CONSTRUCTION OF A HOTEL NEAR VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK STOPPED

A five star hotel that belongs to Serena Group has been stopped by the government from being constructed at the edge of Volcanoes National Park because they think it will affect the endangered mountain gorillas. The investor has been given an alternative land 800 meters from the park for conservation purposes.

The construction of the hotel on the edge of the park has been disagreed by the environmentalists and chose a modern market in Byangabo trading centre to be constructed instead of the hotel.

One of the officials at Rwanda Local Development Support Fund said the site is worth Rwf 600m and the money has been paid to the district account.

Parts of Muko and Busogo that surround Virunga Mountains experienced floods so the drainage system has to be expanded so that they do not affect the primates.

Local people have settled on the land that belongs to the kings of Rwanda at Eco-park Buhanga which is a historical site in Nkotsi sector. The site is a place where all Rwandan traditional kings were brought for commencement and the trees were planted by the kings so no one had to touch them because there was a belief that whoever touched them would die immediately.

Dr. Rose Mukankomeje the Executive Secretary of Rwanda Environmental Management Authority said all places will be developed according to the impact they do to the environment.

GORILLA TRACKING NEWS