Apr 14 2008
A summary on progress
I’ve just been in touch with Diddy, who has summarised the outcome of their efforts since last November, when the Makala Campaign began.
The Makala Campaign is the sustained effort to prevent the destruction of the gorilla’s habitat for charcoal, and which is considered to be the single most important threat to the future of the Mountain Gorillas in Virunga.
There has been a non-stop watch at Kibati with regular patrols on the eastern flanks of the Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo Volcanoes and Kibumba, in the gorilla sector. Forest destruction for charcoal in these, the most critical sites in the park, have been reduced by two thirds. In the past tens years, since the war started, we have never achieved such results, so there is quite a sense of encouragement among the rangers.
The patrols have been interesting as well. On Nyiragongo, the big active volcano to the north of Goma, rangers of the Advance Force, and gorilla rangers from Rumangabo joined forces with the Monuc Indian batallian in January and effectively displaced the FDLR rebels from this part of the park. For those that are not familiar with the various Rebel factions in Congo, the FDLR are the militias that formed out the Interahamwe, the Rwandan militias that perpetrated the Genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Not a nice group of individuals. Unfortunately they are camped out in the forests of eastern Congo, and are a major threat to the ongoing work of the rangers. The FDLR are also heavily involved in illegal activities including illegal logging for charcoal. For now, the rangers have the upper hand in this area, but it’s a constant struggle, with occasional armed contacts between militias and government rangers.
The Makala road blocks have been difficult to manage, with trucks trying to force their way through the roadblock at night and at high speed. But they have been very succussful in reducing charcoal. These are the registered results so far:
November 07:Â 5o sacs seized and 3 kilns destroyed
December 07: 102 sacs seized and 180 kilns destroyed
January 08: 413 sacs seized and 37 kilns destroyed
February 08: 296 sacs seized and 53 kilns destroyed
March 08:Â 385 sacs seized and 7 kilns destroyed
First two weeks of April 08: 499 sacs seized adn 17 kilns destroyed.
This makes a total of 1745 sacs, or about 80 tons of charcoal seized since the beginning of the campaign. This charcoal is distributed among the people who have been displaced by the war and are living in camps around Goma.
Unfortunately, many people make money from charcoal and it is a constant battle at a political level to explain the sense of what is happening. On 20th March, the Provincial minister for the Environment was formally requested to explain the actions of the rangers to the Provincial Assembly (this was documented on the ending charcoal blog). Last week she defended our position in parliament, and the vote was carried in our favour, which is a big relief, and give us the legal basis to continue the difficult work that lies ahead.
So the legal institutions in Congo, so often criticized in the international media, have played their role very effectively, and maintained the integrity that we had hoped for. This also applies to the arrest of the suspects considered to be behind the Rugendo Massacre last year. For my part, I never believed that we would get this far. But the suspected ringleader has been arrested, and five accomplices were heard at the military tribunal of Goma last week. That they started at the top on this difficult trial, rather than just finding a couple of small scapegoats, is very much to the credit of the Congolese judicial system.
In the Mikeno, around bukima, it remains very difficult. We tried working with a team of villagers to get information on the gorillas. This worked for a while, but we have since suspended activities because of the risks involved for the villagers going in. That said, the little information that we have suggests that the mountain gorillas have not suffered, and that there may have been three births, which is pretty miraculous.
All in all, the situation is as difficult a ever, but we are hopeful that we are in a good position to buy time for the gorillas, until this conflict is over. It means constant support for the rangers so that they don’t lose their morale and continue their incredible efforts.
Emmanuel
Daily news from the conservation frontline by Innocent and Diddy, and other Congolese rangers risking their lives to save mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Thanks for the update Emmanuel…I was getting a little worried not hearing anything as of late……..I really, truly hope these creatures have somehow survived this horrible monstrosity….take care….
Emmanuel - great to hear this news. Fantastic (& dangerous) work by the rangers, AF & Monuc to reduce the charcoal so much. Fantastic too, to hear the legal system has found in favour of the rangers in their Makala Campaign & indeed has taken very seriously the events of July last year. Long may it continue to be the case.
Please ensure the rangers know G4G will continue to support the guys each month in what must be, both physically and mentally, very stressful work.
May they all take great care.
Thank you for this important report on the actual situation. All of you have done an incredible good work!
