Ecoguards Training
The 6th training of Ecoguards was held at the PROGEPP Ecoguard Training Center in Kabo from 9 April to 16 May 2007. Forty-one Ecoguards from three different managed areas participated in the training: 25 from the Buffer Zone Project (PROGEPP), 9 from the Nouabalé Ndoki National Park (PNNN), and 7 from the Lac Télé Community Reserve (LTCR). The training was divided into two rotations approximately five weeks in length, with 21 Ecoguards participating in the first rotation and 20 in the second rotation.
The training reinforced the technical skills and practical knowledge of Ecoguards working in northern Congo, with an emphasis on increasing discipline and team spirit. While the PROGEPP direction planned and organized the training, three military officers from the Sangha and Likouala regions of Congo were responsible for the military aspect of the training, teaching the Ecoguards strategies for stopping poachers and self defense. In addition, each morning and afternoon, the Ecoguards were submitted to a rigorous regime of physical training and sport, and 1-2 hours of drilling.
In additional to the practical field skills necessary to enforce wildlife laws, the training also improved the knowledge of Ecoguards concerning conservation, Congolese wildlife laws, and management and logistics. Each day the Ecoguards participated in 3-4 hours of classes taught by local and national experts. Many of the courses (ecological monitoring, socio-economic monitoring, orienteering, GPS, logistics and administration) were taught by PROGEPP employees, while others were taught by experts from MEF, CIB, PNNN, and the State Attorney from Ouesso. For the first time, the Organisation Congolaise de la Droite d’Homme (OCDH) gave a seminar on human rights. In addition, the WCS Vet program gave a presentation on animal diseases, the transmission of diseases from animals to humans, and Ebola.