Transboundary Strategic Plan in the Virunga Heartland

The Central Albertine Rift region in the Virunga Heartland supports lush afromontane forests and a wealth of species, including the endangered mountain gorilla. Because this area spans the borders of three countries – the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda, transboundary natural resource management is critical to maintaining the integrity of the landscape.

AWF works through the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) to develop regional collaboration, improve transboundary policy and increase respect for effective natural resource management. One key milestone was the launch in February 2008 of the 10-Year Transboundary Strategic Plan for the Central Albertine Rift, which will enable sustainable conservation of natural resources to benefit of the people of the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda and the international community.

Though humans recognize international borders, gorillas do not. Groups of mountain gorillas roam across borders of the three countries in the Heartland, moving as they see fit. When gorillas travel from one country to another, people who previously relied on tourism income related to the gorillas suffer.

Thanks to IGCP’s efforts, the three countries are working to ease the consequences for local people in an effort to conserve the natural movements of the gorillas. The launch of the 10-year Transboundary Strategic Plan is the culmination of years of planning and collaboration. The project includes an agreement on collaborative monitoring and revenue-sharing from “transfrontier tourism gorilla groups” in the Central Albertine Rift. In conjunction with this agreement, the governments are discussing ways to monitor and share revenues from tourism to two groups of gorillas that moved from their range in DRC and Uganda to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.