Thanks Emmanuel for this update. Wonderful news about these gorilla births. Our rangers are in danger day and night…trying to protect the integrity of the park and the wildlife that inhabit it. They have done a fantastic job slowing down the ilegal charcoal trade, the numbers posted, speak for themselves. None of us can imagine, leaving for work, only to worry whether we will return home again. Perhaps, at some point, you can tell us the situation at the IDP camps, how it is going.
what wonderful, uplifting and inspiring news! i’m so grateful to all the hard work and dedication of the rangers, and impressed by the helpful response from government.
hearing all those accomplishments and the work still left makes me realize that it’s more important than ever to support your efforts.
Emmanuel, Thank you for this update. I am very glad to see that the government is backing up all of the Rangers hard work. I imagine it has also given the Rangers a little moral boost as well. They are working so hard, in such an overwhelming situation. Keep up the great work Rangers and Congolese judicial system! Lisa
Thank you for your detailled update. There are so many of us who are more than grateful for all the work you do. You are such an example of courage and great spirit to all of us .
I just heard the news of the plane crash in Goma, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thanks Emmanuel for this encouraging news. We are deeply proud of you and our brave rangers.
[…] Goma, where the same bag now costs $30, due to the succesfull anti-charcoal campaing lead by WildlifeDirect and […]
Thanks for the update. Constantly thinking of the gorillas and hoping that soon, safe habitats and sanctuarys can be found for them. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Emmanuel.
That is incredible news! Thanks to all of you men and women who put so much effort and passion into this!
i’m a new commenter around here, and i’m having a hard time finding the words to leave to such heroes! i’m always inspired by the work the rangers do for the gorillas and this is only another example. i’m so happy to hear about the possible 3 births, what incredible news. all the best of luck to you all, your story is always in my thoughts!
Happy Earth Day!!!!!!!!! Just wondering if any news had changed…as always thinking about the gorillas and their safety every day!!!!!!
I am a graduate student who teaches freshman general biology labs and always bring this issue up in an exercise we conduct called science in society. I have my students read an article that was printed in Newsweek a couple of years ago and watch a documentary from 60 Minutes by Anderson Cooper done late last year, regarding this issue.
I hoping to raise awareness, especially in younger people, about all the issues concerning the wildlife of Africa (gorillas, elephants, etc.) and the rangers who protect them.
I just want to thank you guys for the great work you do. Keep it up!
What great work Jesse….I think it is wonderful that you are trying to make your students aware……..of what all is going on out there!
Fighting in eastern DRC is renewed. The UNHCR has left the area.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7366477.stm
s.
Emmanuel,
I just heard from Godefroid and he told me you have brought the laptop and it is finally in DRC. I just wanted to personally thank you for your time and efforts in helping us get it to him. He told me its in Goma and he should receive it by next week. I am thrilled it is finally there after its long journey around the globe. I also wanted to thank you for all your work with WildlifeDirect and its impact on myself and everyone else this wonderful organization has touched, mostly for the endangered species who have a chance now to receive the help and public awareness they need to thrive and continue to live. I promise to do my part by sending anyone and everyone I am in contact with to the WildlifeDirect website and encourage all to donate to the efforts you have put in place. I am still quite concerned with my beautiful mountain gorillas health and safety but I know you are all doing all you can, I just pray for their safety as well as yours and all the brave rangers and people who have dedicated their life to the protection and conservation of the mountain gorillas natural habitat. Thank you again.
Debbie
Great web blog guys, and really important issues. The progress is encouraging. I have only just found your site, and so I realize that I made an error when i wrote in my new book “The Trouble With Lions: A Glasgow Vet in Africa” that the massacre of the gorillas last June was the work of MaiMai guerillas. At that time this was what was reported on the BBC web site. Now I realize that it was more of a local job, but just as nasty. I hope your news of the arrest of the alleged ringleader develops into something positive. The problem with such events, particularly in Kenya, which include arrests for the poaching of rhino for their horns, or cattle incursions into national parks, is that the fines are often paltry. Moreover it is the “big names” who are leading the gangs, and the “little guys” who get arrested. It looks as if you may have the ringleader. Great!
In my capacity as a teacher and colleague, especially in Uganda over the last seven years, I have worked with vets from Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC who are part of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Program. They include John-Bosco Nizeyi, Innocent Rwego, Jean-Felix Kinani, Jacques Iyanya and Eddie Kambale. It is great to see so many “in-country” vets working on these critically endangered animals as they come ever-more into contact with humans and are exposed to human diseases. I have discussed this topic, and other wildlife issues in the last six chapters of the book. As Jane Goodall wrote the foreword we have a heavy emphasis on conservation and it is really good to see that you guys are tackling the same issue on the ground and at the battle front.