Experiences Archives - Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration

VULNERABILITY OF PROTECTED AREAS OF THE GREATER VIRUNGA LANDSCAPE VIS A VIS CLIMATE CHANGE

jmukeshimana@greatervirunga.org — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 12:15:59 +0000

The collaborative transboundary framework of programs, plans and activities is aimed at conserving the network of Protected Areas (PAs) in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL) shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda. The GVL covers areas and communities around the PAs of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda; Virunga National Park in DRC and five national parks National Park in Uganda: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and Semliki National Park. The landscape is part of the Albertine Rift, is unique and a biodiversity hot spot as it contains several species of conservation concern such as the Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), chimpanzees, African elephants and plants such as the Giant Lobelias and Dendrosenecios…

Elephants of Queen Elisabeth National Park/Uganda

Climate change is a major threat to the landscape with effects on biodiversity within and outside the Protected Areas. Climate Change has compounding effects, aggravating the impacts of other threats to biodiversity. These have impacts on the livelihoods of frontline communities that struggle to cope with the wrath of crop-raiding animals.

Intensive activities at the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park/Uganda

Elephant in the banana plantation

Mountain gorilla in the banana plantation

Vulnerability to climate change is felt at multiple levels: communities, households and individuals.

Climate change is occurring in the Greater Virunga Landscape and is mainly driven by anthropogenic factors, especially increased land use intensity. This is driven by increased population growth and its associated demand for land for agriculture and settlement. In addition, there is unsustainable utilisation of natural resources.

Current effects of climate change on species, ecosystems, and ecological processes and potential future effects on ecosystem services: Climate change will negatively affect species, ecosystems and ecological processes in the Greater Virunga Landscape if appropriate mitigation and adaptation actions are not implemented.

30% of the areas of queen Elisabeth national park is under threat of the invasive species, the major species is Karimanjojo (Dichronostactys Cinea)

The projected climatic conditions will thus affect several ecosystem services and processes in the Greater Virunga Landscape. These effects are more likely to occur in DRC and Uganda.

Virunga National Park of DRC at the foot of Nyiragongo Volcanoe, the forest is disappearing- Insecurity is this part doesn’t allow conservation effort

Understanding what will happen to the plants and animals under these changes is necessary. This will require to implement the GVTC Climate Change Strategy with the overall objective of strengthening landscape-wide resilience to climate change and ensuring climate-compatible conservation measures for sustainable livelihood in the Greater Virunga Landscape.

If nothing is done today, we may be the last to enjoy the beauty of the Greater Virunga Landscape as it is today.

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Greater Virunga Transboundary collaboration supports the efforts of the Partner States leading to free movements of the people.

jmukeshimana@greatervirunga.org — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 09:08:34 +0000

In a joint communique signed by Uganda’s first Deputy Premier and Minister for African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga and the State Minister for Regional Integration of the DRC, Antipas Nyamwisi, the two countries agreed to remove entry visa fees on a reciprocal basis to facilitate the free movement of people.

This was decided during the eighth joint permanent commission between the Democratic Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Uganda which ended on Saturday the 14^th of October 2023 in Kinshasa. Uganda, DRC agree to remove entry visas, strengthen security – New Vision Official

Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration as an intergovernmental organization bringing together DRC, Rwanda and Uganda on biodiversity conservation and tourism development matters is strongly in support of this development, as it requests an extra step towards the single tourism visa between the GVTC Partner States, to allow all the tourists from all over the world to visit the entire Greater Virunga Landscape with a single tourism visa.

What would be the added value of a Single Tourism Visa for the Greater Virunga Landscape?

Unveiling the Unexplored Wonders

In a historic stride toward regional collaboration, the nations within the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL) can redefine the travel experience by introducing a single tourism visa. This visionary initiative, has the potential to open the doors to unparalleled adventure and exploration, weaving together the vibrant cultures and unparalleled biodiversity of this extraordinary region.

Visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, one of the Parks of the Greater Virunga Landscape where silver meets gold ( Gorilla Silver back and Golden Monkey)

The GVL, a biogeographically unique expanse, spans across parts of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Within this tapestry of natural beauty and diverse ecosystems, lies a wealth of untapped potential for travellers and local communities alike.

Here’s why a single tourism visa for the GVL region is a game-changer:

Streamlined Travel: Imagine a single visa that grants access to all partner states within the Greater Virunga Landscape. Travellers would no longer need to navigate a maze of visas and entry requirements. This simplification would transform the journey into a seamless adventure of exploration.

