Micro hydro power plant gives light to Kasugho, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Jane Goodall Institute

Dr Katalin CsatadiThe Jane Goodall Institute Hungary

The Jane Goodall Institute

• Dr Jane Goodall, DBE – best known for her groundbreaking chimpanzee research• Founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 for

• Wildlife research• Conservation• Education

JGI in AfricaResearch,conservaton andeducation activities in • Guinea• Gabon• Republic of Congo• Tanzania• Uganda • Democratic

Republic of Congo• South Africa• Egypt

JGI in the DRC

• GOAL:to attain sustainable local development in targeted development zones, which in turn will ultimately contribute to conservation results in community reserves

• Since 2005 conservation and education projects have been carried out

Introduction to „Landscape 10”

Consortium for managing the landscape

Landscape 10 Overview

• Globally important biodiversity hotspot, many endemic species, with key species of forest elephant, chimpanzee and gorilla

• 90% of Eastern Lowland Gorilla range

• 80% of intact forest • 100,000 sq km

Threats to Landscape 10

• Insecurity• Extreme poverty• Illegal mining• Illegal hunting • Charcoal extraction• Conversion of forests for agriculture and livestock

Kasugho

• Approximately 16000 people

• In the 1990’s residents had to flee to avoid armed groups

• After 2003 security improved people returned without any economic support

• Consequently employing unsustainable agricultural practises

Shift and burn agriculture Cultivating on steep hill sides Overharvesting firewood

The Challange• The DRC is located within the second largest tropical forest  in 

the  world with an abundance  of  natural  resources,  • 60  million inhabitants are among the poorest in the world

and 40 million of DRC’s inhabitants live  in  rural  areas and depend on the resources the forest provides

the  sustainable  management  of  the  country’s  forests, and strategic use of forest resources will be the key to fu

ture economic development

DRC-CCC (Communty Centred Conservation) Program

Program Goal again:

Sustainable local development in targeted zones, which will contribute to conservation results in community reserves

Micro-Hydro Electric Power Plant in Kasugho village

• Community participation – 200 villagers helped

• Community members were selected for management community

• Local engineers were employed• 35kw of electricity• Promoting sustainable energy and income

generating activities• Health projects, education, dissemination,

jobs

Supporting Economic Growth

• Before JGI presence local people had absolutely no access to healthcare

• Clinic rehabilitation– First point of family planning – provision

and education

– Training of Health Care Providers

– Monitoring and supervisory visits

Implementing a Health Program

Education• Kasugo University for Conservation and Rural Developme

nt– Locally founded– 3 years degree in conservation biology– The first graduates were the local leaders sons and daughters– After they inherit the reponsibilities of their parents – they

will be able to implement what they learnt– Extras:

• Radio station• 28-bed clinic• Laboratory• Operation room

Dissemination• University Radio Station

– Conservation – Politics– Music– Culture– Women and family issues

• Crucially important for spreading information of the above issues

Income generating activities

• Night shops

• Mills

• Late evening local market

• Haircutting salons

• Cinema

• Dancing club

Lessons Learnt• What does the electricity do in the rainforest?

– Alternative!

• Only a small fracture of JGI’s work in Eastern DRC

• JGI will soon be able to measure the real impact of the micro-hydro power plant and how it changes the lives of 16000 people

• Shows how efforts to achieve a sustainable local development can help promoting a better lifestyle that ultimately leads to better conservation

Thank You• JGI USA, JGI Canada and

JGI Australia• USAID• UGADEC• Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

International• Conservation International