In June of 1998, Sally Jewell Coxe launched the Bonobo Conservation Initiative along with Alison Mize and a small group of bonobo enthusiasts. Twenty five years later, what started as a brainstorming session in a living room in Washington, DC has grown to nine million acres of protected land in the DRC. Together with our Congolese partners, we have established the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve and the Sankuru Nature Reserve, home to bonobos and a vast array of other wildlife. And all of this incredible progress is thanks to you!
To celebrate BCI's silver anniversary, First Light Foundation has generously offered a $25,000 challenge grant. Help us reach our $25,000 goal and double the impact of your donation! Every dollar supports our community-based conservation efforts. Your gift will provide equipment and salaries for the bonobo monitoring teams and support community programs in the Bonobo Peace Forest. It will also help us take the next steps to officially protect the forests of Lingomo, Nkokolombo, Likongo, and Lilungu.
As we reflect on the past 25 years, we are laying the groundwork for the next 25—and beyond!
We've been hard at work preparing the Bonobo Peace Forest for sustainable financing using the UN's REDD+ carbon credit framework. REDD+ means that the local communities will directly benefit from protecting their forests and wildlife. We are so excited for this new chapter in the Peace Forest story! From now until June 2024, stay tuned for stories, interviews, archival footage, and events celebrating BCI's first 25 years—as well as updates about our plans for the future!
Thank you SO MUCH for making this milestone possible. Your support makes the world safer for bonobos and all who share their rainforest home.