The International Day of Forests is held on March 21 each year. On this day, the importance of forests is celebrated worldwide as it calls for global awareness and action to protect our planet.

It is crucial to acknowledge this day’s thoughtful importance and the emotions it draws out. From the weakening of natural resources to the dreadful impact of climate shift, our ecosystem’s fragile state compels everyone to take urgent action.

If nothing is done today in the Greater Virunga Landscape shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda, our generation may be the last to see endangered wildlife species, such as mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, African Elephants, Lions, hippopotamus, etc.

Elephants of the Queen Elisabeth National Park- Uganda: One of the Protected Ares forming the GVL Network shared between DRC, Rwanda and Uganda

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organise activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.

In 2024, the theme is “Forests and Innovation: New solutions for a better world”.

In the Greater Virunga Landscape, a number of  threats weigh on the forests:

Insecurity: This issue is affecting seriously the Virunga National Park where armed groups’ activities were detected in addition to the human pressure on the forests where refugees are cutting trees for firewood, others for building temporary shelters, and others to make income resources.

Insecurity is the main cause of the destruction of the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the protected areas forming the GVL network of protected areas- Photo June 2023

Insecurity is the main cause of the destruction of the Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the protected areas forming the GVL network of protected areas- Photo June 2023

Climate change: Despite the fact that this phenomenon is not well analyzed and figured out, it is believed that climate change is causing habitat changes with its consequences. Among the consequences,  the outbreak of invasive species is at its peak, 30% of the areas of Queen Elisabeth national park are under threat of the invasive species, the major species being the Karimanjojo (Dichronostactys Cinea)

Queen Elisabeth national park is under threat of the invasive species, the major species being the Karimanjojo (Dichronostactys Cinea)- Photo 2023

Climate change  is affecting the entire landscape and not only flora is threatened but also fauna as well. If these threats and others are not well handled, our wonderful forests and the animals inside will suffer a huge blow.

The radar images below generated by SarVision from the Kingdom of the Netherlands using radar images, show the changes in land cover from 2018 to 2024.

Radar image of the Greater Virunga Landscape on 24/01/2024

Radar image of the Greater Virunga Landscape on 29/01/2018

The image of 2018 was much greener while the image of 2024, just 6 years since then, has much more reddish to portray the speed of changes in land cover.

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Participants after the closing ceremony of the GVL TSP validation meeting

Mr Basil Ajer, Director of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, who represented the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities at the closing ceremony, reiterated the Partner States’ engagement in the transboundary collaboration for wildlife conservation in the Greater Virunga Landscape.

Mr. Basil Ajer, Director of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities of Uganda

‘’ The commitment shown by the stakeholders in the GVL Strategic Plan development process must be carried on during the implementation phase, now that it is validated’’. Said Mr Basil Ajer, Director of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities.

It was reaffirmed that in accordance with its scope and mandate as enshrined in the GVTC Treaty signed in 2015, GVTC will continue to be the lead and convener while other actors will be supporting depending on their technical and financial capacities as appropriate.

While expressing their commitment to implementing this strategy, during the closing ceremony of this 10-year Greater Virunga Landscape Transboundary Strategic Plan 2024-2033 validation meeting,  the officials recognized the Government of the Netherlands and WWF, whose financial contribution made this process possible.

Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, GVTC Executive Secretary

Mr. Simon Peter Weredwong, WWF Uganda Conservation Manager

Mr. Eugene Mutangana, Ag Managing Director of the Conservation Company in Rwanda Development Board

Mr. Joel Wengamulay, Director of International Cooperation at Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation ICCN – DRC

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Various stakeholders, including representatives of the conservation institutions from the 3 GVTC partner states, namely DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda; international and national Conservation non-governmental organizations; academia, tourism-related private sector, media, and the development partners were gathered at Skyz Hotel to validate the 10 years Greater Virunga Landscape Transboundary Strategic plan 2024-2033.

