GAFI Future
Although sustainable solutions take time, if we do not act now we will lose precious biodiversity and critically endangered species will slip away within the next 10-15 years.
GAFI is entirely reliant on the donations of individuals and organisations in order to be able to do its work. None of the team that work with GAFI are paid a salary so all of the donations received goes directly into field projects. The phenomenal success GAFI has had in disseminating critical information on conserving great apes and their habitats can only continue if there are sufficient funds to support these actions.
In addition to the projects that GAFI is currently supporting, GAFI has several project targets that, if put into action, will play pivotal roles in conserving tropical forest habitat both for great ape populations and the human communities that depend on these critical resources for survival:
1. Increase the reach of GAFI and Partners:
a) Continue to extend the distribution, screenings and monitoring of GAFI films to all great ape range states. GAFI has supported conservation in 15 of the great ape range states – there are a total of 23 range states to help , so we have 8 more to reach.
b) Liaise with National Television broadcasting stations to air the GAFI films across relevant regions.
2. Target key conservation concerns in Partner regions and discuss alternative solution strategies:
a) Through interviews with local populations.
b) Through workshops with community representatives and employment agencies.
c) Support identified solutions through education via the media
3. Increase the economic potential for GAFI Partners and Stakeholders:
a) Employ key personnel from each country to manage, screen and monitor the GAFI screening programmes to schools and local communities.
b) Produce and screen training videos emphasising alternative livelihoods to deforestation. Create bespoke training films tailored to represent the relevant social and political environments.
4. Deliver GAFI sponsored intensive workshops to local community representatives
Deploy the skills required to implement the alternative solutions strategies represented in the Partner films.
5. Conduct two 6-week film making workshops to train key local Partner representatives in filmmaking
a) Films produced in local languages aimed at transferring skills into the hands of local conservationists.
b) Apprentices to be trained by GAFI, expert film crew including a: producerdirector, camera person, sound person, editor.
c) Film equipment given to each Partner plus insurance for one year.
6. Provide ongoing support (tech, admin and PR) for filmmaking in each country.
7. Provide ongoing translation, monitoring and analysis of questionnaires.
8. Extended the current range of GAFI talks to increase exposure and promote GAFI projects.
9. Increase the distribution of the pedal-powered cinema project to all great apes range states.
10. Support Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance Partners with legal information regarding Filming Agreements and Consent forms relating to filming requests by broadcasters and individuals.
11. Support conservation NGOs in creating their own film and media productions aligned with distribution strategies and networks.
12. Expand the GAFI Schools Twinning Programme in Africa.