28 May 2021, Bomassa, Nouabale Ndoki, Republic of Congo - Scenes from Wali Bai, a bai close to Bomassa, headquarters for WCS for the national park. The Bai is utilized by animals from late afternoon to early morning. In 2015 an elephant was poached inside this Bai, the fact that the animals have returned is a tribute to the antipoaching efforts led by WCS. (photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images for FAO, CIFOR, CIRAD, WCS)
Background information
The SWM Programme activities in Congo focus on the forest concessions that constitute the wild meat (game and fish) supply basin of the town of Ouesso. Hunting and fishing are important sources of food and income. To secure the sustainable use of wild protein by the local populations of traditional villages (indigenous and Bantu) located in these forest concessions, the project operates at three scales. The aim is to balance the supply and demand for wild meat products in 1) traditional villages, 2) secondary towns and forest camps and 3) cities. Community hunting areas overlap with logging concessions. Some of the concession are FSC certified and are working with the SWM Programme to achieve sustainable levels of hunting and prohibit the sale of wild meat.
