Date: October 17, 2002. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International's (DFGFI) Mountain Gorilla Centennial Celebration
Place: Conservation Symposium at the Conservation Action Resource Center (Conservation ARC) at Zoo Atlanta
Time: Symposium: 12 noon - 5:30pm; Conservation Dinner: 7:00pm
FACT SHEET: Contact: Erika Archibald: prnature@aol.com
Program and presenters:
Like other fields of science, wildlife conservation is a changing
field. Threats facing wild populations of apes and other species
several decades ago are not necessarily the same most urgent
ones today. Even where the threats have remained unchanged, more
effective means of addressing them may be available now. Both
theoretical and technological advances today provide conservation
tools not available in the past.
The overall aim of the symposium will be to summarize and possibly expand upon three symposia organized by DFGFI and held at the 2002 annual meetings of the American Society of Primatologists, the International Primatological Society and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
The symposium will be comprised of four primary sessions listed below. In addition, we will finish the day with a nationally recognized speaker and dinner.
Symposium sessions:
1. A History
of the Discovery and Protection of the Mountain Gorilla 1902-2002
Coordinator: To be determined
Participants will include: Andreas von Beringe, grandson of Robert
von Beringe the German explorer who discovered the mountain gorilla
in 1902. Christian Schmidt, Director of the Frankfurt Zoological
Society, which has a rich history of conservation in Africa.
2. Conservation Status of Gorillas:
Coordinator Patrick Mehlman, Director of Conservation Action
Program, DFGFI
An overview of gorilla conservation issues throughout Africa,
looking specifically at the different issues facing western and
eastern populations of gorillas. Will also include a discussion
of the status and role of protected areas in the current and
future conservation of gorilla populations.
3. Novel Approaches to Conservation
Coordinator Dieter Steklis, Vice President of Science, DFGFI
Potential topics include: conservation technology (i.e. GIS/Remote
Sensing, bio-banking) community based conservation, ecosystem
health, World Heritage Status for great apes, and eco-tourism.
Speakers will include Professor Nick Faust (Georgia Institute
of Technology) and Dr. Scott Madry (Univ. of North Carolina).
4. Increasing the Role of Zoos in Gorilla Conservation:
Coordinator Tara Stoinski, Director of Research & Education
Partnerships, DFGFI and Coordinator of Primate Research, Zoo
Atlanta.
Summarize current zoo conservation activities with western and
eastern gorillas. Discuss ways to increase the involvement of
zoos in in situ conservation as one of the novel approaches to
conservation.
The various
projects and participants have been the subject of a variety
of news and press reports:
Apple Computer Newsletter story
Arc/Info Newsletter story
University of Idaho researcher story
New York Times April 11, 2000 article
UNC-CH press release on National Geographic Society exhibition
UNC Gazette article
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