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Promoting and Preserving World Heritage in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Promoting and Preserving World Heritage in the Democratic Republic of Congo. World Heritage Convention in DRC. 1974: Ratification 5 Sites designated as natural World Heritage:

JasminFlorian
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Promoting and Preserving World Heritage in the Democratic Republic of Congo

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  1. Promoting and Preserving World Heritage in the Democratic Republic of Congo

  2. World Heritage Convention in DRC • 1974: Ratification • 5 Sites designated as natural World Heritage: • Virunga N. P. (1979) Kahuzi-Biega N. P. (1980)Garamba N.P. (1980)Salonga N.P. (1984)Okapi Faunal Reserve (1996)

  3. Virunga National Park 8090 km2 of plains, savannas, lakes, mountains, active volcanoes and afro-montane forests habitat of the mountain gorilla Oldest national park in Africa

  4. Kahuzi Biega National Park 6000 km2 of afro-montane and equatorial rainforest; home to the endemic Grauer’s Gorilla as well as Congo peacock, forest elephants …

  5. Garamba National Park 4900 km2 of savannas, home to the last northern white rhinos

  6. Action to save the Garamba National Park in 1984 • Garamba N.P. placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1984 because of the dramatic decline of the population of White Rhino (15 specimen) • Joint action by ICCN, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, WWF, FZS, IUCN • Population recovered (30+) • Withdrawn from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992

  7. Okapi Wildlife Reserve 13700 km2 of the Ituri rainforest, home to the endemic okapi

  8. Salonga National Park Second largest rainforest protected area in the world (36000 km2) home to the endemic bonobo

  9. In Danger as a result of conflicts … in times of peace: • Conflicts regarding access to natural resources (land, bush meat, wood and other forest products) in the context of economical degradation, disintegration of the state en increasing demographic pressure • Conflicts related to important economic interests, especially minerals (gold, diamonds, tantalium and niobium)

  10. In Danger as a result of conflicts … in times of violent conflict • External conflicts impact the conservation of the sites as a result of the presence of rebel groups (Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda) • Influx of refugees (Rwanda, Sudan) • War: civil war and Great Lakes conflict

  11. In Danger as a result of conflicts

  12. In Danger as a result of conflicts

  13. All 5 sites currently on the List of World Heritage in Danger Virunga National Park 1994 Garamba National Park 1996 Kahuzi-Biega National Park 1996 Okapi Wildlife Reserve 1997 Salonga National Park 1999 • 1999: workshop organised by lCCN, UNESCO – WHC and conservation organisations for developing an action plan to save the sites • Emergency assistance by the World Heritage Fund • Approval of the project by UNF October 1999 In Danger as a result of conflicts

  14. Biodiversity conservation in regions of armed conflict: Protecting DRC’s WHS

  15. Biodiversity conservation in regions of armed conflict: Protecting DRC’s WHS Contributions to the programme: 3,000,000 $ general programme 300,000 Euro communities 340,000 $ training and monitoring 250,000 Euro monitoring 500,000 Euro monitoring

  16. Direct support to field staff • Diplomatic support to facilitate the work in a region of conflict • Training • Ecological monitoring of the sites • Involve the local communities in the conservation of the sites • Mobilise financial support for the sites • Lessons learned on the conservation of World Heritage sites in regions of armed conflicts Objectives of the programme

  17. Direct support to field staff in the 5 World Heritage sites • 1100 rangers paid regularly in all 5 sites • Funding for medicines and patrol rations • Senior staff paid by partner organisations • Introduction of a system of performance related bonuses based on law enforcement monitoring • Supply of essential equipment Activities and outputs of the programme

  18. Activities and outputs of the programme

  19. Support to Field staff

  20. Diplomatic support to facilitate the work in a region of conflict • raising awerness of the autorities of countries involved in the conflict • facilitation of contacts between local autorities (civil et military) and ICCN and its partners • 4 diplomatic missions • 2 tri-partite meetings • several other interventions Activities and outputs of the programme

  21. Diplomatic Missions

  22. Training of ICCN staff • Training of 22 rangers as trainers in law enforcement techniques in South Africa • Training of a group of selected trainers and in situ training in the sites • Training of rangers in law enforcement monitoring • Training of ICCN staff in database management for ecological monitoring Activities and outputs of the programme

  23. Training

  24. Ecological Monitoring • surveys of key species in cooperation with NGO partners • harmonisation of methodologies for ecological monitoring • definition of a concept for an information management system for ICCN (SYGIAP) • Production of base maps for all sites with the help of satellite images • methodological development of a monitoring system based on tele-detection from space Activities and outputs of the programme

  25. Surveys

  26. Involve the local communities in the conservation of the sites • 5 pilot projects to test different approches with the aim of involving local communities in site conservation in the context of conflict • delimitation of conflictual zones, zoning, management of natural resources by the local populations • joint environmental education campaign for the 5 sites Activities and outputs of the programme

  27. Mobilise financial support for the sites • other donors mobilised for the current programme • raise interest with donors for the continuity of activities • feasibility study for a DRC conservation trust fund Activities and outputs of the programme

  28. Coordination mechanisms • The programme has facilitated the coordination of support to the 5 sites both at site (CoCoSi) and national level (Coregroup) Activities and outputs of the programme

  29. Future perspectives?

  30. The war has seriously impacted the sites but the « ecological capital » was saved • The political situation in DRC is evolving in a positive way: hostilities have ended and a transition government was put in place • The programme was able to gather a team of partners that has the necessary technical and logistical experience to support ICCN • The conditions are met to launch a new programme that would make it possible to remove the 5 sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger! Current Situation

  31. Promoting and Preserving Congolese HeritageLinking biological and cultural diversity 8 – 26 Septembre 2004

  32. Promoting and Preserving Congolese Heritage • Organised by UNESCO WHC and Science Sector with support from Belgium and Japan • Raise awareness of the international community for the outstanding universal value of the DRC World Heritage Sites; • Mobilise the necessary political, financial and technical support to preserve DRC’s World Heritage sites • Give an opportunity to the international public to discover Congolese heritage

  33. Promoting and Preserving Congolese Heritage • International high-level conference on the conservation of the DRC World Heritage Sites with the participation of DRC Government, other Governments and donors • Technical workshops • 3 week exhibition on natural and cultural heritage of DRC • Cultural events

  34. Promoting and Preserving Congolese Heritage • International Conference • September 16 – 17 • Goal: • Launch an action plan and a global partnership for the sustainable conservation of World Heritage in DRC.

  35. Promoting and Preserving Congolese Heritage • International Conference • Specific objectives: • mobilise financial support to ensure the continuity of the activities of the programme and the sustainability of the outcomes • mobilise high level political support from the DRC Government for the conservation of the Sites • inform et sensitise the international community on the state of conservation of the World Heritage Sites in DRC

  36. Promoting and Preserving Congolese Heritage Exhibition (8 – 26 September 2004) • Sponsored by Belgium and created by the Royal Museum for Central Africa • Theme: Linkages between biological and cultural diversity in DRC • Sensitise the public opinion on the irreplaceable value of this heritage • Show the importance of preserving this diversity to ensure an intercultural dialogue in the region and a sustainable development in DRC

  37. Promoting and Preserving Congolese Heritage Congolese music, vector of the intercultural dialogue 23 September 2004: Exceptional Concert of the greatest Congolese rumba artists

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