Among the World Heritage sites in Danger is Virunga National Park, which has been on the endangered list for more than 20 years. Over these years, Africa’s oldest national park has faced numerous threats, including armed conflict, poaching and the discovery and exploration of oil.
Photo: Jan Joseph Stock
IUCN National Committee of The Netherlands works together with civil society organizations to empower local communities to safeguard the unique ecosystems of Virunga, which provide among others fishery resources and fresh water to millions of people. “Our field projects promote sustainable development through sound ecosystem based management of fishery resources in Lake Edward”, says Tina Lain, DRC project coordinator at IUCN NL. “Oil exploration is not compatible with World Heritage status. Instead, we should tap into the great potential of the park for sustainable development that benefits the local people.”
