defence force type private industry private ranger services contractor environmental protection founded 2012 founder jean db headquarters dungu democratic republic of the congo chokwe mozambique area served africa below the sahel products ranger training close quarter training and specialist rural security services services anti poaching wildlife management forestry management and agroforestry consulting revenue us 10 million number of employees 35 website http africanwildlifedefenceforce.com the african wildlife defence force awdf ; afrika wildsweermag afrikaans force pour la d fense de la faune sauvage africaine french for a de defesa da vida selvagem africana portuguese kikosi cha ulinzi ya wanyama pori barani afrika swahili chinese traditional chinese simplified is a private elite park ranger and anti poaching organization based in dungu in the north east of the democratic republic of the congo . awdf uses direct action tactics to protect wild life and rainforest . the organization was founded in 2012 by jean db a horticulturist and forester . they serve as an alternative to the regular park rangers organizations which struggle with corruption and in response to the increasing levels of violence with which poachers proceed . contents 1 history 2 organization 2.1 affiliate network 2.1.1 kenya 3 traditions of the awdf 3.1 honor code of the guardian 4 working field 5 departments 5.1 convention on african trade in endangered species of wild fauna cates 5.2 rangers 5.3 aviation 5.4 tree nursery 6 actions 6.1 hungerstrike 7 missions 7.1 wanted persons 7.1.1 quest for joseph kony 8 projects 9 partnerships 9.1 csi formation 10 references 11 external links history edit the awdf was found in 2012 after founder jean db travelled through africa and visited orphanages private game ranches conservancies and national parks in countries such d.r. congo kenya tanzania south africa and south sudan . he was disappointed because in his mind the outside world was not doing enough to help the parks in central africa . after he had conducted ground surveys on the border of the democratic republic of the congo and south sudan and being contracted on a private ranch in south africa he decided to train a team of congolese rangers . two years later he saw the need for a more specialized task force . and so as of april 2014 the awdf began with the selection of candidate rangers in the democratic republic of the congo south sudan kenya and south africa for training of advanced force afr and special force sfr rangers . founder jean db approached a former french legionnaire with the aim to give them a special force styled training with wildlife management courses . this project is still in its initial phase . organization edit the awdf is a non profit african private ranger organization 80 % of the organization s revenue is spent on its programs while 20 % of revenue is spent on administration and fundraising . it is supported by private and corporate donations internet advertising and grants . the group is operated by both paid rangers and volunteers . the organization is committed to staying small by operating with a few special operations task forces only . the awdf is governed by a board of directors including jean db . the board has several advisers each addressing an area of expertise . the board consist of an environmental scientist an anthropologist a law enforcement advisor and a financial and management advisor . they provide services from anti poaching wildlife management forestry management and agroforestry consulting . but also ranger training close quarter training and specialist rural security services . the awdf is open to all african citizens except for people from countries located north of the sahel . they refuse african expats from outside africa for ranger functions this in order to draw radicalized candidates . in general non africans foreigners coming from outside africa can only work as an instructor or scientist . affiliate network edit kenya edit in kenya the awdf registered under the name african wildlife protection fund awpf since the kenyan ngo coordination board rejected the name awdf because of the pun defence force in its signals . the awpf is a non profit organization established to attract the awareness about the rising poaching crisis in africa . and to fund directly the african wildlife defence force awdf it is mainly formed with the aim to show the presence of the awdf among the many international non profits in nairobi . but it also promotes the nutrecul agroforestry project as a possible solution to the malnutrition and deforestation in baringo county . 1 2 traditions of the awdf edit the awdf rangers wear their insignia on the left side of the beret to distinguish themselves from the regular park ranger organizations . honor code of the guardian edit art. 1 guardian you are a volunteer serving african wildlife with honor and fidelity . art. 2 each guard is your brother in arms whatever his nationality race or religion . you manifest it always close solidarity that must unite the members of one family . art. 3 respectful of traditions honor your superiors discipline and comradeship are your strength courage and loyalty your virtues . art. 4 proud of your guardian status as you always elegant watches in your outfit your behavior always modest always clean your barracks . art. 5 elite guard you train rigorously you will maintain your weapon as your most precious you have the constant concern of your fitness . art. 6 the mission is sacred you will carry it to the end and if necessary operations risking your life . art. 7 in combat you act without passion or hatred you respect the defeated enemy you will never forsake nor your dead nor your wounded or your weapons . working field edit as a private ranger services contractor the awdf focusses on wildlife conservation