IGCP: Partnerships for Conservation

Africa is a continent divided by many political borders – borders that wildlife, roaming their natural habitat, do not recognize. These borders frequently pose serious problems for the free movement and conservation of animals, but when governments, communities and conservation organizations collaborate across political boundaries, the results for wildlife are powerful. The International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), which seeks to ensure the conservation of the last endangered mountain gorillas and their forest habitat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda, is one such powerful collaboration.

The IGCP was formed in 1991, bringing together three international conservation organizations: the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The program is based on the experience and long-term involvement of these organizations in conservation work in Africa and elsewhere. IGCP has focused on working with professional African conservationists, both as part of the team and as partners on the ground.

Political instability in the Virunga region has made conservation of endangered species and habitats difficult. By coming together to champion conservation through the IGCP, AWF, WWF and FFI are working across political borders in a way that provides a model for other non-governmental organizations seeking to effect change in Africa.

These organizations’ shared vision – to work together in a flexible and collaborative manner for the good of the mountain gorillas – allows IGCP to respond to challenges in a flexible way. One of the principal characteristics of the program is that it is transnational, working in the gorillas’ forest habitat that lies across the shared borders of the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda. IGCP emphasizes regional collaboration to ensure that the three countries work together to protect and conserve this area. Regional activities include: ecological monitoring and surveillance; tourism development; joint training, communication and sharing of experiences; planning; community participation and management planning.

IGCP operates in a landscape context, focusing on key conservation targets and working with many different stakeholders. These include local farmers, park authorities, local and regional governments and environmental experts. IGCP has identified four strategic objectives in support of its goal: effective management of the mountain forests; collaborative conservation efforts across political boundaries; public support for gorilla conservation; and laws and policies that support conservation.