1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:18,000 We're in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 2 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,600 Contrary to appearances, these men are not soldiers. 3 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:26,560 Their forest ranges from the ICCN, the Congolese Institute of Nature Conservation. 4 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:32,720 Their job? To fight against poaching and protect the biodiversity of the Virunga National Park. 5 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:41,200 For a decade, from 1992 to 2002, this area was devastated by successive wars. 6 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:47,120 From 1994 to 1996, hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the massacres in Rwanda 7 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,200 flowed into the Congolese National Parks. 8 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,000 Refugees almost totally destitute, 9 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:56,000 completely dependent on natural resources of food and water to be able to survive. 10 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,120 Apart from the human misery it created, 11 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,600 and despite food aid which was delivered by humanitarian aid organizations, 12 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,760 this situation had catastrophic effects on the animal and plant life. 13 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:16,080 Despite the difficulties, the ICCN managed to continue its biodiversity conservation work, 14 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,560 after a fashion, throughout all these years, with help from the European Union. 15 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,360 This work continued in spite of the war. 16 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,560 The rangers remained on the job. 17 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,560 The European Commission continued to support the programs from near and far. 18 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,320 Today, the European Union is still involved. 19 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,720 For example, it financed the rebuilding of the infrastructure and the training of the rangers. 20 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,920 Training is essential because illegal hunting is a huge problem in this area. 21 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,000 I can give you an example. 22 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:59,360 Nearly 30 years ago, there was a population of 35,000 hippos in the Virunga National Park. 23 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,400 The last census gives an alarming figure of just 836 hippos, 24 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,160 which are now registered on the list of animals on the way to extinction. 25 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,200 That shows you the extent of the poaching that there was. 26 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,040 The ICCN rangers are also trained to take on the more social and rather delicate task 27 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,200 of raising awareness amongst the local people. 28 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,600 It's not easy to make the villagers, who live in difficult circumstances around the parks, 29 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,600 understand that they must stop cutting wood and killing animals. 30 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,560 One can't think of making a partition wall between the people who live around this nature 31 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,600 and the resources that the nature can provide them. 32 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,800 The difficulty is to help them understand that it's in their own interest 33 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,880 to protect the nature which surrounds them, in order to ensure their survival. 34 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,360 There's an expression which says that one can preserve only what one knows and one loves. 35 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,120 So it's necessary to show these people that it's in their interest 36 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,760 to preserve the inheritance for future generations. 37 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:12,720 Not long ago, there was a forest here. 38 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:15,120 They're starting to realize that there's less rain. 39 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,200 We're starting to make them understand that they need to play their part in conservation 40 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:24,720 for the benefit of the country, but also for their own benefit too, and for future generations. 41 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,680 Their benefit, but also ours, because the conservation of biological diversity 42 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,360 is actually something essential to human survival, to our survival. 43 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,920 In fact, we're all dependent on even these remote ecosystems. 44 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,840 They have a direct effect on the regulation of the climate. 45 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,800 They provide us with essential natural resources 46 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,280 and contain wealth which has still to be discovered. 47 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,360 The situation is paradoxical. 48 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,880 In fact, the poorest countries possess the richest ecosystems, 49 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,200 which is why Europeans must invest in the protection of biodiversity 50 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,840 and support these countries in their conservation efforts. 51 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,120 Biodiversity is regarded as a world public good. 52 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:14,400 Everyone needs to join together to preserve it for the present and future generations. 53 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:23,120 For the European Union, environmental protection is an integral part of its development aid programs. 54 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:28,720 The protection of biodiversity is clearly stated in the Millennium Objectives of the United Nations. 55 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,000 We need ecosystems to fight against poverty. 56 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,960 Central Africa is the second largest forest area in the world, 57 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,200 and it's already 15 years ago that Europe launched its EcoFac program here. 58 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:47,840 EcoFac helps eight countries in the region to preserve and develop their biodiversity 59 00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:51,840 in collaboration with the governments as well as local and international NGOs. 60 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:57,040 To conserve and develop, that's increasingly what local people want too. 61 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,600 Mohindo Simbendiri is a local chief in the northern region of Virunga. 62 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,240 He's someone who thinks that preserving nature 63 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,600 can provide more than just wood and food for the local people. 64 00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:12,000 The park is our wealth. We'll profit when tourism develops. We're fine. 65 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,960 Eco-tourism is indeed one of the means of adding value to biodiversity. 66 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,160 Epriem and Baudouin are trackers in the Virunga park. 67 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,840 Their job, to accustom the large monkeys to the presence of humans 68 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:29,680 and to take visitors to see them. 69 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:33,200 They're also the ones who are responsible for the conservation of the park. 70 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:37,520 In the areas where tourism has been introduced, poaching has almost ceased 71 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,080 because the poachers avoid areas where people are. 72 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,920 The gorillas, who are used to visitors, are not worried by them 73 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,400 as long as a few definite rules are respected. 74 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:51,600 No more than seven people in a group, the length of visit limited to an hour, 75 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:53,600 and no flags are allowed to be raised. 76 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,400 The park is also a place where tourists can come and go as they please. 77 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,560 No more than seven people in a group, the length of visit limited to an hour, 78 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,200 and no flash photography or direct contact. 