[Music] I guess we all like to be told when
I guess we all like to be told when
I guess we all like to be told when we’re doing a good job whether it’s in
we’re doing a good job whether it’s in
we’re doing a good job whether it’s in our work whether it’s raising our
our work whether it’s raising our
our work whether it’s raising our families or just trying to get into
families or just trying to get into
families or just trying to get into shape when we put out and soul into
shape when we put out and soul into
shape when we put out and soul into something it’s really important to know
something it’s really important to know
something it’s really important to know that we’re getting somewhere
that we’re getting somewhere
that we’re getting somewhere conservation conservation organizations
conservation conservation organizations
conservation conservation organizations are no different they invest large
are no different they invest large
are no different they invest large amounts of time and resources into
amounts of time and resources into
amounts of time and resources into trying to save endangered species and
trying to save endangered species and
trying to save endangered species and threatened landscapes and they and the
threatened landscapes and they and the
threatened landscapes and they and the people that support them people like you
people that support them people like you
people that support them people like you and me want to know that they’re
and me want to know that they’re
and me want to know that they’re actually making a difference but how do
actually making a difference but how do
actually making a difference but how do you really know if you’re running a
you really know if you’re running a
you really know if you’re running a business may just be a question of how
business may just be a question of how
business may just be a question of how much profit you make by the end of the
much profit you make by the end of the
much profit you make by the end of the year or if you’re training to run a
year or if you’re training to run a
year or if you’re training to run a marathon how many miles you can run in
marathon how many miles you can run in
marathon how many miles you can run in certain period of time but in the world
certain period of time but in the world
certain period of time but in the world of conservation it’s not quite so
of conservation it’s not quite so
of conservation it’s not quite so straightforward one of the most popular
straightforward one of the most popular
straightforward one of the most popular tools that people use something called
tools that people use something called
tools that people use something called indicators that is you take your project
indicators that is you take your project
indicators that is you take your project goals and objectives and you measure
goals and objectives and you measure
goals and objectives and you measure those things that indicate how close you
those things that indicate how close you
those things that indicate how close you are to achieving those goals so let’s
are to achieving those goals so let’s
are to achieving those goals so let’s take one of my favorite examples
take one of my favorite examples
take one of my favorite examples elephants let’s say your project
elephants let’s say your project
elephants let’s say your project objective is to ensure that you have a
objective is to ensure that you have a
objective is to ensure that you have a viable population of elephants so in
viable population of elephants so in
viable population of elephants so in year one you have twenty Elly’s in year
year one you have twenty Elly’s in year
year one you have twenty Elly’s in year five you have thirty so that’s a 50%
five you have thirty so that’s a 50%
five you have thirty so that’s a 50% increase sounds like you’re on the right
increase sounds like you’re on the right
increase sounds like you’re on the right track
track
track pretty simple right actually it’s not
pretty simple right actually it’s not
pretty simple right actually it’s not quite that easy first start although you
quite that easy first start although you
quite that easy first start although you wouldn’t think so given their size
wouldn’t think so given their size
wouldn’t think so given their size elephants are actually quite difficult
elephants are actually quite difficult
elephants are actually quite difficult to count the little beggars are really
to count the little beggars are really
to count the little beggars are really good at hiding buying trees
but more importantly what I’ve learned
but more importantly what I’ve learned from working in conservation is it’s not
from working in conservation is it’s not
from working in conservation is it’s not about elephants anyway
about elephants anyway
about elephants anyway at its most basic conservation is about
at its most basic conservation is about
at its most basic conservation is about people after all if you just leave
people after all if you just leave
people after all if you just leave nature to its own devices it just gets
nature to its own devices it just gets
nature to its own devices it just gets on with it just does its own thing it’s
on with it just does its own thing it’s
on with it just does its own thing it’s when you throw people into the mix that
when you throw people into the mix that
when you throw people into the mix that the problems begin how they interact
the problems begin how they interact
the problems begin how they interact with the environment the choices they
with the environment the choices they
with the environment the choices they make and people are a lot harder to
make and people are a lot harder to
make and people are a lot harder to quantify unlike elephants it’s not so
