Pay Online, Home » Information » Virunga Conservation Area. Virunga National Park protects a significant proportion of the last remaining gorilla range, which represents over three hundred mountain gorillas. Virunga is truly the crown jewel of Africa’s national parks. Photo: Yannick Beaudoin/GRID-Arendal We accept Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies. The situation in the Virunga National Park remains problematic. Virunga National Park, as Africa’s oldest national park, covers some 7,700km 2 (nearly 800,000 hectares) and is a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its exceptional variety of habitats and biodiversity. The Virunga National Park is home to many people living off the land. The bamboo plantation project was established to enlarge the territory of mountain gorillas. Generosity and advocacy underpin everything we do. Currently, Virunga National park is very conducive and safe for gorilla tracking tours, with the established security in the area and conservation of the Mountain Gorillas. Virunga is truly the crown jewel of Africa’s national parks. Not only does tourism in Virunga entail wildlife but one can also enjoy hiking the volcanoes. The 2 main conservation issues remain the presence of military troops and armed groups within and in the immediate vicinity of the property and illegal encroachment. Loss of a habitat is a key threat to all species living in Virunga National Park. The other six non-active volcanoes are Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno. In elevation, it ranges from 680 m in the Semliki River valley to 5,109 m in the Rwenzori Mountains. Virunga has shown that conservation and development are inherently linked. The cold-blooded murder of six members of the Rugendo family on July 22, 2007, was arguably one of Virunga’s darkest hours. This has been achieved against a backdrop of civil war, chronic underfunding and. The population has been steadily growing for the last 30 years and will become one of the successful critically endangered species programs in the world. These are the top attractions in the Virunga conservation Area: There are about 900 gorillas left in the world and all of them are found in the Virunga area. Bwindi national park which is just a few meters away from this area is the other park that is home to these gorillas but it cannot be separated from this conservation area. All these parks have one thing in Common; they are habitats to the world only remaining gorillas. Recently, the movie Virunga, and concerted efforts by numerous NGOs have focused attention to one of the main threats to the Virunga National Park: the prospect of oil exploitation within and near its borders. 444 talking about this. Sadly, mountain gorillas are all too often caught in snares laid with the intention of capturing smaller animals for bushmeat. Gorillas, being very close relatives of ours, are incredibly vulnerable to infections carried by humans. There are six families of the mountain gorillas habituated for tourist visits. A new hope for Virunga In 2008, Virunga finally found some good fortune in the form of Emmanuel de Merode, a Belgian conservationist who was appointed as director of the park. Gorillas that do get sick are monitored and treated by veterinary personnel to avoid diseases becoming fatal. Golden Monkeys is another unique primate specie that is endangered and you are likely to meet on you adventure to the Virunga area. Visitor numbers to one of the continent's wonders are down because of a surge in insecurity. By linking tourism, conservation, and local economic development, the Virunga Alliance’s mission is squarely aligned with the vision set forth by the LT&C initiative. 182 talking about this. Illicit charcoal production and slash and burn farming, practices employed for energy and income generation, are key causes of habitat loss. These were the initial habitat of these forested areas and they were relocated in a bid to protect the gorillas. +250 780 870 670 Sowohl Naturschützer als … FAQs +256 701 703 573 There are four main threats Virunga’s gorillas face as a result of poverty and unsustainable human activity. New settlements from people fleeing conflict within the region also encroach on Gorilla territory. The conservation area is a home to eight volcanic mountains, two of which are active (Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira) – both in the Democratic Republic of Congo within the heart of Virunga National Park. Blog For Us Mountain gorillas are found in the park, some 20,000 hippopotamuses live in the rivers and birds from Siberia spend the … This has been achieved against a backdrop of civil war, chronic underfunding and disease epidemics such as Ebola. Farming and logging push the mountain gorillas to altitudes where temperatures are potentially fatal. She is believed to have been murdered by poachers due to her efforts of preaching against poaching. The conservation of Virunga National Park hinges on the survival of one sub-species –  the mountain gorilla. Farther up the mountains, there is also greater competition for food. These local stories were filmed in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With the public’s admiration of this magnificent creature comes the scope to protect all wildlife across the region, through trained park rangers, eco-tourism and stakeholder engagement. This American Primatologist was buried in this area after year of doing gorilla conservation in the area. Virunga is truly the crown jewel of Africa’s national parks. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) the current approach to nature conservation in Virunga National Park is not always mild towards the people living close outside its borders. Mountain Gorilla (Photo: Felix Borner) One of the first conservationists to discover the importance of the Virungas was Professor Bernhard Grzimek who made a strong case for the need to conserve this extraordinary national park more than 50 years ago. Virunga Conservation Area :The Virunga conservation area is shared between Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC. Without Virunga’s brave rangers protecting against habitat exploitation, conservation of the species and protection of the park would be impossible. Virunga National Park is part of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) which is an institution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, (DRC), responsible for the protection of nature. Our main interest in this area is the conservation of the critically endangered mountain gorilla through promoting gorilla health and conservation, community health and alternative livelihoods. It was created in 1925 and is among the first protected areas in Africa. Accordingly, the Committee included Virunga National Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger. Conservation partners such as IGCP, Fauna and Flora and WWF offices (DRC and Uganda) have made important contributions regarding the inclusion of Virunga National Park in the larger Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL), including the creation of a coalition to focus on completing technical work in the field (IUCN Consultation, 2020). That’s why, during the recent Ebola and ongoing coronavirus pandemics, Virunga closed its gates to tourism, thereby ensuring mountain gorillas are shielded as best as possible. Virunga News – Conservation, Preservation & Tourism News in Virunga Regions in Congo, Uganda and Rwanda – Africa. Travelers can take part in hiking any of these volcanoes whose summits provide clear … With the public’s admiration of this magnificent creature comes the scope to protect all wildlife across the region, through trained park rangers, eco-tourism and stakeholder engagement. This terrible event underscores the need to constantly protect Virunga’s gorillas and other wildlife. Sometimes poaching occurs in desperate pursuit of income and as a result of absolute poverty. Without Virunga’s brave rangers protecting against habitat exploitation, conservation of the species and protection of the park would be impossible. info@virungaparkcongo.com, Become an Agent Two guards of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature lost their lives following attacks by armed groups in the Virunga National Park World Heritage site, a recent report has revealed. Mountain gorillas are one of the main treasures of Virunga national park. Die härteste Bewährungsprobe musste de Merode schon bald nach seiner Amtsübernahme bestehen, als internationale Konzerne zunehmendes Interesse zeigten, in Virunga nach Erdöl zu suchen. This article analyzes these techniques in relation to the Virunga National Park, located in the war-ridden east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where militarized approaches to conservation have a long lineage. Virunga national park is one of Africa’s most biodiverse protected areas and is home to one third of the world’s wild mountain gorillas. The Park has undergone significant institutional and security reforms since this tragic event and Virunga’s mountain gorilla population is now on the rise. From north to south it extends about 300 km, largely along the international borders with Uganda and … Virunga National Park is a national park in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Working in partnership with Fine Art America, we can provide prints in a range of sizes, tailored to your needs and superior customer service based on years of experience. Virunga is truly the crown jewel of Africa’s national parks. Ways To Give. Africa’s oldest National Park, Virunga, is unrivalled in both biological and geological diversity. Topped with oil exploration, continued unrest could lead to irreversible damages and ultimately the removal of the site from the World Heritage List. It has an incomparable diversity of habitats and an exceptional biodiversity … Virunga National Park, DRC – Wildlife tourism supports nature and the local community – Linking Tourism & Conservation Virunga National Park, DRC – Wildlife tourism supports nature and the local community Virunga was the first national park on the continent of Africa. Virunga National Park. The sale of prints also supports vital conservation work in Virunga National Park, helping to preserve the biodiversity essential to wildlife photography and our planet. Virunga National Park, Africa’s most biodiverse protected area, exists to protect 1/3 of the world’s wild mountain gorillas, over one thousand species of mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian, and provide a brighter future to more than four million people affected by conflict. With your thoughtfulness and dedication, you can bring health and longevity to Virunga National Park, its rangers and the wildlife they risk their lives to protect. It includes the Mgahinga National Park, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DRC. To most Rwandans, the Volcanoes National Park is evidence of beauty and source of tourism revenues to the national treasury. Many of these people enter the park regularly to collect firewood and branches, to cultivate small plots of land (often in places that the population claims are outside the park), or to exploit charcoal, sometimes in … The Virunga Foundation (VF) is a charitable organization under British law, whose mission is to contribute to the protection and development of the park. Clashes between the army and those illegally extracting resources is causing huge problems for conservation. It demonstrates that many of the discursive techniques that are currently at play show strong continuities with the past. Illegal