The purpose of the validation meeting was to review the strategic plan and provide high-level decision-making on the strategic direction and priorities over the next ten years 2024-2033 to ensure tie-lose ends, buy-in and, ownership.

Group photo after the opening of the GVL TSP validation meeting

This 10-year Greater Virunga Landscape Transboundary Strategic Plan 2024-2033 has four pillars:

1. Strengthen transboundary collaboration and coordination for effective natural resource management in the Greater Virunga Landscape.
2. Strengthen advocacy and community empowerment to improve participation in the effective management of the Greater Virunga Landscape.
3. Support the development and implementation of innovative finance and investments for effective conservation of Greater Virunga Landscape.
4. Improve governance and effective management of transboundary natural resources in the Greater Virunga Landscape.

Talking about the rationale behind this strategy, the rationale is multifaceted, driven by the urgent need to address converging threats and capitalise on the following emerging opportunities:

• The urgency of Action: The Greater Virunga Landscape faces numerous interconnected challenges and without immediate and unified action, the future of this irreplaceable natural treasure hangs in the balance.
• Need for a Transboundary Approach: The Greater Virunga Landscape transcends national borders. This Plan recognises the interconnectedness of the landscape and prioritises a collaborative, transboundary approach for sustainable management.
• Harnessing Opportunity: Despite the challenges, the Greater Virunga Landscape holds immense potential. The Plan seeks to tap into this potential by promoting sustainable development initiatives that empower communities and incentivise conservation.
• Building on Progress: The latest TSP does not reinvent the wheel, the plan strives to chart a more effective and inclusive path for the future of the GVL.

Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, GVTC Executive Secretary highlighted that there is a lot to celebrate, like the strengthened collaboration of players, such as state actors, non-state actors, non-governmental organizations, private sectors and communities, improved livelihoods, wildlife conservation in this GVL region, etc.

Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, delivering his opening remarks during the GVL TSP validation meeting

« However, one can’t say we have reached where we wanted to go. Challenges related to insecurity in the region, population density causing pressure on protected areas’ natural resources, poverty in the communities around the protected areas, human-wildlife conflicts and climate change impacts are still felt.” Said Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, Executive Secretary of GVTC.

The significance of the Greater Virunga Landscape transcends its geographical boundaries as recognized by UNESCO thanks to its biological diversity richness. This landscape offers invaluable ecological, economic, and social benefits despite challenges related to armed conflicts, poverty, population growth, and threats of climate change evident through increasingly frequent floods and landslides.  By endorsing this collectively crafted strategy, we reaffirm our commitment to the conservation and sustainable development within the GVL, said Mr. Odde de Jong, the First Secretary  Security, Rule of Law and Human Rights of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda representing the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kampala and the network of the Kingdom of the Netherlands embassies in the Region namely Kigali and Kinshasa.

Mr. Odde de Jong, the First Secretary  Security, Rule of Law and Human Rights of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda delivered his opening remarks during the GVL TSP validation meeting. March 20th, 2024

The representatives of the conservation institutions of the GVTC Partner States: Mr. Eugene Mutangana, Managing Director of Conservation Company LTD representing Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Mr. Joel Wengamulay, Director of International Cooperation representing Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and Mr. John Justice Tibesigwa, Ag. Chief Conservation Area Manager of Kibale Conservation area, representing Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), in their opening remarks, all reaffirmed their respective institutions’ engagements and commitments to the transboundary collaboration for the conservation of the shared resources in the Greater Virunga Landscape. Apart from the financial contribution to the running cost of the Executive Secretariat of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration done by the Partner States, the Government of Rwanda has gone the extra mile in providing GVTC with office space, and currently, GVTC staff sit in the same building with RDB in order to cut the costs of the running cost of the secretariate.