quantify unlike elephants it’s not so
quantify unlike elephants it’s not so much about numbers as it is about
much about numbers as it is about
much about numbers as it is about attitudes and beliefs because ultimately
attitudes and beliefs because ultimately
attitudes and beliefs because ultimately that’s what drives people’s behavior
that’s what drives people’s behavior
that’s what drives people’s behavior conservation is struggle with these
conservation is struggle with these
conservation is struggle with these kinds of indicators it’s one thing to
kinds of indicators it’s one thing to
kinds of indicators it’s one thing to measure a change in the population of
measure a change in the population of
measure a change in the population of elephants it’s another thing to measure
elephants it’s another thing to measure
elephants it’s another thing to measure a change in attitudes or levels of
a change in attitudes or levels of
a change in attitudes or levels of awareness take another example let’s say
awareness take another example let’s say
awareness take another example let’s say your data it shows that in the previous
your data it shows that in the previous
your data it shows that in the previous year there was actually a decrease in
year there was actually a decrease in
year there was actually a decrease in poaching now the big question is is that
poaching now the big question is is that
poaching now the big question is is that because of the efforts you’ve made to
because of the efforts you’ve made to
because of the efforts you’ve made to educate people that they’re now more
educate people that they’re now more
educate people that they’re now more aware of the environment is it because
aware of the environment is it because
aware of the environment is it because your anti-poaching patrols are becoming
your anti-poaching patrols are becoming
your anti-poaching patrols are becoming more effective or is it simply because
more effective or is it simply because
more effective or is it simply because there are a lot less animals left to be
there are a lot less animals left to be
there are a lot less animals left to be poached it’s really important that we’re
poached it’s really important that we’re
poached it’s really important that we’re able to answer these questions because
able to answer these questions because
able to answer these questions because only then can we know where to focus the
only then can we know where to focus the
only then can we know where to focus the limited resources that we have at our
limited resources that we have at our
limited resources that we have at our disposal so maybe we need to think of
disposal so maybe we need to think of
disposal so maybe we need to think of some other kinds of indicators perhaps
some other kinds of indicators perhaps
some other kinds of indicators perhaps less traditional ones that will give us
less traditional ones that will give us
less traditional ones that will give us a more accurate picture of what is
a more accurate picture of what is
a more accurate picture of what is really going on in 2011 I was asked to
really going on in 2011 I was asked to
really going on in 2011 I was asked to help set up a new project in the
help set up a new project in the
help set up a new project in the Democratic Republic of the
Democratic Republic of the
Democratic Republic of the go the objective of this project was to
go the objective of this project was to
go the objective of this project was to begin supporting the restoration of what
begin supporting the restoration of what
begin supporting the restoration of what is in essence a Forgotten Park in the
is in essence a Forgotten Park in the
is in essence a Forgotten Park in the southeastern corner of this vast and
southeastern corner of this vast and
southeastern corner of this vast and deeply troubled country very few people
deeply troubled country very few people
deeply troubled country very few people here have probably heard of a member
here have probably heard of a member
here have probably heard of a member National Park but remember it turns out
National Park but remember it turns out
National Park but remember it turns out it’s one of the oldest parks in Africa
it’s one of the oldest parks in Africa
it’s one of the oldest parks in Africa in fact it’s one of the oldest in the
in fact it’s one of the oldest in the
in fact it’s one of the oldest in the world
world
world and at the time of its founding it was
and at the time of its founding it was
and at the time of its founding it was considered to be one of the most
considered to be one of the most
considered to be one of the most biodiverse places on the continent yet
biodiverse places on the continent yet
biodiverse places on the continent yet what we found when we arrived there was
what we found when we arrived there was
what we found when we arrived there was truly shocking a ten thousand square
truly shocking a ten thousand square
truly shocking a ten thousand square mile landscape almost totally devoid of
mile landscape almost totally devoid of
mile landscape almost totally devoid of animals
animals
animals the chief ranger station the park
the chief ranger station the park
the chief ranger station the park headquarters in Luce inga had in its
headquarters in Luce inga had in its
headquarters in Luce inga had in its time being a prime tourist destination
time being a prime tourist destination
time being a prime tourist destination now it was almost completely completely
now it was almost completely completely
now it was almost completely completely in ruins yet the the Rangers lived there
in ruins yet the the Rangers lived there
