Conservationists call collective support

Regional conservationists in the Virunga came out and asked communities as well as gorvenments to collectively help with the upholding all security measures in an effort to sustainable development of wildlife in the Virunga region. This was during a four-day regional meeting of wildlife officials from Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in Rubavu District and this should be a collective responsibility of all the three countries that share the Virunga landscape.

The meeting was intended to ensure a wildlife crime free Greater Virunga by 2024 and it was organized under the Greater Virunga Trans-boundary Collaboration (GVTC) advisory committee. This meeting followed the one that was first held in Uganda last year. There are number of participants that include the park wardens, migration officials, customs technocrats, Interpol officers and other experts. The plan is to formulate an appropriate action plan to deal with biodiversity risks in the Greater Virunga landscape.

Georges Muamba Tshibasu who is the GVTC executive secretary said that there have been lots of rampant wildlife crimes for decades and it is motivated by the high demand for timber in the region and demand for the wildlife products on the Asian market.

During the meeting, they said the policy and legislative framework will deal with the illegal trade in forestry products and other wildlife trade, the frame work will sufficiently provide various laws for the member countries- which are DRC, Rwanda and Uganda. The biggest challenge is enforcing the policies and laws.

According to Prosper Uwingeri who is the Volcanoes National Park chief warden, it is very important the governments help out to enforce these laws and policies.

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