Law Enforcement in the Likouala Region
In October 2006, 32 illegal shotguns and other firearms were destroyed by local authorities in the Likouala department. The firearms had been seized in the Likouala region over the course of the year, and were burnt in a ceremony attended by representatives of the local military, the regional governor, district governors, security forces and members of the local press.
The public ceremony was an important demonstration of the progress that has been made by the regional Forestry office in their campaign against illegal firearms, and highlights the importance of the work carried out by the Forest office and the Lac Télé Project to raise awareness amongst local authorities of the need to respect wildlife laws.
The staff of the WCS-MEFE Lac Tele Project work in close collaboration with the regional Forestry office for the Likouala in Impfondo on a number of issues, including awareness-raising and enforcement of wildlife laws. The Lac Tele Project coordinates ecoguard patrols with the Regional Office and assists them in missions in and around the reserve. Over the past year the project has made a number of seizures of shotguns and other weapons used for hunting.