African Conservation Foundation
Encyclopedia
The African Conservation Foundation, also known as ACF, is an international non-governmental organisation established in 1999 and registered in 2001. Its focus is wildlife
and habitat conservation
within and outside of protected areas, adopting an integrated approach which includes community development
and environmental education
. The organisation is registered as a charity
, supporting and conducting field conservation projects around Africa
. It also maintains an Africa-wide network for information exchange and capacity building
of conservation efforts in the region.
to one in which the needs of Human development (humanity)
in the region are reconciled with biodiversity
conservation".
support. The organisation is involved in wildlife conservation, great apes
conservation (Cross River Gorilla
, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee
), habitat and tropical forest conservation. It is also running tree planting and reforestation
programmes in Kenya
and Cameroon
.
on a project called wildartafrica which aims to raise awareness and funds for the conservation of Africa's most endangered species
.
Wildlife management
Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science. Wildlife management can include game keeping, wildlife conservation and pest control...
and habitat conservation
Habitat conservation
Habitat conservation is a land management practice that seeks to conserve, protect and restore, habitat areas for wild plants and animals, especially conservation reliant species, and prevent their extinction, fragmentation or reduction in range...
within and outside of protected areas, adopting an integrated approach which includes community development
Community development
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....
and environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
. The organisation is registered as a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, supporting and conducting field conservation projects around Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It also maintains an Africa-wide network for information exchange and capacity building
Capacity building
Capacity building also referred to as capacity development is a conceptual approach to development that focuses on understanding the obstacles that inhibit people, governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from realizing their developmental goals while enhancing...
of conservation efforts in the region.
Mission
The organisation's mission is "to change the approach of the management and utilization of natural resourcesNatural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
to one in which the needs of Human development (humanity)
Human development (humanity)
Human development in the scope of humanity, specifically international development, is an international and economic development paradigm that is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. People are the real wealth of nations...
in the region are reconciled with biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
conservation".
Conservation Approach
ACF works together with a large number of different partners to achieve its mission, including other NGOs, governmental organisations, companies, researchers and local communities. It conducts field projects in close collaboration with local partners, building in-country capacity by providing technical and fundraisingFundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
support. The organisation is involved in wildlife conservation, great apes
Great Apes
Great Apes may refer to*Great apes, species in the biological family Hominidae, including humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans*Great Apes , a 1997 novel by Will Self...
conservation (Cross River Gorilla
Cross River Gorilla
The Cross River gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that can be found on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon, in both tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests which are also home to the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee, another subspecies of great ape...
, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee
Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee
The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is a subspecies of the common chimpanzee which inhabits the rainforests along the border of Nigeria and Cameroon. Male Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees can weigh as much as 70 kilos with a body length of up to 1.2 metres...
), habitat and tropical forest conservation. It is also running tree planting and reforestation
Reforestation
Reforestation is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted, usually through deforestation....
programmes in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
.
Education
Through its website, the organisation provides conservation news and action alerts, information about jobs and volunteer opportunities, and seeks to educate people on conservation issues in Africa. ACF involves volunteers in various aspects of its work, online and in the field.Wildlife Art
The African Conservation Foundation is working closely together with Canadian Artist Daniel Taylor (painter)Daniel Taylor (painter)
Canadian painter Daniel Taylor is internationally renowned for his high realism portraits and wildlife art. For the greater part of his life he lived with his family in the interior of British Columbia...
on a project called wildartafrica which aims to raise awareness and funds for the conservation of Africa's most endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.