Nature Conservation during the Crisis

In September 1996, war broke out between the ADFL (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire) and the FAZ (Forces Armées Zairoises) in the southern region of eastern Zaire. In the second half of October, North Kivu was attacked from the Mikeno sector of the Virunga National Park and Goma was captured on 1 November 1996.
The political and military crisis swept over the whole eastern part of the country, an area particularly important for nature conservation. Six national parks (Garamba, Kahuzi-Biega, Kundelungu, Maiko, Upemba and Virunga) as well as the Itombwe and Ituri Forests are situated in this area. They are especially rich in animal and plant species and scientifically very interesting, especially concerning biogeography and evolution. All these areas, which have been the pride and joy of the country and the IZCN (Institut Zairois pour la Conservation de la Nature; now ICCN - Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) for a long time, were abandoned by their administrators to their sad fate during the war. The war had the following effects:

• Thousands of refugees returned spontaneously to their home country Rwanda.
• The activities of various organizations and the support for nature conservation were completely halted.
• The national parks were isolated from the headquarters in Kinshasa.
• Massive streams of refugees from the conflict areas spread over the region.
• A few days after the capture of Goma, the staff of the regional ICCN office returned. In spite of the difficult and insecure time, a confusing socio-economic crisis and blocked local communication, project staff expressed their readiness to resume conservation activities.

A small core of conservationists gathered around the regional director of the ICCN. Regular contact between the park, the IGCP (International Gorilla Conservation Programme) and the DFGF (Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund) was established. We conducted a survey of the damage in the Virunga Park caused by the war. These investigations helped to inform the new political rulers of the dangers threatening the park. The international community was also alerted.
Several indisciplined armed groups had formed before war broke out in North Kivu, the notorious Mai-Mai among them. They seized control in several sectors of the Virunga National Park, which they terrorized and where they were heavily engaged in poaching activities. The park's animals (hippos, buffaloes and antelopes) were shot in large numbers and their meat was sold in all the markets between Goma and Beni. These people made our work considerably more difficult; often we could not even negotiate with them on a passage for the car.
Only a few days after the alliance had taken Goma, the new political and military authorities expressed their willingness to save the Virunga National Park. Our survey showed the responsible persons of the ADFL the critical situation of the park. We were able to extend this awareness to the local population through radio programmes (Goma, Butembo and Beni) and in public places. In this context, some measures were initiated and decisions taken, among others the permission to resume the operation of the park and initiate its rehabilitation, as well as the disarmament of armed groups. In the beginning of January 1997, a preliminary park administration was reinstated according to the capabilities of the available people.
The camps were cleaned up after the refugees had left them. Rubbish (plastic, paper packaging material, metal) was burned or buried so that plants could start to grow over those areas.
The new authorities consider conservation to be especially important and suggested a reformation of the structure and activities of the IZCN which they renamed ICCN. The retraining of the rangers has already started in the Rumangabo education center and includes ethical, moral, professional and military aspects according to the guidelines for national parks. Hope and life in the region have been aroused again, traffic is getting back to normal and the insecurity has decreased in many areas. Most gorillas are still alive and soon tourism will be resumed with the habituated groups in Jomba.
Among the most painful losses of this war, aside from the depletion of the park's infrastructure, are the disappearance and death of several park rangers. 21 families are affected in the central sector of the Virunga National Park (Rwindi-Rutshuru), 16 in Rumangabo, one in Tshiaberimu and two in Lulimbi. In memory of these brave men and to encourage those who want to continue nature conservation work in the 'liberated Congo', we intend to give special support to their families during the park's rehabilitation.

Vital Katembo Mushengezi and Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo

Vital Katembo Mushengezi at first worked in the Ituri Forest for WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and has been active in the Virunga National Park since 1994 and also as project leader for Mt. Tshiaberimu and field assistant for DFGF (Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund) Europe in North Kivu.
Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo conducted a gorilla survey in the Maiko National Park from 1989 to 1992, and in 1994 he took part in the gorilla census in Kahuzi-Biega. After that he worked for the ICCN in Goma and from 2000 to 2004 for the IUCN program PPP. At the moment he works for IUCN to develop programs that will be implemented during the next years.

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