Kinshasa, December 22nd, 2025 (CPA).- Cooperatives engaged in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection have been highlighted as a pillar of conservation in Virunga National Park, North Kivu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the CPA learned via the park’s X account, consulted on Monday. ‘At the heart of these conservation efforts are community-led initiatives: cooperatives committed to sustainable agriculture, communities and associations supporting the CLIMA Virunga reforestation project, as well as community trackers who protect mountain gorillas and contribute to the preservation of this iconic species,’ read the protected area’s account on the occasion of its centenary.
The source indicated that their action is supported by eco-guards and community trackers, who ensure the protection of wildlife, particularly mountain gorillas. Virunga National Park has thus reaffirmed that long-term conservation requires the active involvement of cooperatives and local communities, which are considered key players in a sustainable model that reconciles nature conservation and socio-economic development. Created in 1925 by Belgian royal decree under the name Albert Park, Virunga National Park, the first in Africa, has a mission to protect mountain gorillas. Its history has been marked by successive expansions, its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, and significant challenges related to conflict. ACP/