Situation critical for Mountain Gorillas in Virunga park
Some 40,000 people are on the run in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Heavy fighting between the Congolese army and fighters loyal to General Laurent Nkunda is causing terror amongst the local people.
Setting up Camps
People running from the fighting in Sake, west of Goma, the largest town in the region, have spontaneously set up 3 camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Mugunga, a small town next to the Virunga National Park.
Mugunga is about 10km west of Goma and on the border with Virunga National Park
Need for firewood
People are in dire need of food and wood to cook it with. And herein lies the problem.
In the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis, the pressure on the nearby park for fuel will place the forest in enormous jeopardy. One camp is partly located within the park’s limits.
Firewood to come from the Gorilla's protected forest?
Not only is the Virunga National Park a World Heritage Site, but it is home to some 150 critically endangered mountain gorillas. There are only about 700 mountain gorillas in the wild.
The solution is easy and available
WWF has provided maps showing the park’s boundaries and current location of camps so that the most suitable areas for settlements can be identified.
And, we are working closely with UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, to prevent encroachment into Virunga National Park by displaced people and help them meet the immediate demand for fuel wood.
While collection of wood within the park is being regulated, several alternatives have already been identified, such as sourcing of wood from nearby plantations.
Almost all the wood can be taken from among the 10 million trees WWF has helped local people plant in the last 20 years around Virunga National Park.
What is needed
With an average of 2kg of wood per adult per day, we are looking at over 50 tonnes of wood needed every day. WWF has already identified areas where the wood can be purchased from the local plantations without harming the National Park... but lacks the immediate funds to provide it to displaced people.
The wood would only cost around US$ 1,200 a day to buy, based on some 40,000 people in need.
Please dig deep and help us get through the next few weeks.
We need your help for the people, gorillas and forest in the Congo.
We don’t have a minute to lose.
View Larger Map
Heavy fighting between the Congolese army and fighters loyal to General Laurent Nkunda is causing terror amongst the local people.
Setting up Camps
People running from the fighting in Sake, west of Goma, the largest town in the region, have spontaneously set up 3 camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Mugunga, a small town next to the Virunga National Park.
Mugunga is about 10km west of Goma and on the border with Virunga National Park
Need for firewood
People are in dire need of food and wood to cook it with. And herein lies the problem.
In the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis, the pressure on the nearby park for fuel will place the forest in enormous jeopardy. One camp is partly located within the park’s limits.
Firewood to come from the Gorilla's protected forest?
Not only is the Virunga National Park a World Heritage Site, but it is home to some 150 critically endangered mountain gorillas. There are only about 700 mountain gorillas in the wild.
The solution is easy and available
WWF has provided maps showing the park’s boundaries and current location of camps so that the most suitable areas for settlements can be identified.
And, we are working closely with UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, to prevent encroachment into Virunga National Park by displaced people and help them meet the immediate demand for fuel wood.
While collection of wood within the park is being regulated, several alternatives have already been identified, such as sourcing of wood from nearby plantations.
Almost all the wood can be taken from among the 10 million trees WWF has helped local people plant in the last 20 years around Virunga National Park.
What is needed
With an average of 2kg of wood per adult per day, we are looking at over 50 tonnes of wood needed every day. WWF has already identified areas where the wood can be purchased from the local plantations without harming the National Park... but lacks the immediate funds to provide it to displaced people.
The wood would only cost around US$ 1,200 a day to buy, based on some 40,000 people in need.
Please dig deep and help us get through the next few weeks.
We need your help for the people, gorillas and forest in the Congo.
We don’t have a minute to lose.
View Larger Map
Satellite map showing the location of the Displaced Persons Camps. Virunga. DRC. click to enlarge
© WWF, ICCN, EU
© WWF, ICCN, EU
Lac Vert - one of the camps holding displaced people. Worryingly, it is partially located inside the Virunga National Park. 11th Sep 2007 - it was holding about 10,000 people. DRC.
© WWF / Marc Languy
© WWF / Marc Languy