in ruins yet the the Rangers lived there with their families in what can only be
with their families in what can only be
with their families in what can only be described as abject poverty the Ranger
described as abject poverty the Ranger
described as abject poverty the Ranger force was a total mess their vehicles
force was a total mess their vehicles
force was a total mess their vehicles were scrap metal their patrol equipment
were scrap metal their patrol equipment
were scrap metal their patrol equipment was completely worn out or a long been
was completely worn out or a long been
was completely worn out or a long been stolen and very few the Rangers were
stolen and very few the Rangers were
stolen and very few the Rangers were ever paid and the few that were had a
ever paid and the few that were had a
ever paid and the few that were had a large chunk of their salaries skimmed
large chunk of their salaries skimmed
large chunk of their salaries skimmed off by corrupt officials long before it
off by corrupt officials long before it
off by corrupt officials long before it ever reached them the camp itself was a
ever reached them the camp itself was a
ever reached them the camp itself was a complete disaster there were no health
complete disaster there were no health
complete disaster there were no health care facilities there were no markets no
care facilities there were no markets no
care facilities there were no markets no shops nearby the women had to walk over
shops nearby the women had to walk over
shops nearby the women had to walk over ten miles just by basics like cooking
ten miles just by basics like cooking
ten miles just by basics like cooking oil and what went for a school was just
oil and what went for a school was just
oil and what went for a school was just a derelict building with a few branches
a derelict building with a few branches
a derelict building with a few branches on the floor four desks the one thing
on the floor four desks the one thing
on the floor four desks the one thing they did have though
they did have though
they did have though was children lots and lots and lots of
was children lots and lots and lots of
was children lots and lots and lots of children so the first thing you ask
children so the first thing you ask
children so the first thing you ask yourself when you confronted with this
yourself when you confronted with this
yourself when you confronted with this kind of situation is where the hell do
kind of situation is where the hell do
kind of situation is where the hell do you start after all it was no good
you start after all it was no good
you start after all it was no good reintroducing animals as had been
reintroducing animals as had been
reintroducing animals as had been originally planned or giving these guys
originally planned or giving these guys
originally planned or giving these guys brand new guns after all there was a
brand new guns after all there was a
brand new guns after all there was a very good reason why there was so few
very good reason why there was so few
very good reason why there was so few animals left in the park
animals left in the park
animals left in the park and when you’re not paid and your kids
and when you’re not paid and your kids
and when you’re not paid and your kids are hungry who can blame them but what
are hungry who can blame them but what
are hungry who can blame them but what we did know was unless we did something
we did know was unless we did something
we did know was unless we did something to help the people who were running the
to help the people who were running the
to help the people who were running the park there was no way we would be able
park there was no way we would be able
park there was no way we would be able to confront the threats coming from with
to confront the threats coming from with
to confront the threats coming from with outside now the only trouble was the so
outside now the only trouble was the so
outside now the only trouble was the so called project plan didn’t really take
called project plan didn’t really take
called project plan didn’t really take into account this kind of situation it’s
into account this kind of situation it’s
into account this kind of situation it’s often much easier to focus on things
often much easier to focus on things
often much easier to focus on things like charismatic wildlife and anti
like charismatic wildlife and anti
like charismatic wildlife and anti poaching strategy than it is complex
poaching strategy than it is complex
poaching strategy than it is complex humanitarian issues and in all fairness
humanitarian issues and in all fairness
humanitarian issues and in all fairness a lot of organizations are now beginning
a lot of organizations are now beginning
a lot of organizations are now beginning to realize that unless you work closely
to realize that unless you work closely
to realize that unless you work closely with the local communities your
with the local communities your
with the local communities your conservation project has very little
conservation project has very little
conservation project has very little chance of success but still all too
chance of success but still all too
chance of success but still all too often these plans that are drawn up in
often these plans that are drawn up in
often these plans that are drawn up in office is thousands of miles away in
office is thousands of miles away in
office is thousands of miles away in Europe or in North America more about
Europe or in North America more about
Europe or in North America more about impressing donors or taking
impressing donors or taking
impressing donors or taking administrative boxes than they are about
administrative boxes than they are about