Mr. Eugene Mutangana, Managing Director of Conservation Company LTD representing Rwanda Development Board (RDB) during the GVL TSP validation meeting- Skyz Hotel, Kampala 20th March 2024

Mr. Joel Wengamulay, Director of International Cooperation representing the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation-ICCN during the GVL TSP validation meeting- Skyz Hotel, Kampala 20th March 2024

Mr. John Justice Tibesigwa, Ag. Chief of Kibale Conservation Area representing the Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA during the GVL TSP validation meeting- Skyz Hotel, Kampala 20th March 2024

The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the WWF Uganda country program were recognized for their financial contributions, which enabled the development of this Transboundary Strategic Plan 2024-2033.

Mr. Simon  Peter Weredwong WWF Uganda Conservation Manager during the GVL TSP validation meeting- Skyz Hotel, Kampala 20th March 2024

The Kilimanyika Group consultants were also appreciated for their expertise and dedication to facilitating, compiling, and developing this strategic plan.

Thanks to the highly professional facilitation of the workshop by Mr. James Byamukama, the Uganda  Executive Director of Jane Goodall Institute, that collectively we realized the GVL validation meeting expected results.

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The Convention on Biological Diversity gives you more details that will interest you.

Good reading:

Background

The United Nations proclaimed 22 May as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase
understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. This universal observance commemorates the adoption
of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on 22 May 1992 and provides a unique
opportunity to foster wide support for the Convention, its Protocols and related action frameworks, including
the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—the Biodiversity Plan.
The 2024 edition of IDB offers ample opportunities for engagement with a wide range of actors and
stakeholders. The campaign proposed by the Secretariat of the CBD seeks to bring about a surge of
awareness and to increase commitment in the lead-up to the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to the CBD that will take place from 21 October to 1 November 2024 in Cali, Colombia.
In addition to the expected celebrations around the world, IDB 2024 will coincide with two meetings of the
subsidiary bodies of the Convention on Biological Diversity, namely: the twenty-sixth meeting of the
Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 26, 13-18 May 2024) and
the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 4, 21-29 May 2024). Celebrations to be
held in Nairobi with the representatives of the Parties, observers and guests, will highlight progress and
offer opportunities to advocate bolder action in the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan, translating
globally agreed targets into national action.
Theme of IDB 2024: “Be Part of the Plan”

Follow the link to access the full text:

IBD 2024

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In the intricate social dynamics among the mountain gorillas we observe every day, we have seen that the relationships among adult males and females are fascinating and distinctive. Going beyond just reproduction, they often encompass bonding, protection and enduring connections, demonstrating that certain gorilla male-female pairs are very special. And these relationships, which are particularly strong between females and dominant males, actually shape the dynamics of each group.

Female gorillas seek lasting connections with dominant males, whose main duty is ensuring the group’s safety. This is especially important as the females want to ensure the best protection for their youngsters. Thus we see that large males, who can provide the best protection, seem to be preferred by females. Our research has actually shown that in males, larger size as measured through our photogrammetry studies, is associated with achieving alpha dominance status, the duration of dominance tenure and even number of females in the group. 

Adult males must also consistently demonstrate their strength and protective ability, in order to retain the loyalty of females. If they fail in this, females may leave the group or a stronger male may attempt to challenge for dominance.

The Silver Back Pato and the Female gorilla Kurudi. Photo by Alliance Umwizerwa

But size and strength aren’t all that matter when it comes to male-female relationships and we have often seen exceptional relationships continue for many years, beyond the time when the male’s physical prowess was the key factor. This clearly shows that other characteristics, such as personality and familiarity, also play a critical role. Here’s a look at some of our favorites:

The full story: follow the link below

Celebrating special gorilla relationships on Valentine’s Day – Dian Fossey (gorillafund.org)

 

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After last year’s consultation workshop held at Hill View Hotel, Rubavu in Rwanda, on the development of the 10 years Greater Virunga Landscape Transboundary Strategic Plan 2024-2034, the consultants from Kilimanyika Group developed the draft of that Transboundary Strategic Plan following the guidelines and views which were formulated during the above-mentioned consultations.

