Focal Regions

Our Focal Regions: Partnerships for Primates

Map of the globe

GLOBIO is working to create impact in communities around the world, focusing mainly on four regions critical for great ape survival, in addition to the digital conservation awareness resources used around the world.

Sticking true to our roots of promoting environmental awareness and inspiring global stewardship for the planet, GLOBIO has flipped our perspective on how we approach conservation and awareness. Our new approach hones in on four focal regions that have critical at-risk ape and biodiversity numbers, within which we identify and collaborate with like-minded conservation organizations. Currently, we have highlighted the following areas: Upper Albertine Rift Triangle, Western Congo Basin, West Africa Lowland Forest, and Borneo Peat Swamp Forest.

Our support for Program Partners within these regions will manifest through the following ways:

  • Creation of media outreach and promotional materials, including video and documentary films
  • Program funding support through grants and donations
  • Help drive capacity building initiatives for partners, including skills training
  • Develop integrated project approaches to expand local conservation capacity

Conservation through Collaboration: GLOBIO’s Focal Regions 

West African Lowland Forest Map - encompassing Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia

West African Lowland Forest

The West African Lowland Forest contains the westernmost rainforest on the African continent. The flora and fauna here are quite distinctive, with larger numbers of narrowly endemic species, including a wealth of primate species such as the Critically Endangered Western Chimpanzee, Diana monkey, Campbell’s monkey, and the Western Red colobus. This region is not well protected and threats include habitat loss to slash-and-burn farming, hunting for bushmeat, logging, civil conflict, and mining activities.

Regional Program Partner:

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Sierra Leone)

This region houses countless incredible species, such as:

  • The Critically Endangered Western chimpanzee
  • 15 primate species, including the Diana monkey, Campbell’s monkey, and the Endangered Western Red colobus
  • Endangered pygmy hippopotamus
Western Congo Basin - Encompassing Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and Gabon

Western Congo Basin

The Congo Basin forms the tropical rainforest at the core of the African continent, boasting the highest tree diversity. The westernmost region hosts a complete collection of large and small primates, including endangered Western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills, drills, and a suite of guenons. While swamp forest dominates coastal regions in the south, inland is a gradual transition to savanna-forest mosaic. This region is not well protected and is endangered due to habitat loss due to palm oil plantations, logging, slash-and-burn farming, bushmeat hunting, and oil, gas, and mining activities.

Regional Program Partner:

Ape Action Africa (Cameroon)

The Western Congo Basin is home to:

  • Four great ape species and sub-species: the Western Lowland gorilla, Cross River gorilla, Central chimpanzee, and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee
  • 19 species of non-ape primate, including the only significant populations of drill and mandrill 
  • Endangered forest elephant
  • Highest forest butterfly species richness in Africa
  • Between 53% – 85.5% Primary and mature secondary forest loss
Bornean Peat Swamp Forest - Encompassing Island of Borneo

Borneo Peat Swamp Forest

Merger of lowland rainforest and peat swamp create some of the most speciose habitats in the world, including extremely high tree diversity and size, indeed one-in-ten plant species identified in peatlands are found nowhere else on Earth. Endangered Bornean orangutans are the highest-profile species, but peat swamp forests are critical habitat for the endangered endemic and highly unique proboscis monkey. Palm oil-driven deforestation is the greatest ongoing threat to the region.

Regional Program Partner: TBA

This region is impressively biodiverse, with the following:

  • Endangered Bornean orangutan, proboscis monkey, Southern Bornean gibbon, Bornean banded langur, and red langur. Plus 11 other primates
  • Tropical peatlands of Southeast Asia occupy an estimated area of 248,000 km squared, 56% of global totals
  • The endemic Sunda clouded leopard, marbled cat, and flat-headed cat
Upper Albertine Rift Triangle - Encompassing DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda

Upper Albertine Rift Triangle

The Albertine Rift montane forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest in the heart of east-central Africa. The upper triangle covers the mountains of the northern Albertine Rift, and is home to distinct Afromontane forests with high biodiversity. Encompassing the Virunga National Park (Africa’s oldest), the Upper Albertine Rift Triangle is home to the highest primate diversity in Africa. The region boasts high levels of endemism, especially birds and amphibians, although despite this, it remains largely unstudied and undocumented. The ongoing decades of civil unrest, corruption, and mining are the greatest threats. 

Regional Program Partner: TBA

This mountainous area is a powerhouse of biodiversity with:

  • Three kinds of great apes: the Mountain gorilla, Eastern lowland gorilla, and Eastern chimpanzee
  • Many other endemic primate species including: L’Hoest’s monkey, Hamlyn’s monkey (also known as the Owl-faced monkey)
  • A wealth of other endemic fauna and flora species (many of which are threatened or endangered) such as 32+ amphibians, 30+ birds, and 11+ mammals

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