Virunga National Park

• Armed conflict, lack of security and political instability
• Attribution of a petroleum exploration permit inside the property
• Poaching by the army (issue resolved) and armed groups
• Encroachment
• Extension of illegal fishing areas
• Deforestation, charcoal production and cattle grazing

• Increased poaching of wildlife
• Incapability of staff to patrol the 650 km long boundary of the Park
• Massive influx of 1 million refugees occupying adjacent parts of the Park
• Widespread depletion of forests in the lowlands

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4338

Total amount granted: USD 1,802,300 from the United Nations Foundation and the Governments of Italy, Belgium and Spain as well as the Rapid Response Facility (RRF)

On 13 February 2017, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/63/documents/. Progress accomplished is presented below:

• The efforts of the joint patrols of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) continue. About 280 FARDC military intervene in the northern sector of the property with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to combat the armed bands;
• The property is confronted with a number of security issues; several rebel groups have attacked different sectors of the property (the south and west coasts of Lake Edward, the northern and southern sectors of Rutshuru). Five ICCN guards were killed in 2016;
• The extent of the zones invaded remains high but stable, around 25% of the property, thanks to the awareness raising efforts of the ICCN, who envisage in the long-term to make available arable land outside the property to the populations;
• 114 guards have been recruited and trained. The level of coverage of the property was roughly 43% in 2016 and patrols concentrate on the key sectors ;
• The population of mountain gorilla numbers 121 individuals with an increase of 9.25% a year. With the introduction of telemetric collars on elephants, a slight increase in this population has been noted, as with also the hippopotamus. However, poaching of other species (antelope, buffalo, warthog) for consumption of bush meat continues and is closely linked to the presence of armed groups ;
• The ICCN continues its efforts to control the legal fishing activities at Lake Edward;
• The community conservation activities finally continue to pacify relations with the communities. The Park has enabled the creation of direct employment through tourism, and indirect, following the construction of the hydro-electrical central at Matebe;
• Illegal logging activities continue both for charcoal and for timber. Despite the efforts of ICCN to dismantle this traffic, the demand for charcoal remains strong in order to respond to the needs of the population. A second hydro-electrical central is under construction at Lubero, outside the property, due to the efforts of the “Virunga Alliance” and it should be able to partially respond to energy needs.

General Decision on the properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

• Current conservation issues

On 13 February 2017, the State Party submitted a report on the progress made in the implementation of Decision 40 COM 7A.42. This report is available at the following address https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/41com/documents/#state_of_conservation_reports and contains the information below:

• The Corps responsible for the security of the National Parks (CorPPN) and related natural reserves, created in June 2015, is not operational due to lack of human and financial resources. Nevertheless, in 2016, the State Party made available to the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) arms and ammunitions that has benefitted the National Parks of Garamba and Virunga ;
• No activity linked to petroleum was observed, in 2016, at the Virunga National Park. However, the State Party notes that it wishes to officially request an IUCN advisory mission to discuss the petroleum issue at the property;
• The support programme of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) of the European Union continues to provide financial and technical support to the National Parks of Virunga, Garamba and Salonga. Through the German Development Bank (KfW - Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau), Germany supports the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, and the National Parks of Salonga and Kahuzi-Biega ;
• The Trust Fund « Okapi Fund for Conservation - FOCON » for a sustainable funding of the protected areas of the DRC now has the status of a charitable organization and an Administrative Council. The World Bank and the KfW have funded the FOCON to the amount of 30 million US dollars. Nevertheless, the report underlines that the decree for the establishment of the FOCON Headquarters in the DRC has not yet been signed by the national authorities. Without the decree, this Fund cannot be operational

The insecurity caused by the presence of armed groups in the property and its surroundings continues to threaten the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and functioning of the property. Despite major efforts on the part of the ICCN and the joint interventions with the FARDC, the armed groups regularly attack the property and its staff and engage in diverse illegal activities (poaching, illicit fishing and production of charcoal). This insecurity, which affects most of the properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (see General Decision 41 COM 7A.12), has cost the life of five guards of Virunga in 2016. It is recommended that the Committee address its sincere condolences to the families of the guards who were killed in the exercise of their duties and that it expresses its deepest concern as to the aggravation of the security situation in the property, as well as in most of the other properties located in the eastern part of the DRC. It is also recommended that it reiterates its utmost concern concerning the implication of armed bands in the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the property that is affecting its integrity.

