Virunga National Park

Threats to the Site (1994)

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.