Community Conservation

The Rowland Ward Foundation’s mission is to support sustainable, fair-chase hunting that benefits local, indigenous people and the conservation of wildlife and its habitat.

Hunters are not only passionate about the conservation of animals but also deeply committed to improving the world for both wildlife and people alike. As responsible stewards of the environment, our dedication to our sponsored programs remains unwavering, and we strive to select initiatives that can make a significant, positive impact on both humanitarian causes and wildlife conservation. By supporting antipoaching efforts and educating our recipients on sustainable environmental practices, we aim to safeguard the conservation of animals and their habitats while enriching local communities.

CONGO

Our program in the Congo is focused on the village

of Tala-Tala, which is on the Ngoko River in the Northern Congo rainforest.

In conjunction with Congo Forest Safaris, the Rowland Ward Foundation supplies school materials for the village’s primary school, gives an annual grant to the local health clinic, and supports four local antipoaching units. Congo Forest Safaris is a company dedicated to making a positive impact on the communities it serves, and the Rowland Ward Foundation is there to help.

As well as donating essential school materials to the village’s primary school, the Rowland Ward Foundation educates the children on wildlife and habitat conservation. By demonstrating the importance of conserving the wildlife in the area in which these children live, the Foundation hopes to instill in these children the understanding that protecting wildlife and its habitat is sound environmental practice as well as an economic benefit to the community as a whole.

In remote areas like Tala-Tala, access to health care has not always been available. The Rowland Ward Foundation financially supports the health clinic established by Congo Forest Safaris, thus ensuring available health care for the community.

To combat poaching and protect the invaluable wildlife in the pristine rainforest along the Ngoko River, the program provides support to four local antipoaching units by equipping them with motorcycles, clothing, and necessary equipment. This well-rounded program not only safeguards iconic game animals such as the bongo, sitatunga, and forest buffalo but it also ensures the protection of chimpanzees, gorillas, and elephants, which are revered and not targeted for hunting.

Congo Forest Safaris members’ dedication to these initiatives showcases a remarkable commitment to conservation, education, and community development. Through unwavering determination and tireless efforts, they have demonstrated their deep passion for safeguarding the environment, preserving wildlife habitats, and promoting sustainable practices. The Rowland Ward Foundation is proud to help.

(Pictured above) The incredible impact of just one of Congo Forest Safaris’ operations: a staggering 2,000 snares were collected! Through its relentless antipoaching efforts, Congo Forest Safaris serves as a beacon of hope in preserving the natural treasures of the region for generations to come.

CAMEROON

Our program in Cameroon is administered by Mayo Olidiri Safaris and is situated in northeastern Cameroon around Bouba Ndjida National Park.

(Pictured above) Spanish doctors volunteer their services in our hospital in Cameroon.

Cameroon is a country located in West-Central Africa and is home to a diverse array of wildlife. However, much of its wildlife and habitat face numerous threats, including poaching, habitat destruction, and human-wildlife conflict. To address these challenges, the Rowland Ward Foundation is working with Mayo Oldiri Safaris in northeastern Cameroon to help fund community outreach programs, a hospital, and antipoaching patrols.

As you can see in the picture above, every year a number of Spanish doctors volunteer their services during the dry season. They perform surgeries, offer gynecological services, and deal with emergencies.

It brings us immense pleasure to share with you the latest update on our community project in the North Region of Cameroon. Taking place over the past year, a new primary school in the village of Mbila was constructed. Prior to the construction, students were in a “hut-type” structure. The team put in countless hours of hard work, brick by brick, and we are delighted to announce that the new school is now ready to provide education to the young children of the community. We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment and are grateful to Mayo Oldiri Safaris for its unwavering commitment to this project.

Presentations conducted in local schools have proven to be a powerful tool to educate children about the diverse array of animals residing in their region. These engaging sessions, delivered in the native language, captivate the young minds and instill in them a sense of appreciation and responsibility toward wildlife conservation. The positive response to these initiatives has been overwhelming, with local school authorities organizing excursions for the children to the hunting camps. Through these excursions, the children gain firsthand experiences of the challenges faced by wildlife and their need for protection, leaving a lasting impression on their hearts and minds.

