Gorilla Conservation

For the mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) of the Virunga Heartland, extinction is a very real threat. Only about 720 of these charismatic animals remain. In the face of serious challenges – the aftermath of civil war, extreme poverty, disease, poaching and lack of infrastructure and economic development – AWF and its partners have steadfastly supported the mountain gorillas and their habitat.

The mountain forest homes of the mountain gorilla are fertile and rich in biodiversity. This fertility has made the region one of the most densely populated regions of Africa, averaging more than 420 people per square kilometer. More than 85 percent of this population depends on subsistence agriculture as its primary livelihood strategy.

Despite the region’s natural wealth of resources, it is one of the poorest areas in the world. Local people have suffered war, insecurity and extreme poverty for many generations. Conflict in the region is one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with more than four million lives lost over the past 14 years. The welfare of the people of the region will depend on the natural resources and ecological integrity of the region, as well as foreign revenue from sources such as wildlife-based tourism.

Caught in the middle of this social and economic crisis are the endangered mountain gorillas, whose future is inextricably linked with the peace and prosperity of the lands they inhabit.

Gorilla conservation efforts in the Virunga Mountains are clear example of how ongoing, long-term collaboration between international conservation organizations can succeed. Through the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), a coalition of AWF, Fauna and Flora International and World Wide Fund for Nature, the mountain gorilla population has not only survived but grown.

Transboundary collaboration between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda is at the heart of this success. Through ranger-based monitoring, community development, anti-poaching activities and habitat conservation, IGCP is helping the mountain gorillas make a comeback.

IGCP is the only program that works across the entire habitat range of this great ape and in close partnership with the governments of all three countries in the region. Its strength lies in this coordinated approach. Activities are closely tied to the needs and plans of individual countries through collaboration with protected-area authorities in each region. IGCP also works closely with local people to ensure that they reap the benefits of conserving this forest habitat.

A coordinated approach is the only sustainable route to achieving the long-term conservation of the mountain gorilla and its remaining habitat. The multi-level focus buffers the effects of political insecurity in any one country on mountain gorilla conservation efforts. The results are positive: the mountain gorilla population has grown 17 percent in the past decade.

The need for coordinated, long-term funding for mountain gorilla conservation is urgent. Help safeguard mountain gorillas’ future.