79 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,360 The eco-tourism is good for the local economy 80 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,920 and so can help the people with their conservation effort. 81 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,800 It's clear that, above all, it's a tool for the protection of biodiversity. 82 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:19,760 We're now closer to the capital Kinshasa. 83 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:21,920 This is the Kisantu Botanical Garden. 84 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:28,640 This 100-year-old garden contains no less than 3,500 species in 225 hectares. 85 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:35,040 A public park which aims to concentrate the incredible wealth of Congolese flora in one place. 86 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,760 A garden open, above all, to the local people. 87 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:44,000 The managers of the botanical garden want to show that a well-managed environment 88 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,880 can bring about a concrete improvement in quality of life. 89 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,000 We grow here what we call caterpillar plants. 90 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,360 That is, we cultivate plants which caterpillars come to feed on, 91 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,440 and from then on, people can find food. 92 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,600 In these areas, there's not much cattle breeding. 93 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,920 It's the caterpillars which provide the protein. 94 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,280 These caterpillar plants are cultivated and then replanted 95 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:11,920 to help people living near the botanical garden. 96 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,960 Experiments which can then benefit large numbers of people 97 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,040 Kisantu is a great success. 98 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,720 Thanks to the hard work and the exceptional devotion of the Congolese people, 99 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,240 supported by Europe, 100 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,840 the botanical garden was able to survive the country's troubled times. 101 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:32,080 We're off now to Gabon, another country which benefits from the ECOFAC program. 102 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:36,240 Here, too, Europe helps with the preservation and development of biodiversity. 103 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:44,640 In practice, the ECOFAC program is a way of helping the people of Gabon 104 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,200 In practice, it's resulted in an institutional support 105 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,880 to make it possible for the country to advance its national parks legislation. 106 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:54,240 We provided considerable support for training 107 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:58,400 to allow Gabon to have the framework necessary to fight against poaching. 108 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,760 We have also worked to support research institutions 109 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,360 to get a better understanding of the environments we want to protect. 110 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,640 The Lopé Park is one of 13 national parks in Gabon. 111 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,680 More than 5,000 square kilometres of tropical forest and savannah 112 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,280 where monkeys, gorillas, elephants and buffalo live together. 113 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:22,000 In the middle of the park, the Mikongo Camp welcomes visitors. 114 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,720 Guyla and Sidouan are guides in Mikongo. 115 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,920 Every day, they go into the forest with small groups of people, 116 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,000 to help guide them through the forest. 117 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,400 They also help guide them through the forest. 118 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,520 Every day, they go into the forest with small groups of people, 119 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,320 who they introduce to the tropical forest, its fauna, 120 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,640 and its sometimes unexpected richness. 121 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:45,920 When we're in the village, we go into the forest. 122 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,560 If you're wounded, because we're in a place where there's no hospital, 123 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:57,520 so this tree, you pierce it like that, and you take a leaf, 124 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,840 you take the sap, and you put it where you're wounded, 125 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:04,560 and that stops the bleeding. 126 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,880 Guyla and Sidouan are not amateur guides. 127 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,360 They first had to study for months to learn their job. 128 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:20,400 In fact, conservation of biodiversity requires very particular and varied skills. 129 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,960 In Gabon, the very best training is at the ENEF, 130 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,200 the National School of Waters and Forests. 131 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:31,040 In this institution, young people are trained from all over the subcontinent. 132 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,360 These are the future protectors of Africa's ecosystems. 133 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:44,000 To develop, but also conserve, you need well-trained men and women, 134 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,080 and training is an expensive area. 135 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:49,040 The EU supports us in the field of capacity building. 136 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:53,360 We especially appreciated the EU programme to train young people 137 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,320 and we appreciated the EU programme to train the trainers. 138 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,120 In the middle of the Lopé Park is a research centre 139 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:04,800 which works with the European Union. 140 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,320 Several scientists, as well as Gabonese and foreign NGO members work here. 141 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,520 Their principal job is to monitor and count the animal species. 142 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,840 How many elephants or gorillas are there in the park? 143 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,760 Where are they? How are their populations developing? 144 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,800 The researchers also study threats to the species, 145 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:28,240 poaching or the terrifying killer virus Ebola, 146 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,560 responsible for the deaths of so many gorillas. 147 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,040 At the moment, there's nothing much that we can do about Ebola. 148 00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:38,320 Nobody has been able to stop it yet, 149 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,240 but at least if we know it's happening, it's important. 150 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,480 The solution for a vaccine against Ebola is maybe to be found in the jungle. 151 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:51,120 The ecosystems are vital to advanced research. 152 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:56,240 The national parks are home to a multitude of species, plants and molecules 153 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,960 which could provide the medicines and vaccines of tomorrow. 154 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,680 Against the Ebola virus, which affects not only animals but also humans, 155 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:08,960 or malaria, which continues to kill 3,000 African children every day. 156 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:16,000 To get to know and protect the ecosystems in danger is an absolute priority today. 157 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:20,160 The developed countries must become aware of the extent of the danger 158 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:25,600 and invest in conservation or risk seeing incalculable wealth disappear forever. 159 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:28,000 We often forget that the eco...