the Eastern Afromontane mountains.
Women and youths constructing firebreaks © Sokoine University / FORCONSULT
Forests are made beautiful through the establishment of Village Land Forest Reserves in Njombe Forests KBA, Tanzania Basic page 20 February 2020
ForConsult, the consultancy bureau of Sokoine University in Tanzania, supported the establishment of two new Village Land Forest Reserves in the Njombe Forests Key Biodiversity Area, part of the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot.
Local communities trained in sustainable bamboo harvesting © KIWOCEDU
The Bamboo Liberation Front Basic page 11 February 2020
CEPF grantee KIWOCEDU contributed to the protection of Echuya Forest KBA in Uganda, restoring the ecological and social balance at this KBA using bamboo - its main resource.
FHA community work known as "Umuganda" to refill the mining pits © FHA
Corporate mainstreaming - tackling the negative impacts of mining on biodiversity Basic page 11 December 2019
Forest of Hope Association, CEPF grantee in Rwanda, addresses the negative impacts of mining at the Gishwati forest KBA
Ruhondeza, the legendary gorilla © CTPH
From human-wildlife conflicts to a human-gorilla friendship Basic page 28 October 2019
This is the story of Ruhondeza, the legendary gorilla that lives on in the hearts and minds of the community at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, an Eastern Afromontane Key Biodiversity Area in Uganda.
One of the Marsh Rangers talking to community members about community involvement during a meeting organized by local leaders © RWCA
Community conservation in Rwanda leads to surge in local Crane population Basic page 11 October 2019
The Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association is working with communities at Rugezi Marsh KBA to protect the Grey Crowned Cranes at this wetland. This has lead to a 42% increase in numbers of Cranes, from 94 in 2018 to 134 in 2019!
Batwa Forest Experience © MUST
Empowerment through Ecotourism Basic page 27 September 2019
The “Bwindi Batwa Forest Experience” is an ecotourism venture at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, an Eastern Afromontane KBA in Uganda.