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WWF and Partners Launch Greater Virunga Landscape Initiative to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade

The World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), and TRAFFIC, launched a groundbreaking project titled; Towards Zero Poaching in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL).

This three-year initiative will  address  Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.
Funded by the UK Government through the Biodiversity Challenge Fund, the project seeks to strengthen wildlife protection by improving monitoring, building enforcement capacity, fostering community engagement, and promoting cross-border collaboration.

The project is set to  develop an integrated monitoring system to track illegal wildlife trade activities effectively while equipping and training enforcement personnel in all four responsible government agencies within the GVL. It also focuses on establishing a regional task force under the International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) guidelines to enhance cross-border collaboration.

Speaking during the project’s inception meeting in Rubavu, Rwanda, Kabeya Fatuma Marie Rose, Deputy Executive Secretary of GVTC, highlighted the global urgency of combating IWT.

"This initiative addresses the growing threats posed by wildlife trafficking, which not only endangers biodiversity but also disrupts livelihoods and ecosystems within the Greater Virunga Landscape," she said.

WWF Uganda Country Director, Ivan Tumuhimbise reiterated the importance of collective action towards combatting Illegal Wildlife Trade.

"By addressing gaps in enforcement, technology, and community participation, we can significantly reduce wildlife trafficking and ensure the stability of wildlife populations. Protecting these species is crucial not only for biodiversity but also for the well-being of communities who depend on these ecosystems," he stated.

The GVL encompasses seven national parks and one wildlife reserve across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These include iconic protected areas such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Virunga National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Home to critically endangered species like Mountain Gorillas and African Elephants, the landscape also features globally recognized conservation landmarks, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and two Ramsar wetlands.
© Happy Ali
WWF, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), and TRAFFIC, and other stakeholders launch a project titled; Towards Zero Poaching in the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL).