The official theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet"

GVTC Theme: "Protecting Nature Beyond Borders – For People, Peace and Planet".

On this Earth Day, the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration joins the global community to reaffirm a simple yet powerful truth: nature knows no borders, and neither should our commitment to protecting it.

The Greater Virunga Landscape, shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is one of the world’s most biologically rich and culturally significant regions. It is home to unique ecosystems, iconic species such as the mountain gorilla, and millions of people whose livelihoods, identity, and resilience depend directly on healthy nature.

Our mandate as GVTC is rooted in a shared vision:
to conserve biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and promote peace through cooperation across national borders.

A Message to the World

Earth Day 2026 reminds us that global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental insecurity can be addressed only through collective action. The Greater Virunga experience demonstrates that regional cooperation is not only possible but essential.

By working together across borders, we have shown that conservation can:

• Protect globally significant ecosystems
• Strengthen climate resilience
• Support sustainable livelihoods
• Foster trust, dialogue, and peace among nations and communities

The world can learn from the Virunga model: when nature is managed jointly, prosperity and peace can grow together.

A Message to Our Partners

To our governments, communities, conservation agencies, development partners, civil society, and the private sector:

Your support has made transboundary collaboration a living reality. On this Earth Day, we call on you to deepen and sustain your commitment by:

• Investing in long-term, landscape-scale conservation
• Supporting community-led solutions that link conservation to livelihoods
• Strengthening regional cooperation for One Health, climate adaptation and mitigation
• Promoting peace, equity, and inclusivity as foundations for environmental sustainability

Together, we must scale up efforts to ensure that conservation delivers tangible benefits for people, especially youth and women, who are the stewards of tomorrow’s environment.

Our Commitment

As GVTC, we reaffirm our commitment to:

• Protecting shared ecosystems and wildlife
• Promoting sustainable development across borders
• Strengthening cooperation among Partner States
• Championing conservation as a pathway to peace and resilience

Closing Call

On this Earth Day 2026, let the Greater Virunga Landscape stand as a symbol of hope that cooperation can triumph over division, that conservation can drive development, and that protecting our shared planet is a shared responsibility.

Together, let us protect nature beyond borders for people, for peace, and for the planet.

For Media Inquiries:
Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC)
Email: info@greatervirunga.org
Website: www.greatervirunga.org