The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP29, will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024. 

Considering the message highlighted below by  H.E. Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan: 

 

“On earth, in society, between people and nature, should reign harmony and consent, otherwise humanity will destroy itself” 

Message conveyed through the poems of XII-century world-renowned Azerbaijani poet and philosopher Nizami Ganjavi 

Queen Elisabeth National Park is in line with and remains the representative image of the expected achievement of UNFCCC COP29. In Queen Elisabeth National Park, people and nature reign in harmony, especially since this park has the status of man and biosphere.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the seven National Parks managed under the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) Treaty signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Rwanda, and the Republic of Uganda in 2015. It is one of the seven Conservation areas managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) while the Queen Elisabeth National Park is one of the four protected areas forming the Queen Elisabeth Conservation Areas. These protected areas are Queen Elisabeth National Park,  Kigezi Wildlife Reserve, Kyambura Wildlife Reserve and Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The size of Queen Elisabeth Conservation areas is 346,000 hectares.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, a mostly savanna park in the Greater Virunga Landscape, is a unique and popular destination in Uganda. It shares a border with the Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo and boasts a diverse range of habitats, including savannah grasslands, forests, lakes, and wetlands. This rich ecosystem is home to the largest variety of large mammals in Uganda and the Greater Virunga Landscape.

The Kazinga Channel, a natural wonder, connects the RAMSAR sites of Lake George and Lake Edward. It is the only known natural channel in the world, a stark contrast to the artificial Suez Channel. This unique feature makes it a must-see for nature enthusiasts and tourists alike.

 

One of the interesting activities in Queen Elizabeth is the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. On the Kazinga Channel, you are likely to see more than 95% of the wildlife of Queen Elizabeth National Park, except lions and leopards, who rest away from the Channel after a good feast. You can be entertained by elephants, hippopotamus, buffaloes, crocodiles, waterbuck, antelopes, warthogs, and a variety of birds, including Hammerkop, which builds a bigger nest compared to its size!. In the Southern Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Topis and climbing lions are an experience not to miss.

 

Birds are one of the wonders of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Photo September 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before bidding farewell to the wonders of Queen Elizabeth, pay a visit to Kikorongo for a physics experience with the Equator.

With all these wonders of Queen Elizabeth, threats are numerous. Climate change is negatively affecting the habitat, invasive species are emerging, human-wildlife conflicts are occurring due to habitat changes, and limited financial resources are not allowing the park management to integrate technology into their day-to-day activities. Rapid population growth is leading to natural resource pressure, given that fishing communities are living in the park, as this park is a man and biosphere site.

There is an urgent need to open more areas like these; otherwise, grazing animals will keep moving to open places to avoid predators.

The park rangers are exceptional. They know this park inside and out, and they look after the wildlife well. One of the park rangers was able to save cubs that had lost their mother at a very young age and feeding them for two years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call for support to you....

What you call little is not little, it can make a difference. Whoever can is called to support these courageous rangers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect this man-and-biosphere site, where man and nature will reign in harmony for generations to come.

Juvenal Mukeshimana

GVTC Program Assistant