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State of Conservation (SOC)

Virunga National Park (1993)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1980-1993)
Total Amount Ap proved: 152,160USD

1993   Financial contribution for the purchase of equipment for Virunga ...   20,000  USD
1992   Review of the state of conservation of World Heritage sites in ...   3,750  USD
1991   Purchase of a motor boat and of spare parts for motor boats for ...   40,000  USD
1990   Training of 2 specialists each from Salonga and Virunga National ...   4,750  USD
1988   Equipment to improve protective measures in Virunga National Park   40,000  USD
1980   Assistance for Virunga National Park (equipment and consultant ...   43,660  USD
Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

The Bureau was deeply concerned to learn that due to recent political uncertainties in the country all donors, except WWF, have withdrawn their support to this Park. This has resulted in destruction of vegetation, poaching, agricultural encroachment and over-exploitation of fish populations in Lake Idi Amin. Since November 1992, the Park staff has not received salaries, and funds for operations and maintenance are not available. Several new settlements have appeared in the Park, particularly around Lake Idi Amin, and some gold mining and livestock grazing have also been reported. IUCN will report on an October 1993 field visit to this World Heritage site to assess current damage and suggest long-term options for conservation of the site.

 

Conclusion

The Bureau recommended that the Committee include the Virunga National Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger, unless this IUCN/WWF site visit in October 1993 provides sufficient evidence to the contrary. A formal and acceptable request for emergency assistance from the competent national authorities responsible for the management of this property has been received and the project has been executed.

Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

17COMX
Link to the decision

Virunga National Park (Zaire)

IUCN reported on the difficult social and economic situation which is creating serious negative impacts on Virunga National Park. However, the emergency assistance project funded by the World Heritage Fund and carried out by WWF since its approval by the Bureau in June 1993, had positive effects for the protection of the site. The Committee discussed in detail the impact of listing the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger and IUCN confirmed that Virunga National Park would definitely be a candidate for this procedure. After considerable discussion and a vote, the Committee agreed to address a letter to the Zairois authorities underlining serious concern for the protection and management of the site, particularly the serious recurring encroachments, and suggesting to the Government of Zaire to consider preparing a technical assistance request.

 

No draft Decision

Virunga National Park
State Party:
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date of Inscription: 1979
Nomination records (Year): 1978
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(x)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
1994
1993
Threats*
  • Fishing/collecting aquatic resources
  • Land conversion
  • Livestock farming/grazing of domesticated animals
  • Mining
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Illegal activities
  • Civil unrest
  • Financial resources
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC.93/CONF.002/05
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1740
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 1994
Threats to the Site:

Virunga National Park was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the 18th Session of the World Heritage Committee (1994) in the wake of the war in neighbouring Rwanda and the subsequent massive influx of refugees from that country which led to massive deforestation and poaching at the site.

Many members of the Park staff had not been remunerated for almost a year.

Poaching of wildlife has continued and the staff lacks the means of patrolling the Park's 650 km long boundary.

The human population in the fishing village near Lake Edward has increased several fold, posing a serious threat to the integrity of the Park.

The fuel wood requirements of almost one million refugees camping inside the Park is estimated at 600 metric tons/day and is leading to widespread depletion of forests in the lowlands. 


* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.