gorilla.cd
Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
The Next Steps for Virunga
The past two weeks have seen a big breakthrough for Virunga. We’ve relaunched our work in the gorilla sector, which marks a new chapter in our lives. The situation is still very fragile, but now at last, we feel we are in a position to make significant headway. I wanted to outline our thoughts for the coming months. As always, your comments are a source of support for us.
At the moment, the Northern and Southern Sectors of the Park are now sufficiently stable for us to be able to launch solid conservation programmes. That isn’t to say that these areas aren’t threatened. The forest is still being cut down for charcoal, and Mai Mai and FDLR militias remain a threat to our staff. Nevertheless, we have begun to implement our 2009 emergency programme, that focuses on three main areas –
1. Improving the working conditions and effectiveness of our rangers
2. Re-establishing stability and the rule of law within the park
3. Addressing the energy crisis (primarily the charcoal problem) through viable alternative energy programmes
This means reorganizing staff, putting effective management systems in place, providing training and equipment, and launching very focused community development programmes. It’s a very ambitious programme, but if we succeed, we hope it will take us off UNESCO’s list of “World Heritage Sites in Danger”.
The Rwindi Plain
Unfortunately, we have to be realistic, and we will be facing crises and setbacks on a regular basis, and we will have to prepare for that. For instance the Central Sector, where we have around 280 rangers based from Rwindi and Lulimbi, remains in serious trouble. There has been heavy fighting between CNDP and FDLR / Mai Mai troops around Ishasha, which has forced about 120 of our rangers and their families into refugee camps in Uganda. The Central Sector is often forgotten because it is dominated by Savanna and doesn’t have gorillas, but it once had the highest large mammal biomass on earth, with huge herds of elephants, buffalos, and of course hippos. It is also a stunningly beautiful and rich acacia savanna. If we can regain control of these areas, then one day, hopefully in my lifetime, they will regain their former glory. In the meantime, we have to protect our staff so that they can live to fight another day.
Today, I will be driving up to Ishasha with Balemba to provide basic help to the rangers and their families, as they had to flee the fighting without any food. We will have to drive through Uganda because the road through the park is still under attack by FDLR militias. We can do this largely thanks to your donations, so we’re very grateful for that.
Leave a Reply
-
RECENT DONATIONS
-
29 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 212
Helmut Albert P 25 $ -
28 Jul 2010Open donation
Laura S 100 $ -
28 Jul 2010Briquette Program
Liz W 12 $ -
28 Jul 2010Open donation
Juli&Family R 10 $ - 28 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 28 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
28 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 211
Louise M 25 $ - 27 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 20
Jessica 25 $ - 27 Jul 2010Patrol Rations
Caroline 15 $ - 27 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 179
Caroline 25 $ - 27 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 27 Jul 2010Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ -
27 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 71
Bernard B 25 $ - 27 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - 26 Jul 2010Fuel for Patrols
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 26 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 26 Jul 2010Briquette Program
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 25 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 141
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 25 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
25 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Theresa S 10 $ - 25 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
25 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Brenton H 10 $ -
25 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 206
Ryan B 25 $ -
25 Jul 2010Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Mark L 40 $ - 24 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 24 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 24 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 23 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 23 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
23 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 55
Pirjo 25 $ -
23 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 70
Rebecca T 25 $ - 23 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 61
Pirjo 25 $ - 23 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 112
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 23 Jul 2010 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 6
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 13
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 28
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 38
scott l 25 $ -
22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 109
Gillian 25 $ -
21 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 48
Vanessa C 25 $ - 21 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - 21 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 217
