KIGALI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Officials from Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Thursday met here to discuss cooperation on sustainable conservation of endangered mountain gorillas in the Virunga massif.
The three countries share gorilla habitat in the Virunga massif which comprises of a series of volcanic mountains that stretch from southwestern Uganda, northwestern Rwanda and eastern DRC covering Mgahinga Gorilla Park, Volcanoes National Park and Virunga national park in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC respectively.
Mountain gorillas are critically endangered with only around 880 remaining in the world, according to World Wildlife Fund.
In 2015, the three countries signed a treaty committing to sustainable conservation of the Greater Virunga landscape, including the Virunga Massif and Bwindi ecosystem, which are both home to the endangered mountain gorillas, according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
"We need to strengthen our efforts through strong collaboration to protect mountain gorillas' natural habitat in the Virunga massif. We should also work out sustainable initiatives meant to prevent human-wildlife conflict," said Ugandan tourism minister Ephraim Kamuntu at the meeting.
Kamuntu called on three countries to harness latest technologies to keep track of the gorilla's movement patterns, habitat protection and keeping records of population demographics.
Rwandan minister of trade and industry Vincent Munyeshyaka said sustainable conservation of gorillas and other wildlife species in the Virunga Mountains holds key towards boosting tourism revenues for the three countries.
"Our collaboration should go beyond the conservation of wildlife, and team up in managing other shared resources, such as water and other ecological services in Virunga massif," he said.
"Sustainable tourism and conservation in the Virunga region is at the heart of our development goals and that therefore means that we are more than ready to cooperate in promoting transboundary conservation," said Eugene Mutangana, head of conservation at RDB.
Strong collaboration will enhance the protection of both flora and fauna in Virunga Mountains, increase peace and security and promote inclusive growth, according to Jose Ilanga Lofonga, director general of Forest Resources at the ministry of environment of DRC.
"We need to strengthen our efforts to generate more tourism revenues from the Virunga massif and also enhance revenue sharing mechanism among the three countries," he said.
