Under the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), a consortium of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), and TRAFFIC is implementing a project entitled Towards Zero Poaching in the Greater Virunga Landscape.
This Landscape comprises seven national parks and one wildlife reserve: Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park and Sarambwe Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and Semliki National Park in Uganda.
The GVL, a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot, proudly serves as a habitat for rare and endangered wildlife species, such as mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, African Elephants, Lions, and hippopotamus. It boasts three World Heritage Sites (the Virunga NP, Rwenzori Mountains, and Bwindi NP), two Man & Biosphere Reserves (MAB, namely the Queen Elizabeth NP and Volcanoes NP), and RAMSAR sites (Lakes Georges and Edward).
The three-year Illegal Wildlife Trade project, which will run from 2024 to 2027, will focus on critical species, namely Mountain Gorillas and Elephants, though other species will also be considered.
Zero poaching is possible only if assessment, appropriate technology, capacity building, community engagement, prosecution, and cooperation components are given priority.
Thanks to the funding from the British Government, through the UK Government’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund, at the end of three years. It is expected that:
- An integrated and robust monitoring and learning system will be in place for monitoring illegal wildlife trade activities within the Greater Virunga Landscape
- Four responsible government bodies within the GVL will have respective workforces that are appropriately equipped and trained with standardised equipment, tools and practices.
- The International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) Guidelines for Wildlife Enforcement Networks will establish a regional task force to improve transboundary coordination on illegal wildlife trade. The task force will function effectively.
Mrs. Kabeya Fatuma Marie Rose, Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration, on behalf of Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, Executive Secretary of GVTC, officially opened the inception meeting of the illegal wildlife trade project. The meeting, which brought together experts from the implementing partners GVTC, WWF, WCS, IGCP, and TRAFFIC, took place in Rubavu, Rwanda, on 22 October 2024. She emphasised that this project responds to increasing global trends in illegal wildlife trade.
Issues related to the insufficient capacity, capability, and coordination of multiple governmental bodies responsible for wildlife across the Greater Virunga Landscape will be improved to detect, prevent, and reduce both national and cross-border illegal wildlife Trade through the advancement and promotion of standardised monitoring systems and tools and regional cross-learning and coordination. This project will ultimately contribute to ensuring stable wildlife populations and improved well-being of local communities across this vital transboundary biodiversity hotspot.
Juvenal Mukeshimana
GVTC Program Assistant