What the Gola Project Tells Us About the Future of Primate Protection

The Gola Rainforest National Park in eastern Sierra Leone, one of West Africa’s last tracts of intact Upper Guinean forest, is a biodiversity stronghold—home to over 60 threatened species, including western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus badius). However, decades of logging, poaching, and agricultural expansion have devastated its buffer zones, once losing over 4% of tree cover annually (1991–2016).

In response, the Gola REDD+ carbon project was launched in 2013 to mitigate deforestation while supporting local livelihoods. One standout initiative is the promotion of shade-grown, forest-friendly cacao. Cultivated under native trees like iroko and Ivory Coast almond, these agroforestry systems offer a critical compromise: protecting primate habitat while boosting rural income. As of 2020, 2,587 farmers were cultivating over 2,000 hectares of cacao, producing 44 metric tons annually. Remarkably, these plantations harbor over 140 bird species and serve as corridors for forest mammals—blurring the line between human use and wildlife refuge.

The program’s impact is measurable. It has reduced deforestation rates in the buffer zone by 30% and avoided 340,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually. Perhaps more importantly for conservationists, it provides a “win–no loss” outcome: forest conservation without sacrificing livelihoods. Cacao now accounts for 69% of household incomes in participating communities.

The implications of this model stretch far beyond Sierra Leone. First, it challenges the long-held notion that conservation must come at the cost of economic development. By monetizing forest stewardship through carbon credits and linking agroforestry to global chocolate markets, Gola offers a pathway to sustainable livelihoods that don’t rely on habitat destruction.

Second, this project reframes the buffer zone—not as a zone of compromise, but of opportunity. These areas can act as functional habitat extensions, helping maintain connectivity for primates and other forest-dependent species. The agroforestry systems in Gola support more than 140 bird species and are used by chimpanzees and elephants, proving that even modified landscapes can sustain critical ecological functions.

Third, Gola highlights the fragility of success. Carbon markets are volatile, and economic instability (like during COVID-19) can push communities back toward unsustainable practices. Long-term success will depend on stable funding mechanisms, stronger market access for agroforestry products, and continued community empowerment.

Ultimately, the Gola project invites us to think bigger: What if conservation efforts everywhere prioritized both biological integrity and social equity? And how might this transform the future of primate conservation—not just in Africa, but globally? Integrating community development into conservation doesn’t just reduce conflict—it fosters long-term stewardship. When local people are stakeholders, not just bystanders, forests become a source of opportunity, not opposition. For primate conservation, this could mean stronger protection for fragmented habitats, expanded wildlife corridors through agroforestry, and reduced reliance on bushmeat or illegal logging. It also underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches—linking ecology, economics, and justice—to build conservation models that are resilient, inclusive, and scalable. As climate change and land pressures mount, these community-led frameworks could offer the most adaptive, ethical path forward.

References:

Raman, S. (2024, Apr 18). Sierra Leone cacao project boosts livelihoods and buffers biodiversity. Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2024/04/sierra-leone-cacao-project-boosts-livelihoods-and-buffers-biodiversity/