Africa Geographic July 2005 [antikvár]

editorial -MiiT t ¦ '-Si u GRASP, the Great Apes Survival Project, is conservation cooperation on a grand and global scale ^ ^ I have often expressed my disappointment in the lack of cohesiveness in the global conservation community. The common goal is almost certainly the same - in some shape or form to make our world a better place. But so often, or so it seems, inter-organisational politics get in the way. Maybe philosophical differences play a role, but conservation efforts are very often led by personalities and I do believe that powerful egos can create friction as weU. And then, among NGOs there is often intense competition for donor funding, or the need to project strongly to a membership/supporter base, that sometimes promotes one-upmanship. So it is heartening when one sees examples of how different organisations can come together for a common good. 'Seizing the moment' (see page 41) highlights a massive undertaking of some 30 NGOs around the world that have come together in a UNEP initiative called GRASP, the Great Apes Survival Project. Amongst these are organisations with whom Africa Geographic enjoys very close ties, including the African Wildlife Foundation, Bom Free, Conservation International, the Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF International. Such an initiative is sorely needed as the survival of the great apes in our modem world is far from assured: in fact, almost without exception, populations are dwindling at a disturbing rate. So alarming is this decline that scientists involved in great ape biology and conservation are waming us that many, if not most, of the population pockets currently extant will not exist beyond the next 20 years. Habitat destruction, especially of rainforests, is of course a key factor, as is the burgeoning bushmeat trade. The situation is dire and hence the GRASP initiative. Its purpose: 'to provide a framework into which all the individual conservation efforts of governments, wildlife departments, academics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UN agencies and others can be layered to ensure maximum efficiency, effective communication and successful targeting of resources. GRASP is an ambitious initiative, which while recognising the autonomy and independence of existing initiatives, seeks to create a harmonious and coordinated network, in order to halt the decline of the great apes.' GRASP is conservation cooperation on a grand and global scale. But sometimes, too, smaller associations can be immensely powerful and effective. I recently vrttnessed a very encouraging example of this. Cheetahs, like the great apes, have a tenuous hold on survival. Fewer than 10 000 survive in the wild and many of these live on livestock rangelands where they are sorely persecuted, mostly through ignorance, as killers of cattle, sheep and goats. Of the many and worthy, initiatives aimed at ameliorating the plight of the cheetah, I have been particularly admiring of the work of three organisations: Ann van Dyk's De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre, Laurie Marker's Cheetah Conservation Fund, and Cheetah Outreach run by Annie Beckhelling. Individually these three formidable conservationists have done remarkable work, but now, without forsaking their individual identities, they have committed their organisations to working in concert. I have no doubt that the resultant energy and purpose will lift the intemational profile of cheetah conservation to new heights. About our magaglne .__________ Africa Geographic is editorially and financially independent. It enjoys the support and endorsement of several non-government organisations, but it is not affiliated in any way to tfiese bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Africa Ceographic strives to foster an awareness of wildlife, conservation, eco-travel. indigenous cultures and the general environment. It consistently advocates the wisest use of natural resources in a manner that involves and is of real benefit to the people of Africa. Africa Ceographic is published 11 times a year. 6 AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC