Conflict and the issues on sustainablity?

Checking through my e-mails I came across a letter from the WWF, telling me about the current situation in the Congo and how it could have an effect on the fragile Gorilla population in the Virunga National Park.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo and estimated 250,000 people have fled their homes following the latest outbreak of violence in the east of the country. Conflict has been taking part for years in the country and is mainly due to the vast mineral wealth in the country. In 2003 the war, which invovled other countries such as Angola, Uganda, Nambia and Rwanda ended, however unrest has continued throughout the country. Conflict has now broken out in the east again and many people are now being displaced from their homes by the violence.

Virunga National Park is in the east of the Congo, and covers an area of 790,000 ha. The national park is a vital and rare refuge for the endangered mountain Gorilla. The park consists of vast mountain ranges with snow covered peaks, and also has severn volcanoes to the south. As well as Gorilla the national park has a number of other animals including hippos, elephants, buffalo, and uganda kob.

Recently fighting broke out in the south of the park between the Congo government and rebels. Previous conflict has already reduce the Gorilla numbers to just 700. The conflict took place in the heart of the mountain Gorilla population. This could have a devisating effect on the Gorilla, many will be shot for 'protection' by the rebels and possibly the government army.

This is not the only problem for the national park and the Gorilla population. Many people have been forced to flee their villages and move to makeshift camps in areas around the national park. The people need to gathered wood and food and have no choice but to take it from the forests of the national park, which the Gorillas rely on.

The UN and the WWF are now trying to give the people feul to make fires and cook their food which will help to reduce the effect on the vunerable Gorilla population as well as helping the vunerable local people who have been displaced.

Sustainable development for the Congo and its surrounding nations would help not only the people to solve their conflicts but it would also help the vunerable Gorilla populations. Sustainable development would work with the local people and help them to use other ways to cook and gather other than using the valuable forests.



If you would like to find out more or help the people and gorillas in Congo then go to http://www.wwf.org.uk/