mining constantly encroaches upon their habitat. Despite extensive conservation measures, these great apes are under threat from human activity. The social injustice symptomatic of the conflict has led to the mismanagement and illicit trading of many of the region’s resources, heavily impacting Mountain Gorillas living in the park. 373 talking about this. “Environmental projects will only work if we make sure we provide security for the populations around the parks; reduce the impact of the militia on the local populations, and create jobs,” Marijnissen said. Tragically, despite their splendor and sparsity, mountain gorillas are still being poached for their body parts, which are sold as black market souvenirs or trophies. The conservation of Virunga National Park hinges on the survival of one sub-species – the mountain gorilla. She first came to the Virunga in 1968 and made the slopes of mountain Visoke her home and set up a research center here. CTPH office and Gorilla Conservation Camp is located in Buhoma Village, the main tourist site for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In recent decades, Eastern Congo, where Virunga National Park is situated has been ravaged by civil war. They are now trying to adapt to life outside the forest and when you visit their communities you are directly helping on saving the gorillas since you will be promoting their relocating from the forest other than that their lifestyle is also interesting. Why is Virunga national park so vital for conservation? Virunga National Park Rangers – vital to the protection of the park and its mountain gorillas. Welcome to Virunganews.org an online travel resource magazine offering all the conservation news, tips and travel updates about the Virunga regions.. On this news web portal you will find all the information that you require to know before you visit the Virunga region. Management and conservation of biodiversity; Promoting scientific research; The development of ecotourism in the context of conservation; The development of populations living around protected areas; Virunga National Park. The population has been steadily growing for, the last 30 years and will become one of the successful critically endangered species programs in the world. The conservation area is a home to eight volcanic mountains, two of which are active (Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira) – both in the Democratic Republic of Congo within the heart of Virunga National Park. Visit Virunga National Park. Volcanoes National Park: a success story for Rwanda's communities and conservation . The program’s success largely comes down to the commitment of Virunga’s rangers and the steady support of a worldwide community of supporters. A sanctuary for orphaned mountain gorillas, located at the park headquarters. Focussing on three key areas: hydropower, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and tourism, Virunga National Park is working to economically transform the region – creating jobs and reducing poverty rates. The program’s success largely comes down to the commitment of Virunga’s rangers and the steady support of a worldwide community of supporters. disease epidemics such as Ebola. The Committee was informed by the Representative of IUCN that the Director of the Zairois Institute for the Conservation of Nature has verbally indicated his agreement to IUCN's suggestion of placing this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger. Underpinning all the conservation work we do are the fundraising efforts of our supporters. Virunga National Park (covering an area of 790,000 ha) comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. The other six non-active volcanoes are Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno. 662 talking about this. Travelers can take part in hiking any of these volcanoes whose summits provide clear views of the neighboring communities. Hundreds of snares are removed yearly by Virunga’s dedicated park rangers. Virunga Conservation Project. Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), the Congolese wildlife authority, has an agreement with Direction Générale de Migration (DGM), the Congolese immigration service, to facilitate obtaining 2-week, single entry tourist visas for people visiting Virunga … There are an estimated 1,000 remaining mountain gorillas in the wild, one third of which live in the Virunga mountains. 2010 unterzeichnete die kongolesische Regierung ein Abkommen, das dem britischen Unternehmen Soco erlaubte, in fast der Hälfte des Nationalparks nach Öl zu suchen, inklusive des Edwardsees. This innovative, community focussed approach to conservation is working to reduce the pressures currently faced by the Park’s Rangers from armed groups, illegal poaching, and land encroachment. To tackle these issues, the Virunga Alliance is working with local people to develop sustainable energy and agricultural solutions, whilst striving to make Virunga National Park the foundation for the country’s rebuilding process. It is with great sadness that the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) confirms the identities of the Virunga Park Rangers and employees who tragically lost their lives as a result of the attack that occurred this morning at 11 am on Route Nationale 2 near the headquarters of Virunga National Park in Rumangabo. Photo by Nicole Macheroux-Denault. Copyright © 2021 Virunga National Park Congo, 5 Days Ngila Classic without Nyiragongo package, 7 Days Kahuzi Biega and Virunga National Park, 5 Days Virunga Gorilla & Volcanoes Golden Monkey Trekking, 5 Days Virunga Gorilla & Akagera Wildlife Tour, Post-Covid travel in the Virunga National Park, Gorilla Trekking in Uganda During COVID-19, Top 4 Rwanda Safari Activities during COVID-19. 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