Gorilla Journal 17, December 1998
Progress Report on Mt. Tshiaberimu Conservation Activities
The project started in September 1996 with the aim of strengthening the
management and protection of the biological resources of Mt. Tshiaberimu
with effective participation of local communities. From August 1996 to
May 1997, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was swept by a tragic war
which had an adverse impact on the national park system. During the war,
efforts were made to provide moral support and relief assistance to the
rangers and the park personnel. Following some recommendations from the
1997 expedition, there was an immediate need to enforce the anti-poaching
activities by implementing a regular biodiversity monitoring program.
A team of 25 park rangers, among them 3 trackers
and 20 other workers, are participating in the different project activities.
Efforts were made to pro-vide incentive and motivation bonuses ranging
between US$ 20 and 40 to the workers and rangers, respectively. The Conservator
is also provided with US$ 100. This is covered by the project as top-ups
to the unpaid state salaries and has been paid regularly since January
1998. The project has also been covering medical charges and provides
food rations during anti-poaching patrols in the forest.
Among the team, 8 rangers were selected to participate
in the biodiversity monitoring program. They are located permanently at
the Kalibina camping site. It is their task to locate gorilla groups and
other animals and record information while others are involved in anti-poaching
patrols and construction activities.
Park Infrastructure Development
Housing was a serious problem for the rangers working on Mt. Tshiaberimu, because the park had very poor or no existing infrastructure. The project has decided to provide improved shelter and housing to the rangers and their families. Tin-roofed houses built with local materials are to be constructed at Burusi, Kangai and Kasimbi, the 3 main patrol posts around the mountain. The construction has now been completed for 4 houses and 2 paillotes in Burusi, 2 houses in Kasimbi and 2 in Kangai. This provides shelter to 16 rangers' families. Other houses are still to be built but we are relying on the rangers to complete the construction. The Kalibina research cabin has not yet been set up, but a preliminary plan has been discussed with architects/entrepreneurs working in Butembo, Beni and Kyondo.
Antipoaching Activities and Protection of Biological Resources
In 1996 and 1997, many destructive activities were observed in the forest;
protecting the park was difficult. Rangers had been disarmed during the
liberation war and the local people took advantage of the situation and
the poor working conditions in order to extend their illegal activities
inside the park. Poachers set antelope and monkey snares and traps and
dug gold clandestinely; others cultivated crops illegally, cut trees and
burned charcoal. The most disastrous activity is charcoal burning and
exploitation as it involves many villagers and opens the forest to cultivation.
In January 1998, an effort was made to bring a mixed delegation of ICCN
(Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature), the Administrateur
du territoire of Beni and DFGF (Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund) representatives
to discuss the problem in Burusi. The delegates used the occasion to explain
some facts about community-based conservation and to sensitize the local
people to stop poaching and cultivation inside the park boundaries.
Rangers have been carrying out patrols in various parts of the mountain
to combat poaching. Despite being disarmed their presence had a very dissuasive
effect on the poachers. During the patrols they remove snares and confiscate
saws and machetes and other material used by poachers. This proved effective
in reducing the poaching activities. Up to now 5 saws have been confiscated
from the pitsawers and gold mining no longer exists in the forest. About
50 snares were removed during the patrols. We have also identified and
warned 6 pitsawers living in the surrounding villages.
In July 1998, the military officer and Commandant in charge of Kyondo
came to visit the project activities. His two-day stay in the forest was
a boost to the anti-poaching campaign. A meeting was held in Burusi with
different local leaders and responsible persons from the villages. The
Commandant promised to send soldiers to help rangers in their activities,
whenever this is necessary.
Biodiversity Monitoring
The number of gorillas living on Mt. Tshiaberimu has not
been accurately determined. Data obtained by counting nests indicated
between 14 and 22 individuals. To accurately determine the number we follow
the group over a given period of time without losing it. This monitoring
program was initiated in April and the team based at Kalibina is undertaking
the regular daily location of the gorillas. The data are recorded on sheets
with information on the GPS coordinates, the nest numbers and ages or
the group composition - if observed -, weather conditions etc.
However, the density of the vegetation does not
facilitate animal observations. So far we have initiated trail marking
and maintenance. A 6,725 m grid system has been cut to allow easy movement
and observation in the gorilla ranging zones. These trails were cut without
major disturbance of the vegetation (trees were left and only bamboo and
low plants were removed).