Inclusive Tourism: A unified visa would encourage travellers to explore multiple regions within the GVL, from the lush forests of Uganda to the captivating wildlife in the DRC and the stunning landscapes of Rwanda. With easier access, visitors can experience the full spectrum of this rich and diverse landscape.

Economic Prosperity: Tourism is a powerful driver of economic growth. By removing the complexities of multiple visas, this initiative would stimulate the tourism industry across the entire GVL region. Local businesses, from accommodations to local crafts, would flourish, resulting in job opportunities and economic stability for the communities.

Conservation and Sustainability: A single tourism visa would not only boost tourism but also provide a financial source for conservation efforts. The revenue generated could be reinvested into safeguarding the region’s unique biodiversity and supporting the people who are its stewards.

Cultural Enrichment: Travellers would have the chance to engage deeply with the rich cultures and traditions of the GVL. Immersed in local communities, they could learn, share, and experience the heritage of the partner states, fostering mutual respect and understanding.

The Greater Virunga Landscape is a treasure trove of natural and cultural wonders, and it beckons to be explored. The current move by the partner states to discuss the implementation of a single tourism visa represents an opportunity to transform the travel experience for all who venture here. By breaking down bureaucratic barriers, we can reveal the untapped potential of this breathtaking region and harness its allure for the benefit of nature, people, and economies.

As we advocate for a single tourism visa for the Greater Virunga Landscape, we envision a future where borders are no longer obstacles but gateways to discovery. It is a call to unite, a vision of shared prosperity, and a commitment to safeguarding this invaluable tapestry of life.

The time for a single tourism visa in the Greater Virunga Landscape has arrived. Together, we can turn this vision into a reality, ensuring that future travellers can explore, experience, and cherish the wonders of the GVL region, leaving a legacy of conservation, understanding, and lasting positive impact.

Sunrise in Queen Elisabeth National Park

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Targeted Scenario Analysis, an approach believed to allow to change from Business As Usual to Sustainable Ecosystem Management for sustainable development in the Greater Virunga Landscape

jmukeshimana@greatervirunga.org — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:29:25 +0000

Currently, small-scale crop farming remains main livelihood. Prolonged dry seasons because of climate change puts increased pressure on water resources, negatively affecting small-scale farmers. Additionally, there is increased human-wildlife conflict (HWC) because of crop raiding by species suffering consequences of climate change. Long-term livelihood income decreases and hunting of wildlife increases (either for source of food or as method to prevent crop raiding).

Shift to nature-based tourism/climate-smart agriculture reduces dependency on natural resources. Water tanks reduce impacts of lack of water resources and positively affect small-scale farmers. Effective buffer zone management reduces human-wildlife conflict with the addition of tea farming as an alternative source of income, preserving species populations and as a result increasing tourism in the region. Local livelihoods increase and food insecurity decreases, positively impacting revenue for communities and general wellbeing.

The Vanishing Treasures Programme to which Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration is amongst the key stakeholders, aims to enhance the resilience to climate change of vulnerable Virunga Mountains species, such as the iconic Mountain Gorilla while supporting local mountain communities who live alongside them. The Vanishing Treasures has set the following objectives:

Improve the adaptive capacity of mountain ecosystems while maintaining related ecosystem services.
Promote alternative livelihoods for local communities.
Train wildlife managers in protected areas in climate-smart conservation, adaptation to Climate Change, and nature-based solutions.
Improve communication between climate research and biodiversity conservation practitioners.
Promote and develop a green infrastructure approach, including restoration of habitats & corridors, creation and maintenance of buffer zones and steppingstones, and rehabilitation of swamps and water catchment areas while increasing agricultural productivity or providing alternative forms of income to local communities.

Achieving the above-listed objectives include critical policy-related challenges. Therefore, it is indispensable for local leaders and decision-makers to understand the economics supporting policy reform to shift from unsustainable agricultural and livestock practices to more sustainable ecosystems and biodiversity-friendly livelihoods such as climate-smart agriculture, nature-based tourism, and other non-timber extracting activities. Thus, the Vanishing Treasures Programme will apply UNDP’s Targeted Scenario Analysis approach to respond to the growing demand from decision-makers and stakeholders for effective policy-relevant economic analysis tools to advance productive sectors’ policy reform and, therefore, the national Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP’s Targeted Scenario Analysis (TSA) offers a practical approach to connecting policy objectives with fit-for-purpose economic analysis. Targeted Scenario Analysis enables the conversion of economic data into sustainable sector development policy.

