Press Releases

CRISIS IN THE VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK -
Progress Report

Nairobi, 21 July 2004 - The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has contacted the governments of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) concerning reports of deforestation at the Virunga National Park urging for immediate action to protect the mountain gorilla habitat from the inherent threat of destruction by illegal settlers. “ The destruction of this world heritage site (Virunga National Park)… will have an inevitable long-term impact on the fauna and flora of the ecosystem, including the endangered gorillas,” said the Executive Director of UNEP, Klaus Toepfer, in letters to the environment ministers of the three countries. “On behalf of the governments and partner organizations of Great Apes Survival Programme (GRASP), I would appreciate your urgent consideration in bringing the threat to the Virunga National Park transboundary conservation area to the attention of the relevant authorities.” A similar letter from the director of UNESCO World Heritage Center to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the DRC urged him to use the MONUC diplomatic channels to bring the issue of the destruction of the Mikeno sub sector of the Virunga National Park to the attention of the highest political and military authorities in the United Nations, including its member states particularly the Government of Rwanda.

Following the concerted efforts of the UN and the conservation community, there has been a halt in the forest encroachment with the withdrawal of all settlers who had moved in. On the conservation front, the GRASP partner organization, the International Gorilla Conservation Project (IGCP), together with the European Commission and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), have been constructing a perimeter wall around the park as part of their conservation strategy. About 10% of the wall has been completed and funding requirements are being addressed to ensure undisrupted completion of the remaining targeted section. GRASP in partnership with IGCP has been previously involved in funding construction of a wall in another sector of the Virunga National Park.

In reaction to the current situation, GRASP together with IGCP have intervened with the provision of communication equipment and rations for rangers to enhance the effectiveness of patrol rangers in the park.

The Virunga National Park, created in 1925 as Africa’s first protected area, covers an area of over 8,000 km2. Located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it borders Rwanda’s Volcano National Park to the South and Uganda’s Mgahinga National Park. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1979, it is a biological hotspot of outstanding value to humanity characterized by largely unspoiled tropical montane forests that are extremely rich in biodiversity and hosts half of the remaining population of the mountain gorilla. Despite continued instability witnessed in the region for the last ten years, the population of the mountain gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei has actually increased and their habitat remained relatively undisturbed owing to the dedicated work of conservation groups and the importance accorded to the park by all interested parties. The mountain gorilla generates up to US$2 million for the region annually from tourism, with a lot more from ripple effects.

This state of events had been under threat since April 2004 following the illegal invasion of the park by settlers clearing a section of the park. It is estimated that 15km2 of the 250km2 of Mikeno sub sector were cleared by several thousand people who moved in from Rwanda and the DRC with support from local influential individuals.

GRASP is pleased to have been able to assist in resolving this recent crisis, and of the continued cooperation with our partners on the ground in the region.

More information on the Virunga National Park