LVDI International and our partner, Organisation pour le Développement Durable et la Biodiversité or ODDB, are fulfilling one community’s dream! Over the past three months a 1,500-square-foot nature center is taking shape at Gnanhouizounmè, an eco-conscious village we serve in southern Benin. This village borders the Gnanhouizounmè Sacred Forest, one of the last few forest-savanna mosaic ecosystems in West Africa’s Dahomey Gap. Here, our conservation efforts have focused on saving the highly endangered red-bellied guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster erythrogaster), as well as the large swamp-dwelling antelope known as sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii).
The people of Gnanhouizounmè are active managers of their own forest. To cut back on the use of firewood the villagers built energy efficient stoves. To expand the forest the residents established nurseries and grow saplings for their reforestation effort. To increase knowledge and pride about their natural heritage, especially in their children, the entire community decided on building a nature center that can be used for education and other purposes.
This project would never have been started without the help from our generous donors and matching funds provided by the German Embassy in Benin. As one mission of the embassy is to assist with local environmental protection and the preservation of flora and fauna, the construction of the Gnanhouizounmè Nature Center is a perfect match.
Soon students in our Little Green Guards® program (see post Benin’s Little Green Guards Find Joy in Learning) will be able to enjoy the nature center and explore the Gnanhouizounmè Sacred Forest on guided trips. They will have opportunities to learn about their native wildlife species, as well as participate in on-the-ground conservation efforts. One highlight will be observing the monkeys and their human-like behaviors. This immersion experience will help nurture connections between the children and their native fauna. Beyond conservation education, ecological monitoring training programs also will be conducted at the center. Through shared experiences local residents, students, researchers and visitors will fulfill the important roles of this multipurpose building.
We all have heard of the famous African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” With their children’s welfare in mind, the villagers of Gnanhouizounmè are raising their children the right way. They are building a legacy for current and future generations to enjoy.
