On this 19^th of October 2023, Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, Executive Secretary of Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration and his delegation were received by Hon. Maurice Mugabowagahunde, Governor of the Nothern Province.

Hon. Maurice Mugabowagahunde, Nothern Province Governor and Dr. Andrew G. Seguya  pause for the photo after their courtesy meeting on 19 October 2023.

A part of the introduction of Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, its mandate and its governance the exchanges focused also on the GVTC Achievements in the Northern Province and in the Greater Virunga Landscape in general. These include the promotion of transboundary collaboration between the three Partner States of DRC, Rwanda and Uganda on the matter of biodiversity conservation and tourism development. Contribution to the mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts was also one of the GVTC achievements where wall stones and trenches were put in place around the Volcanoes National Park to prevent crop raiding in the communities’ gardens.

GVTC has also contributed to the economic development of the communities around the Volcanoes National Park by funding the Kinigi Commercial Complex, where community members have art galleries targeting the market of tourists visiting Volcanoes National Park, thus increasing their revenue as a way of reducing pressure on the natural resources of the national park.

The two leaders have agreed to co-organize soon, a stakeholders engagement meeting which will bring together actors involved in biodiversity conservation and tourism development in this region, a meeting through which conservation and tourism issues will be discussed. Given the interconnectivity of the parks in the Virunga Massifs, it is anticipated that issues that may arise of a transboundary nature shall be discussed in a regional forum that GVTC will organize bringing together actors from Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hon. Governor, of the Northern Province, has reiterated his commitment to support the GVTC effort of conserving Greater Virunga Landscape for the benefit of the communities around the parks and the partner states in general.

This effort has the ultimate goal of conserving sustainably,  Greater Virunga Landscape for generation

GVTC Secretariat