Caméléon Center Conservation launches the Kinyonga Programme in Tanzania
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Caméléon Center Conservation (CCC) announces the official launch of the Kinyonga Programme (Tanzania Chameleon Research and Conservation), a new regional programme dedicated to the study and conservation of chameleons in Tanzania.
Developed in partnership with the Women in Conservation Organisation (WICO), this programme aims to strengthen scientific knowledge, support the conservation of the most endangered species and develop local expertise in one of the world’s main centres of chameleon diversity.
A priority region for conservation
With 47 recorded species, Tanzania is home to the greatest diversity of chameleons in Africa. The programme’s initial actions will be implemented in the Eastern Arc Mountains, a region recognised for its exceptional biodiversity and home to all of the country’s currently threatened chameleon species.
This area is now one of the main priorities for research and conservation for several species listed on the IUCN Red List.
A programme structured around four key areas
The Kinyonga Programme is based on an integrated approach centred on four complementary areas:
scientific research and population monitoring;
in situ conservation and the development of ex situ measures where these are of conservation value;
building local capacity through training and mentoring Tanzanian students and young professionals;
raising public awareness and promoting scientific knowledge.
The projects developed within this framework will help to improve our understanding of the biology, ecology and threats facing the species concerned, whilst providing data useful for their management and long-term conservation.
A partnership based on local expertise
The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Women in Conservation Organisation (WICO), a Tanzanian organisation committed to biodiversity conservation and building women’s skills in conservation-related professions.
This collaboration brings together international scientific expertise, local coordination and sustainable capacity-building, in line with the principles upheld by CCC across all its programmes.
A long-term vision
The Kinyonga Programme has been designed as a platform for scientific cooperation and conservation, intended to develop gradually on a national scale. Over the years, it will bring together several complementary projects addressing the priorities identified for the various regions of Tanzania.
Through this new initiative, Caméléon Center Conservation is continuing its commitment to science-based conservation, carried out in partnership with local stakeholders and focused on achieving measurable results for the preservation of chameleons and their habitats.
The first field missions will begin in the coming months with WICO teams and the programme’s scientific partners.
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