TED: A hero of the Congo forest | Corneille Ewango

The speaker shares their journey from growing up in Congo, engaging in poaching due to economic hardships, to pursuing education in botany and wildlife conservation. They describe the challenges faced during the Congo wars, including the destruction of conservation efforts and the impact on local communities. Despite these challenges, they emphasize the importance of education and capacity building for future generations to ensure better conservation and development in Africa.

What motivated the narrator to become involved in poaching during their teenage years?

• Financial constraints and the need to fund education

• A desire to explore the forest

• Influence from friends

• A passion for wildlife

What was the narrator's initial career aspiration?

• Engineer

• Doctor

• Teacher

• Wildlife Conservationist

Which field did the narrator eventually pursue after multiple attempts at university?

• Biomedical Science

• Marine Biology

• Tropical Ecology and Plant Botany

• Environmental Engineering

What unique animal is highlighted as part of the biodiversity in the forest reserve?

• African Lion

• Savannah Elephant

• Mountain Gorilla

• Forest Giraffe

What significant event led to the creation of the forest reserve?

• The end of a dictatorship

• International pressure

• A government initiative

• The discovery of new species

What was the narrator's role in the Wildlife Conservation Society?

• Policy Advisor

• Project Manager

• Teaching Assistant

• Field Researcher

During the Congo wars, what was one of the major challenges faced by the narrator?

• Inability to communicate with the outside world

• Destruction and looting of research materials

• Lack of food supplies

• Loss of family members

What was one of the narrator's key actions to protect research materials during the war?

• Burning them to prevent enemy access

• Transporting them to Uganda

• Hiding them in a cave

• Burying them underground

What is the focus of the narrator's post-war research efforts?

• Exploring new mineral resources

• Developing new agricultural techniques

• Tracking global warming effects on biodiversity

• Studying marine ecosystems

What is the narrator's perspective on the role of education in Africa's future?

• It is less important than economic development

• It is only necessary for urban areas

• It is crucial for building a better future

• It should focus solely on technology