The Success of Mountain Gorilla Conservation in East Africa
Nestled in the misty slopes of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a population of mountain gorillas has endured numerous challenges over the years. Today, approximately 1,063 mountain gorillas remain, inhabiting 780 square kilometers of forest. Decades ago, their survival seemed uncertain, but thanks to one of the most successful conservation efforts globally, their numbers have been steadily increasing. At the heart of this achievement is the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), a coalition that has worked for over three decades to protect these iconic primates and the forests they inhabit.
A Collaborative Approach to Conservation
Founded in 1991 by the African Wildlife Foundation, Fauna & Flora, and WWF, IGCP has built upon earlier conservation efforts to address threats, promote responsible tourism, and ensure that conservation benefits the communities living near the parks. Now locally owned but globally supported, the program continues to adapt to new challenges, safeguarding a fragile victory for both mountain gorillas and the surrounding communities.
The collaboration across the three countries has enhanced social and political support for conservation, improved park management, and increased tourism revenue-sharing among local communities. The partnership includes protected area authorities such as the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN).
Balancing Conservation and Community Needs
The success of mountain gorilla conservation depends on balancing the needs of the gorillas with the livelihoods of local communities. IGCP works closely with these communities to create opportunities for direct benefits from conservation, encourage stewardship, and reduce conflicts between people and wildlife.
Most people living near the Virunga, Volcanoes, Mgahinga, and Bwindi Impenetrable parks are subsistence farmers surviving below the poverty line. While their activities can pose threats to gorillas and their habitats, these communities also offer the best opportunity for sustainable conservation. IGCP has helped establish benefit-sharing arrangements between protected areas and neighboring communities.
In Uganda, since 1997, UWA has shared 20% of park entry fees with local governments to fund projects supporting communities around Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks. In Rwanda, a similar program introduced in 2005 allocates 10% of revenue from gorilla permits to community livelihood projects. Over the last decade, tourism revenue sharing has contributed more than $1.5 million to 301 projects around Volcanoes National Park.
Community-Owned Tourism and Sustainable Livelihoods
IGCP has also supported the development of community-owned lodges and a community-operated campsite around Volcanoes and Bwindi National Parks. These initiatives generate tourism revenue to support social development, strengthen relationships with the parks, and demonstrate the tangible value of gorilla conservation.
Between 2012 and 2015, IGCP partnered with the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) to develop the Certified Gorilla Friendly™ Park Edge community products, an eco-label designed to balance tourism revenue with gorilla protection while supporting sustainable community enterprises. By 2021, twelve community enterprises around Volcanoes and Bwindi National Parks had qualified for certification, providing training and technical support in environmental awareness, business, and marketing skills.
Nature-based enterprises have become a central part of IGCP’s community strategy. Historically, communities relied heavily on forest resources for their livelihoods, which contributed to habitat degradation. IGCP promotes alternative income-generating activities such as beekeeping, artisan crafts, basketry, cattle rearing, and the cultivation of mushrooms, garlic, onions, and other vegetables.
For example, the Nkuringo Women Artisan Group in Uganda has increased household incomes by selling crafts to tourists, reducing reliance on forest resources and improving quality of life.
Managing Human-Wildlife Conflict
IGCP has focused on addressing human-wildlife conflict through infrastructure, natural buffers, and community institutions. Stone walls, trenches, and electric fences have been constructed along park boundaries to prevent wildlife from leaving protected areas, complemented by the planting of unpalatable crops such as tea, lemon grass, and artemisia to create buffer zones.
In 2002, IGCP championed the purchase of land to establish the Nkuringo Buffer Zone in the southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This buffer zone has helped reduce human-wildlife conflict, expanded land for mountain gorilla conservation, boosted tourism revenue, and lowered the risk of disease transmission between humans and gorillas.
Community institutions like the Human Gorilla Conflict Resolution Team (HUGO) have been established with IGCP’s support to monitor gorilla movements, report problems, and raise conservation awareness. IGCP has strengthened the capacity of these groups through training in governance, record-keeping, and microfinance.
Using Science to Guide Conservation
Scientific research and monitoring have been central to IGCP’s success. The coalition has developed census tools, trained rangers, and led transboundary mountain gorilla censuses across the Virunga Massif. IGCP has consistently taken the lead in mountain gorilla censuses, a role it continues to uphold today.
The organization is currently spearheading the 2025 mountain gorilla census in the Bwindi-Sarambwe ecosystem. Conservationists expect the exercise not only to establish the minimum number of individual mountain gorillas but also to shed light on their population dynamics, including changes in group composition, group sizes, and the presence of solitary males in the wild.
Tackling Disease Threats
Mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to diseases, especially those passed on by humans, due to their close genetic similarity. Scientists say that mountain gorillas share approximately 98.3% of their DNA with humans. IGCP has mitigated these threats by collecting health data, sponsoring the construction of a zoonotic disease laboratory in Musanze, and integrating gorilla health monitoring into park management.
In addition, IGCP has promoted responsible mountain gorilla tourism. In 2015, IGCP in collaboration with Wildlife Enterprise Network (WFEN) launched the Gorilla Friendly™ Pledge initiative, an online awareness campaign aimed at encouraging all people planning to visit the mountain gorillas to observe gorilla tourism rules during treks.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Conservation for the Future
Looking ahead, IGCP aims to build on its three decades of success by focusing on several key priorities. The program plans to boost the use of technology to enhance data collection, reporting, and information sharing, ensuring that conservation decisions are informed by accurate and timely information.
Gender equity and inclusiveness will remain a key part of its work, ensuring that women and young people are fully engaged in, and benefit from, mountain gorilla conservation. The program also intends to continue fostering capacity building at all levels, empowering local communities, park staff, and other stakeholders with the skills and knowledge needed for effective conservation.