Suzannah 25 $ -
20 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 76
Kevin 25 $ -
20 Jul 2010Open donation
Vanessa 10 $ - 19 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 19 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 19 Jul 2010 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 82 $ - 19 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Josephine B 10 $ -
19 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 39
Bill W 25 $ - 19 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 40 $
-
-
-
News from Congo- On-the-ground work helps Congo more than foreign efforts - Washington Post
- Why recent US 'conflict minerals' legislation may not help in eastern Congo - Christian Science Monitor
- Scores dead in DR Congo accident - Aljazeera.net
- Democratic Republic of Congo: Militia Leader Ordered Back to Jail - New York Times
- Congo Army Clashes With Uganda Rebels in East, Displacing 60000 Civilians - Bloomberg
- Next challenge for Congo: International terrorism - Christian Science Monitor
- Indian pilot kidnapped in Congo - Times of India
- Agency clear of 'cultural' claims - BBC News
- Diamond moving second rig out of US Gulf, Congo-bound - Insurance News Net (press release)
- International Briefs - Washington Informer
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
7 Responses to “The Next Steps for Virunga”
Emmanuel, thank you for your post on the situation in Virunga National Park. I agree that your 2009 programme is ambitious but I am sure that if anybody can see it through it is you: your leadership has been admirable. I believe that not only will you see the park in its former glory in your lifetime, but that I will in mine! I will see the gorillas in the mountains, the elephants and buffalos in the savannahs, and the hippos in the lakes, and I will be glad that I have been lucky enough to be part of it all. Good luck and be safe. Iris
Emmanuel, I agree with Irisk, your leadership has been exemplary and is, I am sure, the principle component in the achievements of the past two weeks.
In your post you rightly focus on the key issues of staff. If you are to protect the wildlife and allow the park to recover you need ‘boots on the ground’. And not just any ‘boots’; proper organisation, training and support of the Rangers will be what makes the difference. You are fortunate in that you start with such a clearly dedicated group. Nobody who has followed this story over the past weeks can fail to be impressed by how committed and enthusiastic your team is.
The big challenge is money. You can achieve your goals, but only if the money is there to allow you to do what needs to be done. The message to me, and the rest of your supporters, is clear: If you want to help the gorillas help the men on the ground – send money now!
I agree with Iris and EWB. Emmanuel, your leadership and the team you have is exemplary! The dedication and courage through all the trials has been awe inspiring. Your goals are high but if anyone can meet those goals it’s your team of rangers. I have absolute faith in you all. I look forward to the day when the park is teaming with wildlife and at peace once more. I believe that day WILL come.
Emmanuel, you have my full support. You have proven yourself to be a brilliant and very brave leader, you have done wonders and will continue to do so.
a good and possibly a very frank article, and I also see the kigali new times under your posts. It seems you must feel freer to xpress yourselves You did not mention fear of Nkundas c.n.d..p. when you were worrying about the danger of mai mai fldr armed groups . I wonder if you are being cautious and politic in your statements because you need his support to operate in the park(and this website is probably monitored by authorities on all sides} , or if they are really a lesser fear or perhaps even supportive of the park or whatever ??? From the gorillas point of view at this moment should I continue to support Nkunda ? On another topic you need to sell something up front on your website. Last Christmas my cousin gave me a goat:or rather she gave me a certificate saying that a goat had been purchased in Kenya and donated to a lady there in my name. You need to sell something on this site maybe even just baseball caps with your logo. good luck
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!! for you and for all the rangers. it is amazing your job at the field, and all your achievements, I can not imagine all the difficulties you had to go trough.
I really felt in love with this place, i hope some day i can come back. I was there last year (as an uruaguayan peeckeeper, doing job of translator) and i didnt know your cause at that moment. I am a vet and have lots of friend´s pictures from the patrolls at the park. they saw elephants, hipos, etc
so, best wishes,
and peace!
Emmanuel & team
What you have achieved up to now, despite the conditions, is just incredible your team, the rangers, are all such an inspiration to me and I wish I could be of more help other than just giving donations and verbal support from behind the computer screen…I have no doubt your team are capable of pulling it off because their hearts & spirits are in the right place. Innocent, Diddy and everyone else there on the team are all incredible!! As always my thoughts are with you all and I know you’ll all be able to accomplish this!…and hopefully sometime soon I can come see it all for myself!
all the best and my thoughts with you all