The technical working group meeting- Kampala Protea SKYZ Hotel 21-22 February 2023

In this respect,  under the leadership of GVTC Executive Secretariat and WWF, the Technical Working Group meeting is taking place in Kampala, Protea Skyz Hotel in Naguru, from 20th to 23rd February 2024 to review that draft Transboundary Strategic Plan.

Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation ( ICCN= Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature,  Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) are represented in this meeting as the main players.

There is a hope that this Transboundary Strategic Plan shall make a difference given that communities living around the Greater Virunga Landscape Protected Areas network and other stakeholders involved in conserving the Greater Virunga Landscape were consulted.

All interested stakeholders, including conservation communities and donors, should support this initiative to conserve for generations as this is to support GVTC mandate given that GVTC is seen as the only transboundary organisation which was given that mandate by the Partner States of DRC-Rwanda and Uganda to coordinate all the actors willing to contribute to the Greater Virunga Landscape conservation.

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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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GVTC Delegates and North Kivu Province leaders during the Stakeholders engagement meeting on Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration for conservation of the Greater Virunga Landscape, Hotel Linda, Goma 12 December 2023

The Virunga National Park is on the list of the world heritage sites in danger, since 1994. The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions threatening the very features that allowed a property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List and to encourage corrective action.

The participants of the meeting have brought out issues which are threatening the existence of the Virunga National Park, including insecurity caused by the armed groups living in some parts of the park, as the main issue which is causing inaction on all conservation aspects, deforestation, traffic of wildlife resources, encroachment and insufficient community benefits from these resources.

Presentation on GVTC, its scope, mandate, achievements, challenges and future prospects done by Mukeshimana Juvenal, GVTC Program Assistant, Hotel Linda Goma on the 12th December 2023

The stakeholders have expressed their confidence that GVTC can help to save this park, considering its mandate as it is enshrined in that Treaty, in accordance with the following Treaty objectives:

1. Promote and coordinate conservation of biodiversity and related socio-cultural values within the Greater Virunga Landscape Protected Areas network.
2. Develop strategies for collaborative management of biodiversity.
3. Promote and ensure coordinated planning, monitoring and evaluation of implementation of transboundary conservation and development programmes
4. Promote and coordinate tourism development programmes in the Greater Virunga Landscape
5. Secure sustainable funding for collaborative management of the Transboundary Protected Areas Network to promote biodiversity conservation and tourism development in the Greater Virunga Landscape.
6. Enhance and harmonise the generation and sharing of knowledge, experience and best practices for evidence-based decision-making.
7. Promote and support the safety and security of wildlife resources and tourists within the Greater Virunga Landscape
8. Engage in any other activity for the attainment of Treaty objectives.

Madam Kabeya Fatuma Marie Rose, GVTC Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration, representing Dr Andrew Ggunga Seguya, GVTC Executive Secretary and Brigadier General Yangba Tene Danny, Principal Advisor of the Governor of North Kivu Province, on Security issues reiterated their firm commitment to conserving the Virunga National Park while promoting the Transboundary Collaboration given the interconnectedness of the Greater Virunga Landscape Protected areas network.

Madam Kabeya Fatuma Marie Rose, GVTC Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration and Brigadier General Yangba Tene Danny, Principal Advisor of the Governor of North Kivu Province, on Security issues delivering their opening remarks during the Stakeholders engagement meeting at Hotel Linda, Goma on 12 December 2023

They vowed to work hand in hand to solve the problems hindering conservation and tourism development efforts, especially since biodiversity conservation is not the business of the park rangers and the protected area managers only.

Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration will not fail to this trust and will endeavour to bring together all the GVL stakeholders for further discussions and solutions to the problems raised.

GVTC Treaty 30 Oct 2015

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In Collaboration with WWF, GVTC convened a stakeholders’ consultation meeting for the development of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Strategic Plan 2024-2033.

