The local context
The project involves buying the 14 ha of the Draman forest. These 14 ha are located at the interface of several types of natural habitat (mosaic) and form part of a much larger ecosystem at the heart of the Basse Vallée de l'Ouémé Biosphere Reserve, the largest river in Benin. Maintaining this forest in its current state is a major challenge for the ecological continuity of the area, i.e. maintaining existing corridors for species.
Project objectives
The forest will be protected. It will be purchased in the name of’ODDB, a local partner of’Humy. A forest management agreement will be signed between ODDB and Humy to ensure that the forest cannot be resold or used for purposes other than conservation.
This forest could be one of the sectors where animals treated in the future ex-situ conservation centre very close to the area could be released back into the wild.
Red-bellied monkey (Cercopythecus erythrogaster erythrogaster)
A rare primate
The site is also a popular area for the Red-bellied monkey, A small primate endemic to Benin, northern Togo and part of Nigeria, it measures between 40 and 50 cm and weighs between 2 and 4 kg.
Its diet, mainly made up of fruit, makes it a «gardener species» or «keystone species». By disseminating seeds and kernels, this little monkey plays an active role in diversifying forests and maintaining natural landscapes.
The species was long considered extinct, but was rediscovered in Benin in 1994. It is now considered to be threatened with extinction, again due to human activities: primarily the destruction of its natural habitat and poaching.
ODDB, expertise in primate conservation
To save it, the local scientific community is mobilising, in particular Mariano Houngbedji d’ODDB , an environmental engineer and recognised primatologist.
Mariano has dedicated 15 years of his life to the red-bellied monkey. He is now fighting for the protection of endangered species in southern Benin and is working to set up a conservation centre to protect monkeys in danger of extinction, such as Geoffroy's Colobus.
Beneficiaries
The final beneficiaries are the members of the association ODDB, the villagers living near the forest and all the animal and plant species that inhabit the forest.