Virunga National Park

CÃ©cile B.

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Virunga National Park

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Themes

Virunga National Park, protection, international media coverage, local population, natural resources, economic problems, social issues, ecocide, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Joseph Kaliba, Virunga perimeter, European Union, Howard Buffett Foundation, awareness

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Abstract

Virunga National Park is subject to numerous ethnic conflicts. This is due to the presence of numerous groups, the main ones being the Nande, Hutu, Tutsi, Hunde and Bashi (Bodson et al., 2009). The Tutsi genocide in Rwanda in 1994 led to the arrival of refugees, increasing insecurity around the Park (Caramel, 2017).
In addition, strong geopolitical conflicts began in the 1980s (IUCN/PACO, 2012). The two wars of liberation in 1996 and 1998 marked the birth of armed groups. In addition, the mountains that are home to the gorillas straddle the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda (Gamache and Ritter, n.d.). This border situation means that not all the protected areas are part of the National Park, and this can increase tensions between neighboring countries.

The context and reasons for the existence of Virunga National Park
1. Ethnic and geopolitical conflicts influencing the management of Virunga National Park
2. Is Virunga National Park a victim of ecocide?
Social issues in the face of environmental and economic problems
1. The "curse" of natural resources
2. The Virunga National Park, a protection project that is unfair to the local population
Outlook for the Virunga National Park
1. Possible solutions for better protection of the National Park
2. International media coverage of Virunga National Park

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[...] Protecting the animals means that they enter the crops: the agricultural work of local people, who are already short of food, is therefore used to feed the animals (Byamongo, 2017). What's more, the animals represent a danger to local residents. There is no compensation for human and economic losses. Human losses are also deplored in armed conflicts. The Rangers' commitment to saving the gorillas, at the risk of their lives, has prompted the Park to build a sewing workshop for the Rangers' widows, who can sell their work to tourists and thus help their families survive (Byamongo, 2017). A school has also been created. [...]

[...] In conclusion, media coverage seems to be more of a support than an exhaustive response to the problem. While its role cannot be questioned, the fact remains that it cannot solve the problem on its own. In the question "Does it represent a possible way out", other solutions (here implied by the adjective must be considered as additional, rather than competing, means. Media coverage is therefore a tool that can be used to complement management measures. [...]

[...] The Virunga National Park, a protection project that is unfair to the local population Virunga National Park has remarkable landscapes, and is probably the park with the greatest diversity of mammals, reptiles and birds. This is made possible by the diversity of habitats present, whether in terms of relief with massifs and alluvial plains, micro-climates, soil types varying from clayey to sandy, as well as vegetation with dense rainforests, mountain forests, valleys, grassy and wooded savannahs, lakes, ponds, marshy areas, etc. [...]

[...] This relationship with the media has many advantages. Raising awareness of environmental and even social causes provides financial support through donations (Van Schuylenbergh, 2015). In addition, media coverage of illegal practices puts pressure on oil operators and encourages those who own shares or were considering buying them not to support this trade (Caramel, 2013). This in turn reduces the presence of armed groups, thereby reducing insecurity and boosting tourism, which is a resource for the local economy (Gamache and Ritter, n.d.). [...]

[...] Outlook for the Virunga National Park Possible solutions for better protection of the National Park The African "guns and fences" model is based on guns and the closure of areas. However, sustainable management of the Park cannot be based on this model. Firstly, a violent response would only lead to more conflict and more victims. Managers do not aim to fight armed groups head-on, but rather to deprive them of funding (Byamongo, 2017). A new conservation model proposed by Emmanuel de Merode is based on electricity production (Caramel, 2017). [...]

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