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Line 373: + − Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (2020) Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: Virunga National Park. Extracted from the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas. Developed by the Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership: BirdLife International, IUCN, American Bird Conservancy, Amphibian Survival Alliance, Conservation International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Global Environment Facility, Global Wildlife Conservation, NatureServe, Rainforest Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, World Wildlife Fund and Wildlife Conservation Society. Downloaded from http://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/ on 12/12/2021. <br>
no edit summary
* Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols, providing employment opportunities to local communities, tourism, education, and supply of hydroelectric power to the local population.
* Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols, providing employment opportunities to local communities, tourism, education, and supply of hydroelectric power to the local population.
* The national park is the most biologically diverse and the first to be established in the African continent.
* The national park is the most biologically diverse and the first to be established in the African continent.
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Elephant herd-min.jpg | 300px | thumb| right | © Virunga National Park]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Gorilla VNP.jpg | 300px | thumb| right |© Virunga National Park]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Nyiragongo VNP.jpg | 300px | thumb| right |Mount Nyiragongo © Virunga National Park]] </li>
</ul></div>
= 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 -->
= Threats = <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->
= Threats = <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Rangers and dogs VNP.jpg | 300px | thumb| right | © Virunga National Park]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Rangers VNP.jpg | 300px | thumb| right |© Virunga National Park]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Trap VNP.jpg | 300px | thumb| right | © Virunga National Park]] </li>
</ul></div>
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 UNICEF]).
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]).
= 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 -->
[[File: Agriculture VNP.jpg | 400px | thumb| right | © Virunga National Park]]
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.
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 (Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021).
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 (Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021).
= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->
= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->
[[File: Orphan VNP.jpg | 400px | thumb| right | © Virunga National Park]]
The main challenges to ape conservation at the park include lack of security due to different rebel groups in the region. In 1986 when Uganda rebels ADF/NALU crossed into DRC and remained in the park around the Rwenzori massif (North sector), where many chimpanzees were present. In 1994 millions of refugees and defeated militaries crossed the border and settled around the Mikeno Sector, home to mountain gorillas. Since then, rebels continue to kill animals, rangers, cut trees for commercial charcoal, kidnap local people, and are involved in other criminal activities (Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021).
The main challenges to ape conservation at the park include lack of security due to different rebel groups in the region. In 1986 when Uganda rebels ADF/NALU crossed into DRC and remained in the park around the Rwenzori massif (North sector), where many chimpanzees were present. In 1994 millions of refugees and defeated militaries crossed the border and settled around the Mikeno Sector, home to mountain gorillas. Since then, rebels continue to kill animals, rangers, cut trees for commercial charcoal, kidnap local people, and are involved in other criminal activities (Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021).
= References =
= References =
Gilardi, K., Nziza, J., Ssebide, B., Syaluha, E. K., Muvunyi, R., Aruho, R., ... & Masozera, A. B. (2021). Endangered mountain gorillas and COVID‐19: One health lesson for prevention and preparedness during a global pandemic. American Journal of Primatology, e23291.https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23291<br>
Gilardi, K., Nziza, J., Ssebide, B., Syaluha, E. K., Muvunyi, R., Aruho, R., ... & Masozera, A. B. (2021). Endangered mountain gorillas and COVID‐19: One health lesson for prevention and preparedness during a global pandemic. American Journal of Primatology, e23291.https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23291<br>
Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (2020) Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: Virunga National Park. Extracted from the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas. Developed by the Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership: BirdLife International, IUCN, American Bird Conservancy, Amphibian Survival Alliance, Conservation International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Global Environment Facility, Global Wildlife Conservation, NatureServe, Rainforest Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, World Wildlife Fund and Wildlife Conservation Society. Downloaded from http://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/ on 12/12/2021. <br>
Maldonado, O., Aveling, C., Cox, D., Nixon, S., Nishuli, R., Merlo, D., Pintea, L. & Williamson, E.A. (2012). Grauer’s Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biega, Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe Landscape): Conservation Action Plan 2012–2022. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation & Tourism, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature & the Jane Goodall Institute. 66pp https://www.iucngreatapes.org/grauers-gorillas-and-chimpanzees<br>
Maldonado, O., Aveling, C., Cox, D., Nixon, S., Nishuli, R., Merlo, D., Pintea, L. & Williamson, E.A. (2012). Grauer’s Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biega, Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe Landscape): Conservation Action Plan 2012–2022. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation & Tourism, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature & the Jane Goodall Institute. 66pp https://www.iucngreatapes.org/grauers-gorillas-and-chimpanzees<br>
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'''Page completed by: '''Rwimo Shengeri Augustin & Natsuno Shinagawa ''' Date:''' 17/01/2022 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->
'''Page completed by: '''Rwimo Shengeri Augustin & Natsuno Shinagawa ''' Date:''' 17/01/2022 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->