HALO co-hosts Congressional Briefing focused on Demining, Conservation, and Climate
On Monday, September 26th, The HALO Trust co-hosted an event with APOPO and PeaceTrees Vietnam to brief Congressional staff on the impact of conflict and landmines on the environment, how U.S. demining programs support global conservation, and how demining is adapting to combat the climate crisis.
HALO is doing significant conservation demining in the Okavango Delta region of southern Africa, where landmines present a specific danger to the local elephant population. HALO has already removed 55,000 mines from the area, and continued demining will allow conservation partners and the Angolan government to safely monitor the wildlife populations and prevent poaching. HALO has also provided National Geographic with safe access around the headwaters of the Delta to conduct biodiversity research, leading to the discovery of 130+ species previously unknown in Angola.
Outside of Angola, HALO is working with conservation partners to rehabilitate rangelands in Somaliland, restore the coastal mangrove systems in El Salvador and Sri Lanka, protect Somalia’s Boswellia woodlands and its frankincense trees, and keep wildlife safe from armed violence in Kenya. We are also planning an 18,000-hectare wildlife sanctuary and community forest in Cambodia.
Speakers included:
Chris Whatley, Executive Director, The HALO Trust
Charlie Richter, U.S. Director, APOPO
Claire Yunker, Executive Director, PeaceTrees Vietnam
Karen Chandler, Director, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, State Department
The event was moderated by Kristen Stevens of The HALO Trust and included video remarks from Senator Van Hollen and Dr. Jane Goodall, prepared specifically for the occasion.
Thank you to Senator Chris Coons for sponsoring the event.
