Mountains are some of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change, threatening both human and wildlife survival. The Vanishing Treasures project, implemented by UN Environment and funded by Luxembourg, aims to enhance the climate resilience of mountain communities and ecosystems by applying climate-smart conservation and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches in support of sustainable livelihoods and land-use, in order to reduce human-induced pressures on wildlife.

The preferred food for mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This project targets three mountainous sub-regions and three charismatic species: the mountain gorilla in the Greater Virunga Landscape (Uganda

and Rwanda), the snow leopard in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) and royal Bengal tiger the Hindu-Kush Himalayas (Bhutan).

In both Uganda and Rwanda, human population density is very high, with high levels of poverty. Climate change impacts are already being witnessed in the Virunga through prolonged dry seasons and increasing mean temperatures. This means shrinking freshwater sources for the subsistence farmers, forcing them to access the national park in search of water.

Due to a small population and highly restricted geographic range, mountain gorillas are particularly vulnerable to climate changes, with limited adaptive capacity.

The Vanishing Treasures Global Partners are gathered in Ruhija, Republic of Uganda, from 6^th June 2023 through 11^th June 2023 where they will discuss the implementation progress of the project while getting closer to the realities on the field in the Greater Virunga Landscape.

Some of the Vanishing Treasures Global Partners in the jungle for gorillas tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National park as a way to understand the current situation of the gorillas in the Greater Virunga Landscape

The exchange of experiences, lessons learnt and expertise between the target regions, conflict-sensitive conservation, Human-wildlife conflict and field visits to Nkuringo Buffer zone are at the heart of the business during this period.

Note that Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) is part of this initiative and has a very key role to play for the protection of mountain gorillas in the Greater Virunga Landscape shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda.

Dr. Andrew G. Seguya, Executive Secretary of GVTC urges all the players, including regional and international bodies, to work hard for the endangered species protection.