Pangolins are under threat in Ghana and may silently be heading towards extinction. They are used extensively in African traditional medicine, resulting in high demand for pangolin parts. This drives the species' illicit hunting and trade. The situation is worsened by inadequate pangolin ecological studies, and species exploitation through trade, and the timely and strategic conservation management plans to address the situation and the plight of pangolins in Ghana.
Black Bellied Pangolin feeding in Atewa Forest.
The new project phase two seeks to extend survey area to new locations in the Atewa forest areas which the phase one did not cover as well as conduct pangolin trade and market surveys in all known markets in Atewa. This project phase two data will contribute to form the basis to review the current local and/or national status of pangolin species in Atewa landscape and Ghana. The project data and conservation outputs will serve as blueprint to solicit the appropriate conservation attention for the species management. The outputs of this project will ultimately help sustain the conservation success gained so far on pangolin species conservation. This phase two will further contribute to improving our understanding of the ecology and local trade dynamics and conservation needs of pangolins in Ghana. Thus, without this information, it is difficult to make any effective conservation recommendation for pangolin conservation. Understanding pangolin ecology and trade dynamics will allow us to better develop a conservation blueprint and local action plan for pangolins in Ghana.
Our previous conservation education activities enabled us to increased local conservation awareness across 8 communities out of 16 communities in the project area. With this grant, we will expand our conservation education efforts to additional 8 communities in the project area. We hope to engage and educate over 3000 locals (including school children, youth groups, hunters, farmers, traditional healers etc) through tailored awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagements. This project will further the goal of reducing the growing pangolin hunting pressure, increase behaviour change to reduce local apathy and also enhance community support. Overall, this project phase two will further contribute to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues for the development of a targeted local conservation and management plan for pangolins conservation in the project landscape.
Header: Camera Trapping Pangolins in Atewa Forest Reserve.