Protecting Chimpanzees

As the rains return to Guinea and the great Niger River begins to swell once more, life across the Upper Niger region is slowly transforming. Thanks to your generous support, this change in season brings not only welcome relief from the dry months but renewed hope for chimpanzees, communities, and the forest they share.

Your support is helping build a better future for people living alongside wildlife. In Komoya, where women lead a community market garden, water shortages during the dry season have made it increasingly difficult to grow crops. Now, thanks to your generosity, a well is under construction to give the group sustainable access to water year-round. This single intervention strengthens food security, reduces pressure on the forest, and helps local families thrive - all while supporting conservation goals.

And in neighbouring villages, our partners’ beekeeping project is already creating a buzz. With your help, families have harvested 112 litres of honey so far this year - over 40 litres more than last year already! These bees do more than make honey. They pollinate crops, help keep forests intact, and offer a sustainable income for communities committed to protecting the park’s fragile ecosystem. It’s a shining example of how conservation can truly work hand in hand with livelihoods.

None of this would be possible without you. Your support is helping build practical, lasting solutions, not just for chimpanzees, but for the forests and communities that will protect them long into the future. Thank you for standing with us and for being part of this shared journey of hope, harmony, and healing.

As spring breathes new life into the forests of West Africa, we are pleased to share encouraging updates from our conservation work in Guinea’s High Niger National Park (HNNP), made possible through your ongoing support.

This year, DSWF will continue to support our partner’s environmental education programme. Last year, 1,000 children from grades four and five across 15 schools in the Faranah and northern regions participated in classroom sessions focused on biodiversity, forests, and local wildlife. Given the strong demand and the aim to expand into new communities, we expect similar or slightly increased numbers in the coming year. In addition, 200 of these children will take part in a forest excursion which serves as a more immersive experience designed to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the natural world.

Our partners are also continuing to grow nature clubs for children outside of the school system, providing an accessible version of their established education programme. To support this expansion, a second educator has been hired in the northern region, and all educators will receive enhanced training to ensure sessions are engaging, interactive and impactful. This includes participatory teaching techniques, behavioural change communication, and modern learning tools.

Educational activities are being extended to adults, with five environmental awareness workshops planned this year, covering topics such as chimpanzee protection, sustainable agriculture, overfishing, and the importance of forest ecosystems.

Beekeeping continues to be a core livelihood initiative, with 15 beekeepers set to receive training in financial management and record-keeping, alongside the provision of protective clothing and honey collection tools to improve safety and production.

Thank you for making this work possible. Your continued support is helping to protect Guinea’s forests, empower communities, and safeguard the future of endangered chimpanzees.