(Pictured above) Snares and traps are widely used by poachers. All of these traps were collected in just a couple of months.

The antipoaching team is continuing its tiring, grueling work. It takes a dedicated team to locate, recognize, and safely neutralize snares and other traps used by poachers, all the while working in an area that is home to dangerous game. The reality of their work can be deeply saddening as the antipoaching team comes across many gruesome carcasses, scenes that are hard to look at. Poachers will shoot anything that moves; these criminals show no respect nor do they differentiate on the animals targeted.

To combat the scourge of poaching, collaborative efforts have been initiated with the assistance of Paul Bour, the dedicated director of Bouba Ndjida National Park, and with the support of local village chiefs. Through well-organized outreach programs, these community-driven initiatives have been instrumental in raising awareness among the local population about the grave consequences of poaching. The outreach programs skillfully explain the damaging effects on the delicate balance of the ecosystem and seek the collaboration of the villagers in antipoaching efforts. As a result, the message of wildlife conservation has spread like wildfire, fostering a sense of ownership and guardianship over their natural heritage among the communities living in the vicinity of the national park. The combined efforts of education and collaboration have laid the foundation for a brighter, more sustainable future, where humans and wildlife can coexist harmoniously.

CANADA

Our program in British Columbia, Canada, is a multi-year indigenous

youth apprenticeship program.

Driftwood Valley Outfitters runs the Driftwood Outdoor Guide and Business Apprenticeship (DOGBA) and serves the indigenous Takla First Nation communities. Its goal is to train these at-risk youth in the guiding business. The traditional territory of this First Nation is north-central British Columbia. The mission of the program is twofold: to teach the students the practical and business skills of the guiding industry and to help them satisfy the requirements for the completion of a grade-12 education. The educational structure is supported by three pillars: indigenous knowledge, skills training, and their application to the outdoor guiding business.

In the past year, the program has provided training and skill building with certification opportunities for the apprentices. Since the program began, several courses have been offered, including Hunting Guide Certification; First Aid Level 1, 2, and 3; Transportation and Wilderness First Aid; Food Safety; Pleasure Craft Operator (Boater License); Trapper Education; Firearms Possession and Acquisition License (PAL); and Conservation and Outdoor Recreation (CORE) Program. In addition, the requirements for a grade-12 education are met through a variety of lessons: fixing equipment (Power Technology and Automotive Technology); magazine article writing (Composition and Creative Writing); flyfishing (Environmental Science and Art); log cabin building (Math and Woodworking); and more.

The courses offered, especially the Hunting Guide Certification and the CORE Program, are critical to the apprentices becoming successful guide/outfitters. Hunting Guide Certification is required for a guide/outfitter to be licensed to guide resident and nonresident hunters in exclusive and legally defined hunting areas. The CORE Program focuses on hunter safety and wilderness conservation, with topics that cover conservation, ethics, laws and regulations, survival, animal identification, and so on.

2024 Projects on the Horizon!

As we look ahead to the next year, the Rowland Ward Foundation is thrilled to present an exciting array of projects on the horizon. Your continued support will be instrumental in advancing ongoing initiatives and pioneering new community projects in Pakistan and Zimbabwe. The remarkable achievements thus far would not have been possible without your unwavering dedication and belief in our mission. Our investment in these initiatives reflects our genuine concern for the wellbeing of the planet and our collective determination to leave a lasting and positive legacy for future generations. Together, we can make a profound impact on wildlife conservation while we enhance humanitarian causes.

You have the ability to potentially impact the work being done with your donations to Rowland Ward. We would like to invite you to donate to the Rowland Ward Foundation. Your financial help provides continued support in the programs listed above.

The entire board of the RW Foundation, including the director, are volunteers and work without getting paid for their labors.

Rowland Ward is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax-deductive to the extent allowed by law.