African Manatee Conservation Project

Aiming for a Future of Coexistence |  African Manatee Conservation Project

 How to donate to this project @ READYFOR

<About Us>

The Japan Manatee Education and Study Lab (JAMES) is an academic institution established by the only manatee researcher in Japan with the support of her colleagues.

 

Manatees are large aquatic mammals whose ecology is filled with mystery. Because they live in shallow waters and are close to humans, they are impacted by poaching and environmental pollution and are on the verge of extinction.

 

 

Through this crowdfunding campaign, we collaborate with a Cameroon-based NGO (AMMCO) to address the threat of Salvinia molesta, an invasive plant which thrives in the manatee habitat, and to develop and implement educational initiatives. 

 

<What We Can Accomplish With Your Help>

The support we receive from you will be put toward two main goals. 

 

1: Funding for conservation efforts of African Manatees by the African Marine Mammal Conservation Organization (AMMCO) in Cameroon. 

2: Funding for the development of “environmental education” materials, with a focus on manatees, aiming for coexistence with animals.

 

 

1  Restoring the Habitat of African Manatees

 

The challenge we are addressing in collaboration with the AMMCO is the eradication of the invasive plant called Salvinia molesta. 

 

Over the past few years, the rampant growth of Salvinia molesta in the Lake Ossa vicinity has led to the withering of manatee food sources through competition with the manatee’s main source of food and disruption of local fishing activities. Recent investigations have also revealed that manatees are avoiding areas where Salvinia molesta thrives. 

 

Photo: Salvinia molesta flourishing in Lake Ossa

 

While manual removal efforts are currently underway, this remains insufficient to achieve complete eradication. The situation requires eradication measures that will provide a fundamental solution.
In addition, to support the livelihoods of the fishermen who are unable to fish, we are also promoting the production of eco-charcoal for sale in the town by carbonizing the removed Salvinia. 

 

 

Photo: Removing Salvinia molesta and producing eco-charcoal (©️AMMCO)

 

We are investigating the habitat utilization patterns of the wild manatees that have disappeared from Lake Ossa, and we aim to implement conservation measures in the areas they inhabit. 

At the same time, we are implementing removal measures against Salvinia molesta to restore the Lake Ossa area as a habitat for manatees.

Your support through this crowdfunding campaign will be utilized for the restoration of manatee habitats around Lake Ossa, wild manatee research, and sustaining environmental education initiatives. 

 

 

2 Development of “Educational Materials” for Coexistence With Wildlife

 

Our planet’s biological diversity continues to decline as species face rapid extinction. 
The issue of biodiversity loss is a global environmental concern following climate change. 

 

“We aim to provide an opportunity for people to discover the wonder and intrigue of living organisms, and to provoke thoughts about how biodiversity enriches our lives.”

 

With this notion and a focus on the fascinating manatee, we harness the knowledge and experience we have gained, aiming to provide environmental education that inspires people to know, think, talk, and take action. 

 

The support we receive through this crowdfunding campaign will be used for the development expenses of such environmental education materials. This educational material will be developed based on the requests of the AMMCO with a focus on the endangered manatee, aiming for utilization both within Japan and abroad. 

 

<Why Crowdfunding?>

By utilizing crowdfunding to gather support, in addition to raising funds, we hope to create an opportunity for many individuals to learn about manatees.

In particular, the African manatee remains relatively unknown on a global scale, and very little research has been conducted. Through this project, we hope to pique your interest in manatees, and provide an opportunity for you to think about the importance of all living creatures and biodiversity. 

 

<In Conclusion>

Manatees are large animals that inhabit a wide range. Animals like manatees serve as indicators for promoting ecosystem conservation, including the entire wildlife of their region. In other words, promoting conservation measures for manatees is thought to lead to conservation of the entire region. 

 

Nevertheless, both the Japan Manatee Education and Study Lab and AMMCO cherish manatees, regardless of the reasoning that “they are endangered” and “serve as conservation indicators.” 

We hope that manatees will continue to exist in the future and that we can preserve the species for generations to come. 

 

 

We sincerely look forward to your participation in this project.

 

 How to donate to this project @ READYFOR

 

＜TEAM  Who we are＞

 

Arisa Torisu

Representative Director/Company Employee

 

Mumi Kikuchi
Director/Ph.D. (Agriculture)/Researcher at Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University

 

Kotaro Ichikawa
Director/Ph.D. (Information Science)/Associate Professor at Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University

 

 

Tomita Akihiro
Director/Elementary School Teacher

 

Shota Tanaka

<Contributors>

Aristide Takoukam
Representative Director in AMMCO

 

 

 

*Shipping of rewards is limited to within Japan. Thank you for your understanding.