We have not downloaded the GPS records but most
of the zones of activities of gorillas are known. We have located 2 large
groups: one of 8 gorillas (7 + 1 baby), sometimes with a peripheral solitary
male who used to nest near the group, and another group of 6 individuals.
We have also evidence of about 4 solitary males ranging in the forest.
On several occasions, gorillas were approached or seen at a very short
distance, but on all occasions, some individuals charged and ran into
the forest to avoid contact.
Local Community Participation
Several contacts were made with local leaders and political
authorities in the region to ensure effective support of the project activities.
The local head of the Bashu collectivity, Mr. Abdallatif, was contacted
in person and he promised to do what he could to stop the destructive
activities. In various places, such as Kabeka and Ngitse, the local people
no longer recognized the original park and they claimed new park boundaries.
Lambert Machozi, Chef de Groupement of Burusi, created many problems as
he incited the villagers to destroy the park which he no longer considered
to exist. In June he was replaced by Mr. Kabindula who has proved to be
very cooperative.
During previous discussions and consultations with
local leaders, the need for a permanent and regular consultation and dialogue
between the park administration and the local population was expressed.
However, there were other issues which required immediate action and decisions,
such as the illegal exploitation of charcoal in the forest by the local
people and the crops grown in illegal shambas/gardens within the park.
The local leaders and the villagers have been allowed to harvest their
crops but not to plant more and new cultivations.
In April, a Rockefeller-funded project was launched
by Trinto Mugangu with the aim to understand traditional values, perception
and attitudes of the local communities toward conservation of two mountains
(Kalonge and Tshiaberimu). The project will also determine whether there
are some traditional beliefs which serve to conserve these mountains and
their resources and would therefore be suitable for promoting peoples'
participation.
Two assistants, Kambumbu (a sociologist) and Kasivika (a development agent)
have been involved in developing a questionnaire for the surveys. They
made visits to various villages around Mt. Tshiaberimu and have gathered
some data on people's views of the resources. No analysis has been made
so far.
Most of the people in Burusi and neighbouring villages
are peasants living from agricultural production and sometimes from the
long-distance bicycle trade. It is a particular challenge to integrate
development and conservation under these circumstances, and it imposes
a proportionally higher amount of non-refundable resources. There is a
great need to explore possibilities of supporting the efforts of the local
initiatives to alleviate the burden of the extreme poverty they are confronted
to. The local people will better understand the relevance of gorilla conservation
on Mt. Tshiaberimu for their lives if they actively participate in conservation
efforts and benefit directly from them.
Problems, Constraints and Perspectives
The efforts to achieve a sound conservation program on Mt. Tshiaberimu are challenged by several problems. Although some progress has been observed, serious constraints are faced by the project. They include
- The lack of adequate funding,
- The need to address the problems of long-term conservation as a joint effort by various stakeholders,
- The political unrest and radiating crisis and escalation of violence in the region.
Regarding the new rebellion, we have set up a strategy to face the situation on the project level: maintain a permanent presence of dedicated rangers in the forest who will continue their monitoring activities and continue providing the needed support.
Addition: The Present Situation at Mt. Tshiaberimu
Kampala, December 22, 1998: Efforts have been made to keep most of the project activities in the field. Since the beginning of the war, Tshiaberimu has been the only area in Virunga National Park where a set of coordinated and coherent activities aiming at conservation of the biodiversity is still feasible. This has been possible not only because it is a remote area but also due to:
- The strong dedication of rangers to save what remains in Tshiaberimu,
- The continuing support provided by the project despite very difficult logistics and access to the field by road,
- The flexibility in our operational base.
The war has made it necessary to channel most of our communication and funding support via Kampala. We have been able to rely on various people and organizations who are willing to support the project and ensure its continuation despite the war in the region. We have been forced to create a flexible plan of activities which can be adjusted in accordance with the new developments in the area. This new channel could be created because the security situation is good on the road Kampala-Kasindi(border)-Beni and to Tshiaberimu.
Vital Katembo Mushengezi
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. Now he is project leader for Mt. Tshiaberimu and field assistant for DFGF (Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund) Europe in North Kivu.
Photo: Vital Katembo
On the top of Mt. Tshiaberimu