On this 22nd November 2023, a two-day meeting which brought together experts from various backgrounds, involved in the conservation and tourism development in the Greater Virunga Landscape was concluded on a positive note. These experts including administration leaders, protected areas officers, conservation non-governmental organisations, and research institutions were able to determine a strategic orientation which will guide the GVTC and its partners in the next ten years from 2024.

Experts from DRC, Rwanda and Uganda in a consultative meeting on the development of the GVTC Transboundary Strategic Plan 2024-2033, at Hill View Hotel, Rubavu District of Rwanda on 21 November 2023

Considering the challenges  registered in this landscape, the participants have resolved to build the transboundary strategic plan on the following  pillars:

1. Transboundary Collaboration and Policy
2. Community Advocacy and Empowerment
3. Enterprise, Investment and Finance
4. Sustainable Natural Resources Management

This consultative workshop was facilitated by Kilimanyika Group consultants, Mr. Paul Harrison, Ececutive Chairman and Mr. James Laizer Director.

At the end of the two days, participants adopted a new vision, mission and goal on which the new strategy will be based on. The vision is: Greater Virunga Landscape sustainably conserved for the benefit of people and nature. The adopted mission is “To enhance the sustainable conservation of ecosystems and improve the well-being of people through a peaceful and strengthened transboundary collaboration in the Greater Virunga Landscape”, while the goal is to have inclusive and strengthened ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, improved quality of life for the people, and resilient ecosystems in the Greater Virunga Landscape, enabled by enhanced transboundary collaboration by 2033.

Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, in his closing remarks, expressed his gratitude to the participants whose contributions in terms of ideas, time, and finance were invaluable. He particularly thanked WWF, who continue to play a key role of mobilizing other key conservation and development NGOs in the GVL. He reiterated that with their contribution the fire is going to burn very brightly and the livelihood of the communities around the protected areas will be improved as the conservation of wildlife will be enhanced also.

Mr. Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, GVTC Executive Secretary, during addressing the gathering, during the consultative workshop of GVTC TSP in Rubavu, Hill View Hotel Nov 21, 2023

Mr. Paul Hatanga, WWF Program Coordinator, during addressing the gathering on behalf of WWF, during the consultative workshop in Rubavu, Hill View Hotel Nov 21, 2023

Mr. Abel Bizimana, Governor of Kisoro District (Chairman LCV), appreciated Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration for making consultations in order to come up with a strategy aiming at finding solutions to the problem of communities in the GVL. He pointed out that, it is shameful to note that the population around the protected areas are among the poorest, while they are the first guardians of the invaluable resources which are generating significant financial returns. 

Mr. Abel Bizimana Kisoro District Governor (Chairman LCV) addressing the gathering during the consultative meeting on development of GVTC Transboundary Strategic Plan, Rubavu 21 Nov 2023

“We must conserve for now and for the future.  We have a landscape to protect and it is our duty because it is a vulnerable landscape, whose great treasure is needed violently by the negative forces to use them illegally while it has the potential to make all of us rich. Equity is required in the distribution of that richness so that those who are around these resources are the first to get richer. It is shameful to see women and Children not accessing schools and hospitals while they are seated around these resources that are generating dollars every day. We need to have flourishing communities and a prosperous nature”, said the Kisoro District Chairman LCV.

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The Transboundary Strategic Plan is the tool that guides the interventions of Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration. The current Transboundary Strategic Plan runs from 2018 and is ending by 2023. In this perspective, GVTC in collaboration with WWF have hired Kilimanyika Group experts to facilitate the development of the new Transboundary Strategic Plan for ten years running from 2024 to 2033.

The experts from Kilimanyika Group are using the participatory approach to collect views and ideas on the priorities which should be put in this ten-year Transboundary Strategic Plan. Different categories of persons are being consulted in different areas and communities living around the protected areas forming the Greater Virunga Landscape in the three GVTC Partner States.

Consultants from Kilimanyika Group (in the middle of the group) consulting the vulnerable group living around Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, known as “Batwa” in Kisoro District, Uganda on 17th November 2023

In this perspective, local leaders, non-governmental organizations, civil society, community-based organizations, and indigenous people were consulted.

