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= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->

= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->

Virunga National Park is located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and comprises the most biologically diverse protected area on the continent (Virunga National Park n.d.). The national park was first established in 1925 as Albert National Park. In 1960, following the country's independence from Belgium, it was renamed Virunga National Park. In 1979 the site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (UNESCO 2021).The park is unique with its active chain of volcanoes and rich diversity of habitats. Its range contains an amalgamation of steppes, savannas and plains, marshlands, low altitude and afro-montane forest belts to unique afro-alpine vegetation and permanent glaciers and snow on Monts Rwenzori whose peaks reach in 5,000 m height (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/63/). The park is home to 218 mammal species, 706 bird species, 109 reptile species and 78 amphibian species (Virunga National Park n.d.). It also serves as refuge to 22 primate species, including mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei''), the eastern lowland or Grauer's gorilla (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and the eastern chimpanzee (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''). A third of the world's mountain gorilla population is found in the park. The density of biomass of wildlife is one of the highest on the earth Planet (27.6 ton/sq.km). Among the wide diversity of ungulates found at the site, certain rare species are found, such as the okapi (''Okapi johnstoni''), endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the red forest duiker (''Cephalophus rubidus''), endemic to Monts Rwenzori (Virunga National Park n.d.). The site is a Key Biodiversity Area owing to its global importance to the planet’s overall health and wealth in biodiversity (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership 2020).

Virunga National Park is located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and comprises the most biologically diverse protected area on the continent (Virunga National Park n.d.). The national park was first established in 1925 as Albert National Park. In 1960, following the country's independence from Belgium, it was renamed Virunga National Park. In 1979 the site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (UNESCO 2021).The park is unique with its active chain of volcanoes and rich diversity of habitats. Its range contains an amalgamation of steppes, savannas and plains, marshlands, low altitude and afro-montane forest belts to unique afro-alpine vegetation and permanent glaciers and snow on Monts Rwenzori whose peaks reach in 5,000 m height ([https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/63/ UNESCO]). The park is home to 218 mammal species, 706 bird species, 109 reptile species and 78 amphibian species (Virunga National Park n.d.). It also serves as refuge to 22 primate species, including mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei''), the eastern lowland or Grauer's gorilla (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and the eastern chimpanzee (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''). A third of the world's mountain gorilla population is found in the park. The density of biomass of wildlife is one of the highest on the earth Planet (27.6 ton/sq.km). Among the wide diversity of ungulates found at the site, certain rare species are found, such as the okapi (''Okapi johnstoni''), endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the red forest duiker (''Cephalophus rubidus''), endemic to Monts Rwenzori (Virunga National Park n.d.). The site is a Key Biodiversity Area owing to its global importance to the planet’s overall health and wealth in biodiversity (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership 2020).

Ongoing security issues continue to present challenges for the management of the park, although the number of militia operating in the area has declined over the past few years (UNESCO 2021). Issues of encroachment and deforestation for charcoal production continue to have a severe impact on the integrity of the park; as of 2021, approximately 18.5% of the site is affected by encroachment (UNESCO 2021).

Ongoing security issues continue to present challenges for the management of the park, although the number of militia operating in the area has declined over the past few years (UNESCO 2021). Issues of encroachment and deforestation for charcoal production continue to have a severe impact on the integrity of the park; as of 2021, approximately 18.5% of the site is affected by encroachment (UNESCO 2021).

The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in May 2021 has further complicated the situation and compounded the COVID-19 crisis. Around 234,000 were displaced from the surrounding area, and houses, schools, and health centers were destroyed (https://www.unicef.org/drcongo/en/stories/nyiragongo-volcano-eruption-the-aftermath).

The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in May 2021 has further complicated the situation and compounded the COVID-19 crisis. Around 234,000 were displaced from the surrounding area, and houses, schools, and health centers were destroyed ([https://www.unicef.org/drcongo/en/stories/nyiragongo-volcano-eruption-the-aftermath UNICEF]).

'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Virunga National Park'''

'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Virunga National Park'''

|Low

|Low

|

|

|Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals (https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/4056).

|Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals ([https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/4056 UNESCO 2021]).

|Ongoing (2021)

|Ongoing (2021)

|-

|-

|High

|High

|

|

|Civil unrest stemming from two civil wars and the illegal extraction of natural resources in the park, from which armed groups (e.g., ADF/NALU, FDLR, Mai Mai) continue to make revenue. Over 200 park rangers have been killed in the line of duty (https://virunga.org/alliance/virunga-rangers/).

|Civil unrest stemming from two civil wars and the illegal extraction of natural resources in the park, from which armed groups (e.g., ADF/NALU, FDLR, Mai Mai) continue to make revenue. Over 200 park rangers have been killed in the line of duty ([https://virunga.org/alliance/virunga-rangers/ Virunga National Park]).

