Summary of the project:

The project of promotion of a sustainable conservation of hippopotamus in the mono basin in the south-east of Togo took place in human population strong density zone (more 300 habitants/ km²) with a significant land stakes. Agriculture, hunting, breeding and fishing constitute the principal activities of nearly 90 % of the population. Like for any wetland, a rich animal and vegetable diversity abounds in the project zone.  In their search of grounds, the peasants convert the habitats of fauna into fields. The occupation of hippopotamus habitats involves conflicts between man and hippopotamus. Damage on harvests, destruction of fishing net or other fishing machines, accidents and poaching are the main consequences of these conflicts.  The genetic risk among these hippopotamus populations of with the endogamy because of their insolation  is also real.  The protection measures instituted by the authorities  are not applied and degree of protection of the populations of  hippopotames is very weak.  The conjunction of all these factors to  knowing the loss of the habitat, the poaching, the risks genetic and  nonthe application of the laws threatens survival of the populations  of hippopotames in the basin of Mono. 

General objective

The project aims the sustainable conservation of the biodiversity especially the threatened hippopotamus population in Mono basin and the improvement of the life conditions of the local populations

Specific objectives

- To make a detailed study of the  biological and ecological parameters of the populations of  hippopotames of the Basin of Mono and to determine the dangers which threaten the hippopotamus. 
- To found a Community hippopotamus monitoring mechanism and contribute to the prevention and the  resolution of men-hippopotames conflicts,
- To reduce the level of poverty of the populations of the project zone  through promotion a better valorization of the  resources of the zone other than the hippopotames

Target group
The various target groups of the project are the fishermen, the stockbreeders, the hunters, the market-gardeners, the Country Organizations, the tradesmen, the women especially for the use of wood of heating, the Village Committees of Development, the Basic Community Organizations (CBO), the rural medias, the State techniques departments concerned, the Parliament, the Justice, the professionals of tourism and ONGs working in the conservation of the Natural resources. 

Planned activities

The principal activities of the project are:
- Hippopotamus biological and demographic characteristics identification,
-the identification and the documentation of sites of habitats of fauna, 
-the continuous sensitizing continues and the identification of the real threats on the hippopotamus populations of the Basin of Mono,
-the introduction of a Community hippopotamus monitoring mechanism
 -the formation of the local groupings on the generating activities of incomes (AGR) to weak impacts on the biodiversity
-to identify the needs of the local groupings and the support in the direction of a durable valorisation of the watery resources,   
- the promotion of the values and  of local know on the durable management of the watery animal  resources,
-the reinforcement of the capacities in management and the  installation of councils of villager of stock management shared,
-the reinforcement of the capacity of the techniques departments of the  State,
-the installation of the regulation of a Community biological  reserve controls by the regulation of the access and the compensation  for the beneficiaries
- the promotion of the ecotourism by arranging  water levels to tourist ends. 

The principal results

The principal results of this project are the  control of the biological characteristics of the hippopotamus populations of  the basin of Mono and a  better comprehension of the dynamics of the groups of hippopotamus.  The identification of the various areas of the rivers, lakes and pounds  where move the hippopotamus as well as the galleries of  forests, the ways of movement of the hippopotamus, the zones of their pasture as well as fauna and the flora associated  with different the zones are other results. The project aim also the identification of the major origin of  the conflicts between the hippopotamus and the men of the various threats which on the hippopotamus survival the and the  methods of management of the conflicts.  The project aims moreover the  appropriation of the processes of the conservation and the  management of the hippopotamus by local communities, the development  in a participative way of a mechanism of regular hunt  of the  hippopotamus in response to the fight against the poaching, the  reinforcement of the capacities of the of the  State techniques departments concerned. Developed at the point Community hippopotamus monitoring mechanism, the promotion of the generating activities of incomes (AGR) to weak impacts on the biodiversity, the promotion of ecotourism are also purchase.