Working Group on Chimpanzee Cultures
Bringing together expertise on chimpanzee cultural behaviour, conservation science, and policy to drive multidisciplinary approaches to chimpanzee conservation
ABOUT US
We are a multidisciplinary and international team of researchers and conservationists actively engaged in the conservation of chimpanzees, their habitats, and their cultures. Our members have diverse backgrounds, bringing together academic and practical expertise in chimpanzee behaviour, ecology and archaeology, as well as conservation, social sciences, community engagement, policy and project management.
The WGCC is part of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Primate Specialist Group (PSG) Section on Great Apes (SGA), whose overarching mission is to promote great ape conservation using the current best practices and technical information.
OUR MISSION
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BUILD a collaborative network of specialists engaged in promoting, conserving, and researching chimpanzee cultures
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IDENTIFY the avenues in which chimpanzee culture can be used as an asset for conservation
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PROVIDE guidance to stakeholders and policy-makers on how chimpanzee culture can be integrated into broader conservation policies
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DEVELOP a protocol for the integration and assessment of behavioural and cultural diversity in field surveys and population monitoring
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SUPPORT in-country conservation and research efforts that seek to expand our collective knowledge of chimpanzee cultural diversity
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PROMOTE multidisciplinary, inclusive, and holistic approaches to chimpanzee conservation that take into account the individuals, the population, its habitat, and its cultural behaviours, while also considering the local human communities and their needs
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SHARE scientific understanding on chimpanzee culture and its relevance to conservation at local and global scales