Project Update: November 2010

I have completed surveys of three Cross River gorilla sites to assess levels of illegal activities and wildlife abundance. I have also completed a socioeconomic survey of 12 communities neighbouring gorilla habitat at the project site, interviewing a total of 240 households and 60 key informants. A vegetation survey is underway. I am surveying the second of three sites. Progress on the vegetation survey has been slow. This is due to a late start of the vegetation survey caused by an initial difficulty in finding a botanist, delays caused by heavy rains, and rugged terrain which makes movement between plots (space 1.5 km apart) slow. Although the vegetation survey was planned to be completed this year, it has now become necessary to extend it to the first quarter of next year. In September my supervisor, Dr. Martha Robbins, visited my project sites to assess progress and offer advice.