Despite the previous interventions and achievements, the consultations revealed that much more effort is required in order to improve on Greater Virunga Conservation and Tourism development which are the key themes of GVTC as enshrined in its Treaty signed between the GVTC Partner States Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda.

The consulted persons brought out the issues of human-wildlife conflicts, where animals are still getting out of the parks to destroy their crops. This needs a sustainable solution, and for them, they are of the view that an electric fence can be a better one than the current physical deterrent measures.

Water scarcity is still an issue in some of the areas around the protected areas. The communities would be happy to see those areas provided with water. The livelihood also is an area which needs to be worked on during the ten-year strategic plan. Communities should benefit more from the revenue generated from the protected areas’ resources since they are the ones who are at the forefront of the protection. In this respect, projects improving the livelihoods of the community members should be given priority like the provision of livestock as a means of producing manure to be used in agriculture but also as a source of animal vitamins, education sponsorships to the poor communities, cross border study tours,…

Insecurity and safety of wildlife and tourists was mentioned as one of the key pillars on which the ten-year GVTC Strategic Plan should be built on. GVTC partner states should work hard to silence arms within this region in which various negative forces are destroying what should be protected. Note that on the Democratic Republic of Congo side, Virunga National Parc, despite its endangered world heritage site status, it is being destroyed in front of the international community’s eyes. After peace restoration, and refugees return home, the parc’s restoration should be a priority.

Indigenous people should not be left out. They have pointed out that, the fact that they don’t own land, and they don’t have any other source of income except handcraft making which is not organized and advanced due to lack of training, accompaniment, and guidance.

Tourism infrastructures are still an issue, where tourism roads, community tourism facilities, conservation and tourism-related learning institutions are not available, while these should serve as the foundation of wildlife education for an improvement of Greater Virunga Landscape conservation.

Non-farming-related jobs should be created, coordination of stakeholders should be strengthened, and ownership in conservation of the natural resources should guide all the interventions. Environmental-friendly practices and policies must be promoted without forgetting the role that communication and information-sharing campaigns play in raising awareness.

All of these ideas were expressed during the trip of the consultant from Kilimanyika Group: Mr. Paul  Harrison, Executive Chairman and Mr. James Laizer, the Director accompanied by Mr. Juvenal Mukeshimana, Program Assistant of Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration from the 15^th to the 20^th November 2023.  Local leaders and communities from Musanze, Nyabihu, Burera and Rubavu Districts in Rwanda, local leaders, and communities from Nyarusiza and Muramba Sub counties of Kisoro District in Uganda, local leaders, and communities from Bwisha and Rutshuru in North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo participated in this consultation meetings.

Consultants from Kilimanyika Group meeting the Executive Secretary of Kinigi Sector, Musanze District ( in the middle) at the Office of the sector on 15th November 2023

Kilimanyika Group consultants meeting communities living around Volcanoes National Park, at the Headquartes of Volcanoes National Park on 15th November 2023

At Bugeshi Sector of Rubavu District in Rwanda, the Consultants are consulting the Executive Secretary of that Sector

Executive Secretary of Kabatwa Sector, Nyabihu District of Rwanda Madam Georgette, receives the consultants from Kilimanyika Group who are collecting views to be incorporated in the GVTC 10 year strategic plan. November 16, 2023

Community Conservation Warden in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda meets the Consultants on 17th November 2023

Meeting with Communities (Women) Kisoro District, Uganda 17 November 2023

Consultant from Kilimanyika consult the group of men, at the Nyarusiza Sub County of Kisoro District- Uganda 17th November 2023

Communities of Burera District, around Volcanoes National Park are in a meeting with the Kilimanyika Consultants at Cyanika Sector on 16th November 2023

Consultants meet Batwa community in Kisoro District of Uganda

The outcome of the consultation shall be compiled in a ten-year strategic plan and presented to the selected persons for improvement before its validation and implementation.

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