1. Habitat Loss and Degradation

Habitat loss and degradation in the Greater Virunga Landscape remain pressing concerns in 2025. This region, renowned for its rich biodiversity, including endangered species like mountain gorillas and forest elephants, faces multifaceted threats that compromise both conservation efforts and local livelihoods.

• Deforestation for agriculture, charcoal production, and settlement expansion is a major threat.

• Encroachment into protected areas, including national parks like Virunga National Park of DRC, leads to habitat fragmentation and degradation.

Despite concerted efforts, habitat loss and degradation in the GVL persist, driven by complex socio-political and environmental factors. Sustained commitment to transboundary cooperation, community-based conservation, and adaptive management strategies is crucial to safeguard this ecologically significant region.

2. Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade

Poaching and illegal wildlife trade (IWT) continue to pose significant threats to biodiversity in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL). Despite ongoing conservation efforts, these illicit activities persist, driven by high demand for wildlife products and exacerbated by regional instability.

Snaring and other non-selective hunting methods harm a wide range of species.

Key species affected include elephants, hippos, pangolins, and primates. These animals are hunted for ivory, meat, and traditional medicine markets. The illegal trade in pangolins, in particular, has seen a surge due to their high demand in Asian markets.

The fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade in the Greater Virunga Landscape is ongoing and complex. While strategic collaborations and enforcement efforts have made strides, sustained commitment and international support are crucial to protect this biodiversity hotspot.

3. Armed Conflict and Insecurity

The presence of armed groups and militias destabilizes conservation efforts, displaces communities, and often leads to overexploitation of natural resources.

Conservation staff are sometimes targeted or prevented from working safely.

4. Resource Extraction

Illegal mining and proposed oil exploration (especially in Virunga National Park) threaten ecosystems directly through habitat destruction and indirectly via pollution and increased human access.

5. Human-Wildlife Conflict

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) remains a significant and persistent challenge in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL). This region, renowned for its rich biodiversity including mountain gorillas, elephants, and lions, is experiencing increasing tensions between wildlife conservation efforts and the needs of local human populations.

Key Drivers of Conflict

1. High Human Population Density: The areas surrounding protected zones like Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Virunga National Parks are densely populated. This proximity leads to frequent interactions between humans and wildlife, often resulting in crop raiding and property damage by animals such as elephants, buffaloes, baboons, and gorillas.

2. Retaliatory Actions: In response to wildlife-induced damages, communities sometimes engage in retaliatory killings or the use of snares, which not only harm the targeted animals but also pose risks to non-target species, including endangered ones.

3. Habitat Encroachment and Resource Competition: Illegal settlements, livestock grazing within park boundaries, and deforestation for agriculture or charcoal production are prevalent. These activities degrade wildlife habitats and increase the likelihood of human-wildlife encounters .

4. Armed Conflict and Insecurity: Ongoing conflicts, particularly in eastern DRC, have exacerbated conservation challenges. Rebel activities have led to the occupation of parts of Virunga National Park, hindering conservation efforts and increasing risks for both wildlife and park rangers.

5. Disease Outbreaks: Recent anthrax outbreaks have resulted in the deaths of numerous hippos and buffaloes in Virunga National Park, raising concerns about disease transmission between wildlife and human communities

Despite HWC mitigation efforts, HWC continues to pose significant threats to both human livelihoods and wildlife conservation in the GVL. The complexity of the issue, compounded by socio-economic factors and regional instability, necessitates sustained and adaptive management strategies.

6. Climate Change

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a critical driver affecting the region’s ecosystems and people. Recent studies and surveys (2020–2024) document rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and more extreme events in the GVL. These trends are already altering habitats, wildlife populations and community livelihoods across the landscape. It may also exacerbate food and water scarcity, increasing pressure on ecosystems.

7. Invasive Species

Non-native plants and animals can outcompete or prey on indigenous species, disrupting ecological balance.

The Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL), encompassing parts of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently grappling with a significant threat from invasive species. These non-native plants are disrupting ecosystems, diminishing biodiversity, and complicating conservation efforts across the region.

Key Invasive Species and Their Impacts

Recent assessments have identified several invasive species affecting the GVL:

• Dichrostachys cinerea (locally known as Kalimanjojo)

• Eucalyptus spp.

• Alnus incana (green alder)

• Terminalia superba

• Solanum aculeastrum

• Lantana camara

• Acacia mearnsii (black wattle)

• Avocado and mountain papaya

These species are altering native vegetation, reducing grassland cover, and impacting wildlife habitats. For instance, in Queen Elizabeth National Park, invasive plants have overtaken an estimated 40–50% of former savannah grasslands, disrupting food chains and limiting access to water points for wildlife

8. Weak Governance and Limited Funding

Limited capacity and resources for effective conservation enforcement, monitoring, and community engagement hinder biodiversity protection efforts.