SAY NO to Illegal Mining Exploitation in Okapi Wildlife Reserve

Position of Group of civil society NGOs working for the protection of the environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo to KIMIA Mining; a Chinese company and illegal mining exploitation in protected area (Okapi Wildlife Reserve (RFO) a UNESCO world heritage site. TO ACT IN FAVOR OF A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT JUSTICE, RESPECTFUL OF THE LEGAL TEXTS… Read More

Environmental Civil Society Urges DR-Congo to Reverse Pay-to-Poach Decision

“Environmentalists in the Democratic Republic of Congo urged the government to reverse a move to tax rather than forbid poaching, saying the move endangered millions in conservation funds… In a joint decision this month, the DRC’s environment and finance ministries said killing, owning or selling protected species would be allowed on payment of a tax.… Read More

The Battle Continues 3: Cancellation of Oil Blocks in Salonga, Next Virunga

Greenpeace Africa responds to the cancellation of oil blocks in Salonga National Park, urging similar decisions to be taken in Virunga and the rest of the Cuvette Centrale threatened by oil blocks. Thursday, 22 July, Kinshasa – On Monday the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to remove Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo… Read More

The Battle Continues 2: Stop Oil Exploration Bids for the Ngaji Oil Block in Greater Virunga

Five community-based groups and civil society organisations representing over 272 members from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have written an open letter to six oil companies. The community groups and CSOs are calling on the companies not to submit oil exploration bids for the Ngaji oil block, which covers Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP)… Read More

Keita Brings Courage and Perseverance to Virunga

Bahait Lukoo Emmanuel—also known as Keita—brings courage and perseverance to Team Re:wild and we love him for that! As head of the southern sector of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he is responsible for responding to emergencies, monitoring wildlife and criminal activity, managing a team of rangers, working with surrounding communities in… Read More

Virunga Congo’s Oil Saga: A story of shadowy deals, environmental burden and civil society protest

Theodore Trefon noted in 2016 that “Oil has become big business in the DRC and the subject of major deal making – more often than not by dubious partners. It is shrouded in secrecy and controlled by the presidency” (1). The oil and gas sector of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ranked 84th (among 89… Read More

Conservation and Oil in Protected Areas: Part I The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

For the past years, we have fought for the protection of Virunga National Park and against oil exploration and exploitation in Africa’s oldest National park. We engaged in this battle not only because we wanted to safeguard one of its most iconic species, the mountain gorilla, but also because we believe that he Greater Virunga… Read More

Save Virunga supports IGEN-EA Vision for a Sustainable and Inclusive Economy for Generations to Come!

Today, May 21, 2021, a new network of Ugandans and East Africans from across civil society and the private sector have united to promote a new vision for a green East African economy and advocate for strategic investments across a diversity of sustainable, inclusive industries. Named the Inclusive Green Economy Network-East Africa (IGEN-EA), the network… Read More

A Banks and Biodiversity No Go Policy to Save Virunga, Upemba, Murchison Falls…

Around 1 million species face extinction in the next few decades and 10% of the earth’s wilderness has been lost in the past two decades. Humans depend on nature, but unsustainable activities are driving massive biodiversity losses and eroding cultures around the world at a rate higher than ever before in history. Without urgent action… Read More

Stop the East African Crude Oil Pipeline: For People, For Nature, For Climate

Over 260 organisations call on banks not to finance Total’s East African Crude Oil Pipeline With a final investment decision nearing, African and International organisations warn banks against joining $2.5 billion loan for a “manifestly irresponsible” project On the 1st of March 2021, 263 community and not-for-profit organisations from around the world urged the CEOs… Read More

Meet the Team that Protects Virunga: EU, GWC and Leo

After an exceptionally challenging year for biodiversity conservation across the world because of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Union, environmentalist and Academy Award ® -winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) launched two initiatives to better protect the planet in 2021 worth €34 million today. Both initiatives -a Rapid Response for Ecosystems, Species… Read More