and rainforest conservation . the awdf has the expertise to also intervene in mangroves lakes and waterways but does not work at sea . their major working field is central africa in the parks located in the border region of democratic republic of the congo south sudan uganda and central african republic . this because of the different rebel groups that infest the parks in this region . the awdf want to increase its presence in africa by sending rangers to locations in chad cameroon kenya tanzania namibia and south africa . in the establishment of the awdf was recorded that the parks in central eastern and southern africa are prioritized for intervention . the awdf does not send rangers to north africa . and in west africa they only send rangers to mali and nigeria . the awdf does not accept unsolicited proposals . departments edit convention on african trade in endangered species of wild fauna cates edit the working group was formed in protest against to what the awdf calls the disastrous policies of cites . the group works on wildlife law enforcement and promote non conventional livestock farming like insect farming crocodile farming and game farming . they also examine the pros and cons of rhino horn farming . rangers edit rangers . the r or rangers are trained in basic military training and wildlife management courses . an r conducts patrols also with a guard dog . rangers can specialize in the sniffer dog unit . advanced force rangers . the afr or advanced force rangers are an elite ranger force in the awdf consisting of parachute commando units . it is a support reconnaissance unit . the training consists of 15 weeks of physical and psychological endurance . in addition to physical conditioning the advanced forces learn hand to hand combat survival techniques military tactics map reading and radio transmission . followed by a 4 weeks wildlife management course and wildlife capturing course . mutation to sfr is possible after five years experience as an afr . advanced force ranger patch special force rangers . the sfr or special force rangers are a special forces unit in the awdf . members of the sfr are selected from the afr units of the awdf . after the main advanced forces course a special forces operator will train three specialities . these are free fall from high altitude haho halo underwater fighting skills and operating in mountainous terrain . also they all have to choose a team speciality communications explosives armament medical training or sniper . in real situations the special force rangers have to perform reconnaissance and surveillance missions in small groups deep into enemy territory enact small offensive actions to arrest people or to sabotage or impound materials . they are also trained to gain intelligence disguised as a civilian . special force ranger patch special operations affiliate ranger group . the soarg are a special forces unit in the awdf . members of the soarg are coming from various elite groups around the world . most are us veterans working pro bono for a short or long term basis . special operations affiliate ranger group patch weapons remington model 700 ak 47 the awdf is considering to replace its ak 47 by both m16 rifles and the fal sa58 mini osw rifle from ds arms . glock 17 vehicles name origin type number photo notes armoured vehicles toyota land cruiser japan 200 series armoured vehicle 2 1 in service 1 ordered unarmoured vehicles toyota land cruiser japan 70 series troop carrier 3 2 in service 1 ordered toyota land cruiser japan 70 series heavy duty pick up 3 2 in service 1 ordered aviation edit the awdf is working on establishing its own air wing . it is working together with small flight operators from bangui m poko international airport goma international airport and wau airport where it leases cessna 206 aircraft . tree nursery edit the awdf focusses on the conservation of the rainforest from the basin of the congo which has 70 % of africa s plant cover . the congo rainforest in central africa makes up a large portion of africa s biodiversity with over 600 tree species and 10 000 animal species . the awdf decided to start a nursery for wild edible plants wep & non timber forest products ntfp and tropical hardwood . scientists have begun collecting seeds and planting materials to start a nursery . wild edible plants wep & non timber forest products ntfp . the awdf want to guarantee food security by promoting agro forestry and food forestry reforestation projects in central africa and therefore created a list of 300 plants and tree species of the congo that qualify for multiplication . tropical hardwood . because of the greed of china anno 2014 for forest exploitation and mead by the fact that since 1960 there was rarely replanted . the awdf also created a list of 150 tree species for multiplication to avoid the alienation and destruction of the rainforest . 3 actions edit hungerstrike edit on 13 august 2014 director jean db flew to burbank california to do a hunger strike . the goal was to get media attention in hollywood for his cause and try to appear in the ellen show . after sending 2500 emails and over 350 letters to celebrities without having received any reply he decided to talk with workers of animal defenders international adi in los angeles . he was also invited by rhino zoo keeper and anti poaching ranger mike daniels to visit the san diego zoo safari park and to look behind the scenes . on invitation of matt rossell adi campaigns director a dinner took place with actress and animal activist georja umano . later he also met the actress and editor moon hi hanson . because he was barely noticed as backpacking among the hundreds of homeless in la and because the media was not interested to listen to his story he decided to return on september 27 2014 . 4 missions edit wanted persons edit quest for joseph