It is in this respect that the workshop was organized in Nkuringo from 12^th to 14^th July 2023, to allow the participants who mainly are the beneficiaries of the Vanishing Treasures Programme, to consider its achievements, use the data to craft the policy which shall be discussed in order to make a national policy which can be replicated and used elsewhere.

Nkringo TSA workshop- July 2023

The Targeted Scenario Analysis Inception workshop will start the Targeted Scenario Analysis by bringing decision-making and Vanishing Treasures’ stakeholders to understand how Targeted Scenario Analysis works and how it will be conducted in the Virunga landscape. The Targeted Scenario Analysis inception workshop is the most critical step of the Targeted Scenario Analysis methodology because it provides the opportunity to capture the decision-makers’s objectives in the Targeted Scenario Analysis and ensure that it responds to the specific policy needs of the decision-makers and the Vanishing Treasures’ stakeholders.

The Targeted Scenario Analysis workshop’s objective is to refine the scope of the Targeted Scenario Analysis study, including:

Define and engage the decision makers (clients of the study).
Identify the policy targets and questions to be addressed by the Targeted Scenario Analysis.
Describe the Business As Usual (BAU) scenario and the Sustainable Ecosystem Management ( SEM) intervention.
Advance with selecting criteria and indicators to construct the BAU and SEM scenarios and apply the economic analyses.

Consultations with decision-makers and leaders from Districts, Local Councils, Communities, and The Parks Authority are essential to achieve the Targeted Scenario Analysis objective.

Once this will be achieved, sustainability of interventions will be ensured leading to sustainable development.

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Vanishing Treasures Global Partners in Ruhija, Republic of Uganda- the cornerstone of endangered species protection

jmukeshimana@greatervirunga.org — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:03:52 +0000

Mountains are some of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change, threatening both human and wildlife survival. The Vanishing Treasures project, implemented by UN Environment and funded by Luxembourg, aims to enhance the climate resilience of mountain communities and ecosystems by applying climate-smart conservation and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches in support of sustainable livelihoods and land-use, in order to reduce human-induced pressures on wildlife.

The preferred food for mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This project targets three mountainous sub-regions and three charismatic species: the mountain gorilla in the Greater Virunga Landscape (Uganda

and Rwanda), the snow leopard in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) and royal Bengal tiger the Hindu-Kush Himalayas (Bhutan).

In both Uganda and Rwanda, human population density is very high, with high levels of poverty. Climate change impacts are already being witnessed in the Virunga through prolonged dry seasons and increasing mean temperatures. This means shrinking freshwater sources for the subsistence farmers, forcing them to access the national park in search of water.

Due to a small population and highly restricted geographic range, mountain gorillas are particularly vulnerable to climate changes, with limited adaptive capacity.

The Vanishing Treasures Global Partners are gathered in Ruhija, Republic of Uganda, from 6^th June 2023 through 11^th June 2023 where they will discuss the implementation progress of the project while getting closer to the realities on the field in the Greater Virunga Landscape.

Some of the Vanishing Treasures Global Partners in the jungle for gorillas tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National park as a way to understand the current situation of the gorillas in the Greater Virunga Landscape

The exchange of experiences, lessons learnt and expertise between the target regions, conflict-sensitive conservation, Human-wildlife conflict and field visits to Nkuringo Buffer zone are at the heart of the business during this period.

Note that Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) is part of this initiative and has a very key role to play for the protection of mountain gorillas in the Greater Virunga Landscape shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda.

Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, Executive Secretary of GVTC urges all the players, including regional and international bodies, to work hard for the endangered species protection.

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Gorilla Trekking: an incredible and amazing experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of Uganda

jmukeshimana@greatervirunga.org — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 19:13:16 +0000

There are several activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that tourists can undertake during their stay. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a very big forest of 321 square kilometres, and then being so big, there are many activities to do: mountain Gorilla trekking, bird watching, Gorilla Habituation Experience, hiking, nature walks, community experience, cultural activities like the Batwa Cultural experience.

Allow me to focus on the mountain Gorilla trekking experience, to which the Vanishing Treasures Global Partners participated in, on this Wednesday, June 7th, 2023, in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, on the eve of their meeting.