administrative boxes than they are about dealing with these complex issues and
dealing with these complex issues and
dealing with these complex issues and the truth is it’s not until you’re
the truth is it’s not until you’re
the truth is it’s not until you’re actually on the ground dealing with
actually on the ground dealing with
actually on the ground dealing with those issues on a day to day basis can
those issues on a day to day basis can
those issues on a day to day basis can you really understand where you need to
you really understand where you need to
you really understand where you need to focus your efforts so we decided
focus your efforts so we decided
focus your efforts so we decided that we would take the project plan and
that we would take the project plan and
that we would take the project plan and put it to one side and focus on what we
put it to one side and focus on what we
put it to one side and focus on what we could do to support the ranges and their
could do to support the ranges and their
could do to support the ranges and their families so we opened up a tiny clinic
families so we opened up a tiny clinic
families so we opened up a tiny clinic where people get basic treatment and
where people get basic treatment and
where people get basic treatment and some medicines and then we open up a
some medicines and then we open up a
some medicines and then we open up a food store we hired one the ranges wives
food store we hired one the ranges wives
food store we hired one the ranges wives to manage it the first time any woman
to manage it the first time any woman
to manage it the first time any woman from the camp had ever had an employment
from the camp had ever had an employment
from the camp had ever had an employment contract and we did what we could to
contract and we did what we could to
contract and we did what we could to support the school by buying some basic
support the school by buying some basic
support the school by buying some basic equipment and paying a few teacher
equipment and paying a few teacher
equipment and paying a few teacher salaries but most importantly we gave
salaries but most importantly we gave
salaries but most importantly we gave the ranges some opportunities to earn
the ranges some opportunities to earn
the ranges some opportunities to earn money so they could feed their own
money so they could feed their own
money so they could feed their own families without some crook skimming off
families without some crook skimming off
families without some crook skimming off the top of it before it even reached
the top of it before it even reached
the top of it before it even reached them very simple things as it turned out
them very simple things as it turned out
them very simple things as it turned out and it took a while but eventually
and it took a while but eventually
and it took a while but eventually things began to improve for the Rangers
things began to improve for the Rangers
things began to improve for the Rangers and their families people seemed
and their families people seemed
and their families people seemed healthier they will seem better fed it
healthier they will seem better fed it
healthier they will seem better fed it was a real sense of hope in the camp now
was a real sense of hope in the camp now
was a real sense of hope in the camp now the only trouble was now we had another
the only trouble was now we had another
the only trouble was now we had another problem and the problem was how were we
problem and the problem was how were we
problem and the problem was how were we going to report back to our headquarters
going to report back to our headquarters
going to report back to our headquarters to the people who paid our salaries
to the people who paid our salaries
to the people who paid our salaries about the improvements that be made
about the improvements that be made
about the improvements that be made after all none of this had been in the
after all none of this had been in the
after all none of this had been in the original project plan and there was
original project plan and there was
original project plan and there was nothing we could tell them about
nothing we could tell them about
nothing we could tell them about elephants we would need to think of some
elephants we would need to think of some
elephants we would need to think of some other way to demonstrate the positive
other way to demonstrate the positive
other way to demonstrate the positive changes that had happened now one of the
changes that had happened now one of the
changes that had happened now one of the things that impressed me the most when I
things that impressed me the most when I
things that impressed me the most when I first arrived in the park was the amount
first arrived in the park was the amount
first arrived in the park was the amount of graffiti it was everywhere now as any
of graffiti it was everywhere now as any
of graffiti it was everywhere now as any parent knows one of our children’s first
parent knows one of our children’s first
parent knows one of our children’s first creative acts is to grab hold of
creative acts is to grab hold of
creative acts is to grab hold of something and start scribbling all over
something and start scribbling all over
something and start scribbling all over the wall
the wall
the wall the children of loosing er were no
the children of loosing er were no
the children of loosing er were no exception every surface of every
exception every surface of every
exception every surface of every crumbling old building had been scrawled
crumbling old building had been scrawled
crumbling old building had been scrawled on by countless tiny hands clutching
on by countless tiny hands clutching
