IGCP 30 Year Impact Report
Chapter 6
The Future of Gorilla Conservation and IGCP
Over its 30 years of existence, IGCP has achieved the successes and progress detailed in this report by focusing on its impact and on effective partnerships at all levels. The following factors have also been critical:
- Adaptive management practices. These have enabled IGCP to respond well to changing operating environments as well as emerging conservation issues in the Virunga and Bwindi landscapes. IGCP used results and recommendations from periodic internal and external reviews and assessments of programme performance as well as research findings to strengthen its interventions and devise strategies to address emerging issues. IGCP developed and implemented strategic plans that guided investments and interventions.
- Institutionalisation of programmes with a mandate to conserve mountain gorillas and protect their habitats as well as a local government that is responsible for community development. IGCP established and nurtured partnerships with other conservation and research agencies operating in the mountain gorilla range. This approach provided IGCP with the much-needed legitimacy to mobilize technical and financial resources that it has channeled to support conservation and promote conservation-linked livelihoods.
- Conservation innovations. IGCP has promoted innovations such as human-wildlife conflict management infrastructure, which were informed by research findings and recommendations. These innovations have proved successful and sustainable in addressing challenges including problem animal management and effective community engagement.
The Future of IGCP
There are ongoing challenges and emerging issues that affect mountain gorilla conservation and continue to benefit from IGCP interventions. The growth of mountain gorilla and human populations, coupled with the effects of climate change, intensifies the challenge of striking the right balance between conservation and livelihoods.
IGCP’s priorities are:
IGCP will deliver continued impact through the following broad areas as the coalition continues to strive to secure a viable future for wild mountain gorillas:
©️IGCP
©️IGCP
Community Engagement
Mountain gorilla conservation and tourism contribute substantially to community development and livelihood improvement in the region. But research has indicated that inequitable access to and distribution of revenue and benefits among and within these communities undermines the success of conservation. IGCP will be widening and deepening community engagement interventions and strategies to continue to reduce the cost of conservation for local communities and partner with them to enhance the delivery of conservation benefits and livelihoods improvement.
©️IGCP
©️IGCP
Active Conservation Science
It is vital to implement evolving science in conservation effectively and actively. IGCP will continue to support and advocate for the use of scientific data to inform management decisions in relation to mountain gorilla conservation – for instance, through population viability analyses and carrying capacity assessments. IGCP is also helping to develop and implement the Virunga Transboundary Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy. This will define actions and processes to identify, avoid, assess and mitigate causal factors of manmade and natural disasters and pandemics in the Virunga landscape, to reduce how vulnerable mountain gorillas and their habitat are to disasters.
©️IGCP
©️IGCP
Facilitating Collaboration
IGCP places particular emphasis on collaboration, especially regional collaboration at all levels – from the staff in the parks to the governments in the three countries – providing a framework for more effective communication and sharing of resources. The coalition conducts and supports a range of regional activities including ecological monitoring, joint meetings, tourism development, joint ranger training, and conservation action planning. Regional meetings have provided a vital communication link between the four parks and the three protected area authorities and will continue to be of the utmost importance.
IGCP will strive to meet its objectives through these approaches:
- Reduce the threats to mountain gorillas and their habitat by creating widespread support for conservation among local communities, interest groups and the general public.
- Improve the protection of mountain gorillas and their habitat by encouraging the relevant authorities to adopt a consistent, collaborative approach to conservation policy and legislation throughout the region, grounded in conservation science.
- Increase collaboration between the protected area authorities and their partners in the region.
IGCP is constantly learning, putting in the hard work of conservation and doing crucial work with institutions and people, to develop institutions and processes that will sustain independently of IGCP. The coalition recognizes that the Earth’s survival depends on humanity’s ability to maintain a healthy and balanced environment that includes all species of wildlife.
Mountain gorillas depend on conservation – so they rely on continual interventions by people to ensure their forest home has the necessary components for them to thrive. IGCP cannot lose the momentum it has spent decades building and absolutely must maintain long-term investments. It will take a continued and collaborative effort to secure a viable future for mountain gorillas.
IGCP is on a mission to ensure these iconic animals thrive for generations to come. Join us!
“IGCP could not do what it does without the generosity of every one of its donors. Through your unwavering support over the last 30 years, mountain gorilla numbers have increased".
Contact
Email: info@igcp.org
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