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Okapi Conservation Project

Okapi Conservation Project

Photos and written by Tiffany Moore, Conservation and Research Department
Zoo Miami annually supports the Okapi Conservation Project (OCP). The OCP is a non-profit organizations that was established in 1987 by John Lukas and aims to protect the okapi and its habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Protection for the Okapi Wildlife Reserve is shared between the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) wardens, rangers, and guards. The OCP ensures that support is met for the ICCN by providing resources where needed.
 
The OCP helps local villages around the Okapi Wildlife Reserve learn new sustainable farming techniques to ensure food security for families. By planting alternative crops such as vegetables, trees, and fruits, the village is able to live a much healthier and flourishing life. The OCP helps support five local nurseries around the reserve to produce food for families. The local nurseries also grow plant species to be used in restoration and education of the forest ecosystem.
The OCP also helps the local community by assisting in the building of infrastructure such as schools and health clinics, developing fresh water sources for villagers, and provides emergency transport to hospitals, when needed. The OCP and their partners connect the community by establishing women’s groups where they can learn the benefits of conservation and provide opportunities for villagers to make revenue from their work which then helps pay for the cost of their children’s school and healthcare. The OCP helps support education programs for the local community and demonstrates the importance of conservation through providing local schools with educational materials to help students learn about the forest and the impact they have. Radio stations also collaborate by providing segments on topics such as climate change, the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) rangers, forest protection, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
To find out more about the Okapi Conservation Project click the button below:
Okapi Conservation Project

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