on by countless tiny hands clutching their pieces of charcoal the only
their pieces of charcoal the only
their pieces of charcoal the only trouble was there was something deeply
trouble was there was something deeply
trouble was there was something deeply disturbing about these images these were
disturbing about these images these were
disturbing about these images these were not the innocent drawings of happy
not the innocent drawings of happy
not the innocent drawings of happy carefree children these drawings spoke
carefree children these drawings spoke
carefree children these drawings spoke of fear and violence and suffering
of fear and violence and suffering
of fear and violence and suffering images like this
but then when you saw what these
but then when you saw what these children faced every day of their lives
children faced every day of their lives
children faced every day of their lives these images made total sense not only
these images made total sense not only
these images made total sense not only were they living under the impact of
were they living under the impact of
were they living under the impact of malnutrition and disease but they were
malnutrition and disease but they were
malnutrition and disease but they were under constant threat of attack from
under constant threat of attack from
under constant threat of attack from marauding bands of insurgents who were
marauding bands of insurgents who were
marauding bands of insurgents who were fighting for control of the resources in
fighting for control of the resources in
fighting for control of the resources in and around the park we hear a lot about
and around the park we hear a lot about
and around the park we hear a lot about the violence in the north and the east
the violence in the north and the east
the violence in the north and the east of the Congo but actually that area
of the Congo but actually that area
of the Congo but actually that area around new Pemba has for many decades
around new Pemba has for many decades
around new Pemba has for many decades been deep profoundly unsettled in fact
been deep profoundly unsettled in fact
been deep profoundly unsettled in fact it was something we found out ourselves
it was something we found out ourselves
it was something we found out ourselves firsthand after being attacked on two
firsthand after being attacked on two
firsthand after being attacked on two separate occasions by heavily armed
separate occasions by heavily armed
separate occasions by heavily armed rebels during the time we were there but
rebels during the time we were there but
rebels during the time we were there but then something changed after we’d been
then something changed after we’d been
then something changed after we’d been working in the park for a few months
working in the park for a few months
working in the park for a few months doing what we could do to improve
doing what we could do to improve
doing what we could do to improve people’s lives something amazing
people’s lives something amazing
people’s lives something amazing happened it wasn’t obvious at first but
happened it wasn’t obvious at first but
happened it wasn’t obvious at first but then we notice it the graffiti was
then we notice it the graffiti was
then we notice it the graffiti was beginning to change so instead of the
beginning to change so instead of the
beginning to change so instead of the scary heads and the knives and the guns
scary heads and the knives and the guns
scary heads and the knives and the guns we started to see this and this
and this the kids were starting to draw
and this the kids were starting to draw the kinds of drawings you expect
the kinds of drawings you expect
the kinds of drawings you expect children to be drawing and then my wife
children to be drawing and then my wife
children to be drawing and then my wife gave them some paper and color crayons
gave them some paper and color crayons
gave them some paper and color crayons boy there was no holding these guys back
so then it struck us of course these are
so then it struck us of course these are the indicators this is how we could show
the indicators this is how we could show
the indicators this is how we could show the positive progress that have been
the positive progress that have been
the positive progress that have been made why don’t we put these in our
made why don’t we put these in our
made why don’t we put these in our reports well as you probably know
reports well as you probably know
reports well as you probably know organizations have their own traditional
organizations have their own traditional
organizations have their own traditional way of doing things so you can imagine
way of doing things so you can imagine
way of doing things so you can imagine the initial response you say the kids
the initial response you say the kids
the initial response you say the kids are doing what they are drawing flowers
are doing what they are drawing flowers
are doing what they are drawing flowers and animals on the walls some kind of a
and animals on the walls some kind of a
and animals on the walls some kind of a joke right what about the bloody
joke right what about the bloody
joke right what about the bloody elephants but then even the most
elephants but then even the most
elephants but then even the most skeptical people came around and the
skeptical people came around and the
skeptical people came around and the reason they came around was because
reason they came around was because
reason they came around was because something else amazing began to happen
something else amazing began to happen
something else amazing began to happen for the first time in years
for the first time in years
