SAVE VIRUNGA
Stop Oil Exploration in Africa's Oldest National Park
“Almost four environmental defenders a week killed in 2017” Environmental Warriors Environmental activists around the globe are being killed as they struggle to protect fragile ecosystems. From Brazil to Congo, the Philippines to Tanzania, the toll is heaviest in countries beset by corruption and weak enforcement, where entrenched government and business elites break laws with… Read More
Hope for Virunga and all these irreplaceable places and protected areas affected by conflict and war. A new study highlights that “sustained conservation activity in conflict zones—and rapid interventions following ceasefires—may help to save many at-risk populations and species.” Researchers report that war has been a consistent factor in the decades-long decline of Africa’s large mammals.… Read More
Virunga National Park is under threat and witnessing an increase in attacks and misinformation around its development projects in North Kivu. Everything started a few months ago with recurrent militia attacks in and around the construction site of its third Hydropower plant of 12,8 MW close to Lubero. Making it very difficult for the park… Read More
Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border of Uganda and Rwanda. Virunga is Africa’s oldest national park and is also the continent’s most biologically diverse protected area. The park’s 7800 square kilometers (3000 square miles) includes forests, savannas, lava plains, swamps, erosion valleys,… Read More
#WORLDRANGERDAY2017 – PARK RANGERS UNDER ATTACK IN THE DRC 10 defenders killed in the DRC in 2016 – the highest number in Africa 9 of those killed were park rangers The DRC government is threatening those campaigning against abuses in the natural resource sector Natural predators are the least of Rodrigue Katembo’s worries… Read More
Virunga National Park is a major source of revenue for armed groups that exploit illegally its resources such as wildlife, minerals and charcoal. The trafficking of all these natural resources remains one of the underlying causes of instability in Eastern DR-Congo and a curse for nature and people. — Diamonds and gold — vast natural resources… Read More
Extract from Global Witness last investigation on Uganda’s mining sector, a story on endemic corruption and mismanagement profiting at the expense of the Ugandan people, environment and economy. Almost half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas are at risk as mining threatens Bwindi and Rwenzori national parks, part of the famous Virunga ecosystem – this risks… Read More
Read here UNEP’s blog where Emmanuel de Merode writes about the work being done in Virunga to end wildlife crime through development. In a seemingly dark and tumultuous world, I find the greatest beacon of hope here in the Virunga National Park, eastern Congo. Hope that, through the efforts of those working to protect the… Read More
“The Congo is a land far away, yet our histories are so closely linked. We have thrived from a lopsided relationship, yet we are utterly blind to it. The price of that myopia has been human suffering on an unimaginable scale.” Dan Snow
Blocks off Africa’s coast have already been snapped up by exploration companies but what of East Africa’s enormous great lakes? With exploration well underway in Lake Albert and plans laid down for Lake Malawi, Philip Kleinfeld looks at the social, political and environmental challenges. Lake Albert Uganda Blocks off Africa’s coast have already been snapped… Read More
Herebelow Virunga National Park‘s last message on the death of two of their Rangers: Remembering the Rangers Mulonga and Mumbere Rangers Fidèle Mulonga Mulegalega and Venant Mumbere Muvesevese died doing everything in their power to protect the park. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for their sacrifice. Were it not for brave men and women like them, Virunga National Park… Read More
An extraordinary leader has been murdered. To save this planet we need extraordinary leaders…. Many of them are not known to you and to the rest of the world, and probably they never will be. Why? “It costs us in blood” BUT THEY ARE HERE, fighting each day for a world where environmental and human… Read More
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