24 Nov 2007 - Gland, Switzerland/Goma,
Democratic Republic of Congo – WWF and Congolese
authorities are celebrating the ten millionth
tree planted around Virunga National Park
in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), a crucial habitat for the endangered
mountain gorilla.
The WWF tree-planting project, launched
in 1987 — and continuously operated despite
recurrent armed conflicts in the region
— aims to reduce the shortage of firewood
for neighbouring communities. Strong demand
has led to illegal wood harvesting and charcoal
production within the park, a major threat
for the protected area.
An aerial survey, funded by UNESCO and
conducted this week by WWF and the Frankfurt
Zoological Society, showed that over half
of the montane forest surrounding the Nyiragongo
volcano north of Goma — the main town of
the region — is being used for illegal charcoal
production. The team counted over 30 active
ovens within the national park during a
one-hour flight over the forest.
According to a WWF study, over 500,000
cubic metres of firewood are used by the
town of Goma alone, where 97% of households
have no access to electricity and rely heavily
on charcoal or firewood for cooking.
“The illegal production of charcoal from
Virunga National Park leads to large-scale
deforestation and directly threatens the
habitat of key species such as mountain
gorillas,” said Alexandre Wathaut, Provincial
Director of ICCN, the National Park Agency
in DRC. “It also threatens the economic
potential of the park.”
In time of peace, Virunga National Park
is the DRC’s most visited place by tourists,
who come to see the endangered mountain
gorilla in its natural habitat.
However, the recent clashes between rebels
and the regular army in the area are keeping
people away. Over 300,000 people have fled
the fighting, setting up makeshift camps
on the edge of the park. Over the past two
months, WWF provided over US$150,000 for
purchasing wood to supply the camps near
Goma.
On average, these camps need a daily supply
of 50 metric tons of wood. The wood comes
from the plantations established through
the WWF project.
“Planting ten million trees is no mean
achievement when one considers the very
difficult environment in which we operate
in this area,” said Marc Languy, WWF Programme
Leader in the Great Lakes Region.
“Today’s celebration is symbolic of the
Congolese people’s determination to never
give up hope even during times of armed
conflict that surrounds them.”
WWF also announced the launch of a new
forestry project, jointly funded by the
European Union, which will help individuals
and communities plant over 2,000 hectares
in North Kivu during the next five years.
Marc Languy, WWF Eastern Africa Regional
Programme Office
Kimunya Mugo, WWF Eastern Africa Regional
Programme Office
END NOTES:
• The ten millionth tree was planted today
in Goma by the governor and the environment
minister of North Kivu at a ceremony attended
by traditional chiefs and representative
of local communities.
• Funded by WWF, the European Union and
other donors, the project works with individuals,
local communities and the state to provide
an alternative source of firewood that is
sustainable and compatible with agriculture,
through different types of plantations made
of various species of trees.
• The project has tested and planted over
60 species of indigenous and exotic species
of trees. These are used for agroforestry
or for plantations as well as greenbelts
around the park. The plantations are harvested
by communities and individuals for their
own use or for sale.
• The project also provides tangible economic
benefits to local communities. One single
hectare of a well-managed small scale plantation
can produce up to 30 cubic metres of wood
a year, which can be sold for over €700
(over US$1,000), a very significant sum
for people in North Kivu.
• The population of the city of Goma has
been multiplied by tec since the inception
of the project in 1987. This is largely
due to population growth but also armed
conflicts that forced thousand of people
away from rural area towards Goma.
• Virunga National Park, created in 1925
as Africa's first national park, extends
over an area of 8,000km2. It is located
in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic
of Congo, bordering Rwanda's Volcano National
Park to the south and Uganda's Mgahinga
National Park. One of the richest parks
in Africa in terms of biodiversity, it is
characterized by largely unspoiled tropical
montane forests, and is home to some of
the remaining populations of endangered
mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park
is now a World Heritage Site. But encroachment
for farming and settlement, as well as by
warring rebel factions, is leading to uncontrolled
exploitation of the area.
• Funds raised by WWF in a recent online
appeal has been used to pay for the wood
bought from villagers and communities to
feed the camps.
