CONSERVATION OF THE OKAPI-WILDLIFE-RESERVE, ZAIRE

The Okapi Wildlife Reserve teas created in May 1992 to conserve a repr esentative area of the Ituri min forest in north-eastern Zaire. This a rticle examines the threats facing this large protected area and summa rizes the management actions proposed to address these problems within the next 10 years. Emphasis is placed on the need to integrate the lo cal population into reserve management and to empower people as much a s possible to manage their own resources. The long-term future of the reserve in the context of national economic and political instability is discussed.