The improvement in management efficiency, the recruitment of new guards and the excellent collaboration between ICCN and the FARDC are warmly welcomed. However, the sectors under surveillance only represent 43% of the property and further efforts remain necessary to fully protect its OUV.

With regard to the issue of petroleum exploration and exploitation, the State Party notes that no petroleum activity has been observed in the property. Nevertheless, in its report on the General Decision on the DRC properties, the State Party indicates that it wishes to request officially an IUCN advisory mission to discuss the petroleum issue in the property. As regards the Ngaji petroleum block, located in the Ugandan part of Lake Edward, no new development has been observed in 2016. However, the Ugandan Permanent Delegation to UNESCO addressed a Verbal Note dated 10 February 2017 together with two press articles informing of the desire of the Ugandan authorities to re-advertise a call for tender for this this concession. In its response dated 1 March 2017, UNESCO indicated its concern as regards the possible reattribution of the petroleum block and recalled the Committee Decision 40 COM 7A.41. It is recommended that the Committee urges the States Parties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to take a strong position and not authorize any petroleum exploration or exploitation in the Lake Edward region, due to the probable negative impacts of such an activity on the OUV of the property. It is also recommended that the Committee reiterate its position according to which petroleum exploration and exploitation is not compatible with World Heritage status.

The slight increase in the populations of key species (gorillas, hippopotamus and elephants) and the stabilization of encroachment in certain areas of the property are encouraging results. However, the demographic increase remains important and exercises strong pressure on the natural resources of the property. Further, the illegal exploitation of wood continues despite the alternatives proposed since many years, notably the hydro-electric power stations. Deforestation provoked by the production of charcoal remains one of the major threats to the integrity of the property.

Implementation activities in the framework of the “Virunga Alliance” in response to the economic and social needs of the local populations, and in the long-term to relocate them outside the property, are greatly appreciated.

It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to assess the state of conservation of the property, update the corrective measures, prepare a timetable for their implementation and finalize the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR). It is further recommended that the Committee maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and continue the application of the reinforced monitoring mechanism. 

General Decision on the properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

• Analysis and conclusions of the World Heritage Centre and the IUCN

The allocation of arms and ammunitions for the two properties, Garamba and Virunga National Parks, is an important effort on the part of the State Party; however, insecurity persists and is becoming more serious in the four properties located in the eastern part of the DRC. Technical and financial means must be made available to the ICCN to secure all the World Heritage properties and their surroundings.

The years 2016 and 2017 were dramatic for the ICCN staff and FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Eleven guards lost their lives and many others were seriously injured during attacks carried out against the National Parks of Garamba (2 victims), Virunga (5 victims) and Kahuzi Biega (3 victims). A guard was also killed at the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in May 2017. It is recommended that the Committee condemn this violence and address its condolences to the families of the guards and the soldiers killed during operations for the protection of the properties.

The delay incurred in the deployment of the CorPPN contingent is unfortunate. It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to provide human and financial means to the CorPPN to render it operational and that it also requests the State Party to do its utmost to implement, in conformity with the Kinshasa Declaration (January 2011), and restore security conditions to enable the ICCN staff to carry out their mission.

With regard to the issue of petroleum exploration and exploitation projects, the State Party notes that no petroleum activity has been observed in the Virunga National Park. No information has been provided as concerns the petroleum interests at the Salonga National Park, expressed by the State Party during the 2012 Reactive Monitoring mission (see point 10 of Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A). It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to officially confirm the definite cancellation of the petroleum concession overlapping the Virunga National Park and to clarify the situation as regards its petroleum interest in the Salonga National Park.

The efforts of the State Party to mobilize major funding for the DRC properties are favourably welcomed. Important progress has been achieved in organizing the Trust Fund for the Protected Areas of the DRC. Nevertheless, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to take legal measures by adopting the necessary decree to render operational the FOCON Fund; these provisions will enable the properties of the DRC to benefit from substantial financial resources.