Researchers have just encountered a rare primate species – the endangered white-collared mangabey – for the first time in the dense jungle of Atewa Forest in Ghana. Yet that hasn’t stopped the government from closing a billion-dollar deal with China to mine bauxite in the protected area. Please speak out against this madness.

The Atewa mountain rainforest is rich in biodiversity, a lush landscape of jungle and rivers that provides a refuge for rare animals and plants. It is also a source of drinking water for five million people.

But Atewa is also rich in bauxite, an aluminum ore that the government wants to mine and market – even though the 26,000-hectare Atewa Range Forest Reserve is officially a protected area.

Daryl Bosu, Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, is confident that the discovery of the white-collared mangabey will strengthen his organization’s campaign to save Atewa Forest. Bosu has been working for more than four years to convince the government to declare Atewa a national park.

“We were almost there,” he said. “With the support from Rainforest Rescue and conservationists from all over the world, we were able to convince the government at the time to withdraw the bauxite mining permits and create a national park.”

But now a new government is determined to monetize the mineral resources and has signed a $10 billion deal with China to mine and refine the ore. “Yet the negotiations are not open and transparent,” Bosu said, calling on his government to lay its cards on the table and protect Atewa Forest from exploitation.

“No amount of dollars from the bauxite trade can compensate or replace the values and services that Atewa Forest offers today as well as for posterity. Please support our campaign for Atewa Forest to be designated a national park.”