|Ongoing (2021)

|Ongoing (2021)

|-

|-

= Conservation activities =      <!-- A summary of the conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->

= Conservation activities =      <!-- A summary of the conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->

In 2011, the Congolese National Parks Authority, (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN), and the Virunga Foundation (then known as the Africa Conservation Foundation), entered into a partnership to manage the national park. The Virunga Alliance was then created with the support from the EU. The Virunga Alliance is a development program that aims to end illegal and destructive resource extraction in the region by addressing the direct causes of poverty and conflict. The program was established to create more than 100,000 jobs to draw people out of armed militia groups and into work that fosters peacebuilding. The program is focused on tourism, sustainable energy, and agriculture (https://virunga.org/alliance/). The park is part of the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL), a transboundary collaboration between DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda to conserve the landscape.

In 2011, the Congolese National Parks Authority, (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN), and the Virunga Foundation (then known as the Africa Conservation Foundation), entered into a partnership to manage the national park. The Virunga Alliance was then created with the support from the EU. The Virunga Alliance is a development program that aims to end illegal and destructive resource extraction in the region by addressing the direct causes of poverty and conflict. The program was established to create more than 100,000 jobs to draw people out of armed militia groups and into work that fosters peacebuilding. The program is focused on tourism, sustainable energy, and agriculture ([https://virunga.org/alliance/ Virunga Alliance]). The park is part of the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL), a transboundary collaboration between DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda to conserve the landscape.

Four sites have been chosen for monitoring and for tourism: the Mikeno sector, with 226 habituated mountain gorillas; Tshabirimu, with 6 eastern lowland gorillas; Tongo, with 28 chimpanzees, where habituation started in 1991; and Rumangabo, the headquarters of the park, where 18 chimpanzees have been habituated since 2015 and tourists can observe while visiting the station ().

Four sites have been chosen for monitoring and for tourism: the Mikeno sector, with 226 habituated mountain gorillas; Tshabirimu, with 6 eastern lowland gorillas; Tongo, with 28 chimpanzees, where habituation started in 1991; and Rumangabo, the headquarters of the park, where 18 chimpanzees have been habituated since 2015 and tourists can observe while visiting the station ().

Four main conservation pillars were established in 2010 with the Virunga Foundation in cooperation with the DRC government to protect the Virunga National Park ():

Four main conservation pillars were established in 2010 with the Virunga Foundation in cooperation with the DRC government to protect the Virunga National Park ():

|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases

|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases

|8.7. Wear face-masks to avoid transmission of viral and bacterial diseases to primates

|8.7. Wear face-masks to avoid transmission of viral and bacterial diseases to primates

|Tourists and staff wear surgical masks in the presence of the gorillas (https://visit.virunga.org/treks/mountain-gorilla-trek/).

|Tourists and staff wear surgical masks in the presence of the gorillas ([https://visit.virunga.org/treks/mountain-gorilla-trek/ Virunga National Park]).

|Ongoing (2022)

|Ongoing (2022)

|-

|-

|12. Species Management

|12. Species Management

|12.1. Habituate primates to human presence to reduce stress from tourists/researchers etc.

|12.1. Habituate primates to human presence to reduce stress from tourists/researchers etc.

|Treks led by Virunga rangers and local pisteurs, who monitor ten habituated gorilla groups every day (https://visit.virunga.org/treks/mountain-gorilla-trek/).

|Treks led by Virunga rangers and local pisteurs, who monitor ten habituated gorilla groups every day ([https://visit.virunga.org/treks/mountain-gorilla-trek/ Virunga National Park]).

|Ongoing (2021)

|Ongoing (2021)

|-

|-

|

|

|12.24. Rehabilitate injured/orphaned primates

|12.24. Rehabilitate injured/orphaned primates

|The Senkwekwe Center was opened in 2010 in the park's headquarters to take care of orphaned gorillas (https://virunga.org/wildlife/primates/mountain-gorillas/gorilla-orphans/)

|The Senkwekwe Center was opened in 2010 in the park's headquarters to take care of orphaned gorillas ([https://virunga.org/wildlife/primates/mountain-gorillas/gorilla-orphans/ Virunga National Park])

|Ongoing (2021)

|Ongoing (2021)

|-

|-

=External links=

=External links=

https://virunga.org/

[https://virunga.org/ Virunga National Park - official website]<br>

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/63/

[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/63/ UNESCO -  Virunga National Park] <br>

https://greatervirunga.org/

[https://greatervirunga.org/ The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration] <br>

===Relevant datasets===

===Relevant datasets===