Burundi, Rwanda Sign Pact to Protect Forest

October 2, 2008 by Stil7

(+4 rating, 1 votes)

Loading ...

The Wildlife Conservation Society, recently facilitated an agreement between Rwanda and Burundi to protect the largest mountain forest block in East Africa. The conservation area, known as the Nyungwe-Kibira Landscape, straddles the border between the nations and is home to a variety of endangered species including chimpanzees and rare owl-faced monkeys.

The area is increasingly threatened by illegal harvesting of bamboo and timber as well as mining of gold and coltan. The Wildlife Conservation Society has worked for several years to improve trans-boundary collaboration between Rwanda and Burundi to protect the area. The Nyungwe-Kibira Landscape is part of the Albertine Rift focal region, a priority area for the Foundation’s conservation and sustainable development grantmaking.

Mongabay.com