BOSCO HITIMANA

KIGALI, RWANDA - Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are in talks to institutionalise future collaboration on Virunga Massif.

Experts from the three countries recently met in Kigali to deliberate on the Virunga Transboundary Collaboration between three countries.

They discussed the Draft Treaty to ensure that all perspectives and key issues are addressed..

The issues included state sovereignty over its natural resources, equitable sharing of costs and benefits between state and non-state actors sharing of data and knowledge on the shared ecosystems, while taking into consideration the resources.

The treaty is expected to be ratified by the three governments.

The Virunga Massif constitutes the home range to the remaining population of the mountain gorillas in the world.

Since by nature the Gorillas are migratory and cross the borders, the three countries have to collaborate to ensure the primates are protected.

All the three countries have great responsibility to conserve wisely and manage these resources for the well-being of the people and for future generations.

The Transboundary Collaboration started at the field level between Park staff, with the aim of coordination of activities in order to ensure tbetter protection and conservation of Gorillas in Virunga

Massif.

The Albertine region is world-famous for its very rich diversity of species, and has been designated a biodiversity Conservation Area by Conservation International.