16 Nov Air Serv International to assist Congo basin initiative

Warrenton, Va., Nov. 16,2004–Air Serv International will fly workers throughout the Congo Basin in support of a significant rehabilitation and development project in the five countries bordering the Congo River, as a result of a two-year $4.35 million contract with USAID.

The goal of the Congo Basin Initiative is to preserve the rain forests of this region, the last significant primitive rain forest on earth. It is also home to more than 24 million people, most of whom depend on the forest for their livelihoods. These livelihoods are under threat by the continued loss of the forest. Some 15 donor countries have agreed to support the project. The recipient countries include Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), Congo, Gabon, and Cameroon.

The Interim Team Leader for Air Serv will be Susan MacGregor from the organization’s Canadian office. The Interim Finance/Administrative Team Member will be Julie Cressman from Virginia.

All aircraft and team members must be operational no later than November 15.

Air Serv will supply two aircraft for the project, a King Air B200 based in Kinshasa, and a Cessna 208B-Grand Caravan based in Kisangani. It is anticipated that additional aircraft will be required as NGO’s and USAID begin to develop the program and need additional transport. The objectives of the initiative are to:

–Provide people with sustainable means of livelihood through well-managed forestry concessions, sustainable agriculture, and integrated ecotourism programs;

–Improve forest and natural resource governance by using community-based management, combating illegal logging, and enforcing anti-poaching laws; and

–Help the Congo Basin countries develop a network of effectively managed parks, protected areas, and ecological corridors.

Air Serv now has a total of nine turbine aircraft in the DRC and a total of 29 aircraft internationally.

Air Serv International is a humanitarian organization that excels in transportation and communication links. Air Serv provides safe, reliable, and cost effective air transport to humanitarian agencies involved in relief and development activities.

For More Information Contact Jim Jewell, Rooftop MediaWorks (678) 458-9837 jjewell@RooftopMediaWorks.com