What is Gorilla trekking, and how is it done?

When you are doing the gorilla trekking, you go following the Gorilla trail.

What is a gorilla trail?

When Gorillas are moving in the jungle, they leave a push of plants pointing in the same direction they are heading to. That is the gorilla trail. In that trail, you find signs, like their dung or the leftovers of what they were feeding on. Those signs can tell you how long the gorillas have been on that spot.

Before, it was hard to do the gorilla trekking; very few people could make it others could not. The whole ( tourists, trackers, guides, guards) team used to leave at the same time, and the team used to be with the trackers.

Who are the trackers?

Trackers are the rangers who know how to tell the difference between the trails of all the animals in the forest. For example, where gorillas have passed, it is really different from where chimpanzees have passed, which is also different from where baboons have passed and where elephants have passed. Every animal in the forest has its own trail, which is different from others.

Who are the guides?

The guides are the rangers who go interpreting nature to the visitors and answer the visitors’ questions

Who are the guards?

The guards are the rangers with guns. When we are moving in the forest, we can meet aggressive animals like elephants or no habituated gorillas. The role of the guards will be to shoot in the air to scare those animals.

Trackers used to lead the team, following the trail. The team members had to pass where the gorillas had passed until they reached where they were. They would visit for one hour before coming back. These animals don’t stay where they were before. The following day another team had to start from where the previous team had left the gorillas until they could reach the actual place of the gorillas.

Currently, it is easy. The trackers leave early in advance; they distribute themselves according to the Gorilla family groups visitors are to visit. At the Visitors Information Center, they register the available visitors and distribute them to where those trackers are. The visitors are given their respective guides, who are in touch with the trackers who have already identified where the gorillas are.

The visitors stay with the gorillas for one hour, while the trackers stay behind with the gorillas doing monitoring activities like whether there is a disease that occurred or if there is any other abnormal behaviour developed.

Experience of Bitukura Family gorilla group trekking.

The tracking starts with the entertainment by the Community members performing in front of the visitors and the briefing on the Gorilla trekking itself:

The alpha male of this group is a silverback called Mugisha. Adult males and females, as well as babies, are happy in this forest. Protection of these gorillas is a must. These mountain gorillas are only found in the Virunga Massif, composed of Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda and Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as in the Bwindi I Impenetrable National Park contiguous to the Sarambwe Game Reserve of DRC.

The last census of Mountain Gorillas has shown that the Mountain Gorilla population is currently 1063. Bitukura family is one of these:

Mugisha:The Alpha male of Bitukura Family

Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, in front of Mugisha The Vanishing Treasures global Partners Mr. Byamugisha Benjamin, UWA guide in action

in the jungle for Bitukura Family trekking

It was amazing after the Bitukura family trekking

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Tourism

create — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 12:26:46 +0000

Greater Virunga Protected Areas

NATIONAL PARKS

The Greater Virunga Protected Areas, a cluster of national parks situated in the heart of Africa, stand as a testament to the region’s rich biodiversity and its commitment to preserving its natural heritage. This network of parks, spanning three countries – the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda – encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural significance, making it a globally recognized hotspot for conservation

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What We Do

create — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 10:58:54 +0000

Activities of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration aiming at conserving the Greater Virunga Landscape are summarized in four pillars which are at the same time Regional Technical Committees as one of the Governing structures of GVTC

The following are some of GVTC does to conserve sustainably the Greater Virunga Landscape.

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Trekking

create — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 13:15:10 +0000

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Travel with Purpose

create — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 13:07:39 +0000

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COMMUNITY CONSERVATION

create — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 12:40:25 +0000

Supported the implementation of community conservation and other projects in each country in areas neighboring the protected areas. The projects livelihoods and income generating projects.
The GVTC is involved in energy projects seeking solutions to the local community reliance to the park by tree cutting, charcoal and timber exploitation
Establishing community centers to help communities around the parks to diversify their income as they will be selling different products to tourists
Improving agriculture by facilitating farmers experience and exchange between farmers of the three countries.
The GVTC intervenes in initiating new tourism products: e.g., Batwa trail tourism
Involvement in peace building initiatives in the region through organizing exchange visits and sharing of experience among community groups from the three countries.
Other projects funded are the bee keeping, tree planting activities, and water harvesting among others.

Other Things We Do

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