How Community-Led Conservation Is Helping Chimpanzees Thrive in West and Central Africa

The rainforests of West and Central Africa are alive with sound and life. Beneath a thick canopy where sunlight filters through towering trees, ferns and vines tangle across barely visible trails. These forest paths—shaped by people and wildlife—wind through one of the world’s richest ecosystems, home to the iconic central chimpanzee.

As one ventures deeper into the forest, the sounds shift—from birdcalls to the pant-hoots and soft grunts of chimpanzees communicating through the undergrowth. Here, under the forest canopy, these great apes are at home. But for how long?

Why Chimpanzees Matter for Forests and People

Chimpanzees are more than charismatic wildlife. They are essential to forest health and biodiversity. As seed dispersers, they help maintain forest structure, support regeneration, and control insect populations. Their presence signals a healthy ecosystem—a critical indicator of environmental well-being.

Yet, these great apes have been classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 1996. With populations ranging between 150,000 and 250,000, chimpanzees face growing threats from habitat destruction, poaching, disease, and climate change.

Four subspecies of chimpanzees span the African forest belt, from Senegal to western Tanzania. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) focuses on protecting chimpanzees in key countries such as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Uganda—where urgent, localized action is needed.

“The protection of chimpanzees across West and Central Africa must be seen within the broader context of securing Africa’s biodiversity and ecological systems,” explains Dr. Philip Muruthi, AWF’s Vice President for Species Conservation and Science. “These species are not only integral to the health of forest ecosystems but also serve as indicators of the overall stability of natural habitats that support millions of people.”

A Regional Strategy for Chimpanzee Conservation

Chimpanzee baby on a tree 

Chimpanzee habitats stretch across multiple borders, making regional collaboration crucial for their protection. In landscapes like Bili-Uere in the DRC and Dja Faunal Reserve and Campo Ma’an National Park in Cameroon, AWF is working closely with governments, communities, and international partners—including the European Union and UNESCO—to implement various programs to stabilize these chimpanzees populations .

In these landscapes, AWF supports eco-guards who carry out extended patrols to monitor chimpanzee populations, detect poaching activities, and collect vital ecological data. This integrated approach combines biodiversity protection with human development and governance support.

“This key initiative by AWF brings a holistic conservation approach,” says Lesly Akenji, AWF’s Senior Landscape Manager. “Through conservation education and outreach, we’re actively discouraging the hunting and sale of chimpanzee meat, while building a culture of coexistence.”

Communities, Technology, and Conservation Education

Long-term chimpanzee conservation depends heavily on local communities. AWF has prioritized training community members as scouts and eco-guards, equipping them with GPS devices and camera traps to support real-time wildlife monitoring.

Across forest landscapes, scouts use a mobile application called SMART to log and report threats such as snares or illegal logging. This system sends alerts to rangers, allowing them to respond faster and more effectively. In areas like Dja and Faro in Cameroon, collaboration between eco-guards and farming communities has significantly improved outcomes for chimpanzees.

Through trust-building and education, farmers now alert rangers to signs of poaching. Together, they remove traps and patrol known wildlife corridors. Community members—once seen as external to conservation efforts—are now central to its success.

In schools, AWF has helped establish environmental clubs where children learn about the role of chimpanzees in forest ecosystems. They participate in nest counts and draw maps of wildlife trails. At the same time, their parents engage in AWF-supported alternative livelihoods like beekeeping—reducing pressure on natural resources. 

Chimpanzee family in West Africa 

A Model for Wildlife Conservation in Africa

AWF’s model demonstrates that effective wildlife protection in Africa must be community-led, data-informed, and grounded in local realities. Through partnerships, technology, and grassroots education, chimpanzees are making a slow but hopeful recovery.

Protecting endangered species like the chimpanzee is not just about saving wildlife—it’s about protecting ecosystems that millions of people depend on. As these forest landscapes begin to thrive again, so do the communities that call them home.