for the first time in years large animals were beginning to appear
large animals were beginning to appear
large animals were beginning to appear on the open savanna in the area around
on the open savanna in the area around
on the open savanna in the area around the park headquarters in broad daylight
the park headquarters in broad daylight
the park headquarters in broad daylight of course if the poachers if the
of course if the poachers if the
of course if the poachers if the surrogate of three if the range is no
surrogate of three if the range is no
surrogate of three if the range is no longer needed to poach them to feed
longer needed to poach them to feed
longer needed to poach them to feed their families the animals were going to
their families the animals were going to
their families the animals were going to come back so sometimes we need to think
come back so sometimes we need to think
come back so sometimes we need to think about how we evaluate and measure things
about how we evaluate and measure things
about how we evaluate and measure things we may think we’re actually moving
we may think we’re actually moving
we may think we’re actually moving forward when in fact we’re standing
forward when in fact we’re standing
forward when in fact we’re standing still and at other times we may think
still and at other times we may think
still and at other times we may think we’re going nowhere but we’re actually
we’re going nowhere but we’re actually
we’re going nowhere but we’re actually moving forward we need to look beyond
moving forward we need to look beyond
moving forward we need to look beyond the numbers
the numbers
the numbers and the statistics of course they tell
and the statistics of course they tell
and the statistics of course they tell their own very important story we still
their own very important story we still
their own very important story we still need to be counting elephants but we
need to be counting elephants but we
need to be counting elephants but we need to make sure that we don’t miss
need to make sure that we don’t miss
need to make sure that we don’t miss those other stories those other really
those other stories those other really
those other stories those other really important stories that are being drawn
important stories that are being drawn
important stories that are being drawn upon the walls now I know we hear a lot
upon the walls now I know we hear a lot
upon the walls now I know we hear a lot of negative news coming in out of Africa
of negative news coming in out of Africa
of negative news coming in out of Africa these days about loss of wildlife and
these days about loss of wildlife and
these days about loss of wildlife and their habitats and it’s true we are now
their habitats and it’s true we are now
their habitats and it’s true we are now at a major crossroads depending on how
at a major crossroads depending on how
at a major crossroads depending on how we act over the next few years we may
we act over the next few years we may
we act over the next few years we may well be one of the last generations to
well be one of the last generations to
well be one of the last generations to oversee these magnificent creatures in
oversee these magnificent creatures in
oversee these magnificent creatures in the wild again that’s a pretty
the wild again that’s a pretty
the wild again that’s a pretty depressing thought but there is hope and
depressing thought but there is hope and
depressing thought but there is hope and the hope is that the generation of young
the hope is that the generation of young
the hope is that the generation of young Africans who are now growing up will not
Africans who are now growing up will not
Africans who are now growing up will not fall victim to the self-interest and
fall victim to the self-interest and
fall victim to the self-interest and misguided policies of their forefathers
misguided policies of their forefathers
misguided policies of their forefathers but that is why it is so important that
but that is why it is so important that
but that is why it is so important that we now just like the children of Lu
we now just like the children of Lu
we now just like the children of Lu Singha expose them to new ideas to give
Singha expose them to new ideas to give
Singha expose them to new ideas to give them hope and to help them discover and
them hope and to help them discover and
them hope and to help them discover and explore the amazing natural world that
explore the amazing natural world that
explore the amazing natural world that they live in and to watch what they’re
they live in and to watch what they’re
they live in and to watch what they’re drawing on the walls so the next time
drawing on the walls so the next time
drawing on the walls so the next time you walk in and you find that your
you walk in and you find that your
you walk in and you find that your children or your grandchildren have
children or your grandchildren have
children or your grandchildren have scribbled all over the newly painted
scribbled all over the newly painted
scribbled all over the newly painted dining room wall before you get mad just
dining room wall before you get mad just
dining room wall before you get mad just remember this may merely be their way of
remember this may merely be their way of
remember this may merely be their way of trying to communicate to you something
trying to communicate to you something
trying to communicate to you something about the kind of world they would like
about the kind of world they would like
about the kind of world they would like to grow up in thank you
to grow up in thank you
to grow up in thank you you
you
you [Music]
”
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