Vanishing Treasures Project Launched in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Blog | 12/06/24
Following a successful first phase in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, IGCP recently launched the Vanishing Treasures Project – Phase II in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The newly launched project worth $ 200,000 will benefit 13 villages surrounding Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The project will focus on proper waste management and disposal, Agroforestry and tree planting, Climate Smart Agriculture, hygiene and sanitation and safe water, domestic energy saving cook stoves and Mindset change (PIP).
IGCP recently conducted an inception meeting in Kisoro with the project stakeholders with the aim of introducing the project to the partners and to solicit their support in the implementation.
“This project speaks to our issues as a district. Poor waste management has cost us a lot including flooding due to the great amount of plastics that block drainage systems. We Pledge our support and vow to sustain the project gains”. said Robert Tukamuhebwa, Deputy Resident Commissioner for Kisoro District. Commenting on the project, Mr. Isaiah Bwire, Senior Warden Mgahinga Gorilla National Park said, “We have gotten The Vanishing Treasures Project because we are neighbors with the park. It is a good reminder about the critical need for collective conservation of the park such that more development projects come to our community. Good conservation is collective conservation”.
Speaking at the meeting the IGCP Director Mr. Wellard Makambo reiterated the importance of the Vanishing Treasures project and the role of the community in conservation. “This project is just a fraction of IGCP’s huge investment in mountain gorilla conservation and community livelihood development. We wish to continue in this capacity to make conservation a reality at all levels, bearing in mind that it is one ecosystem, one people and one landscape”.
The Vanishing Treasures is a global project funded by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through UNEP/GRASP. The project aims at enhancing climate resilience of mountain communities, species, and ecosystems by applying climate-smart conservation and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches in support of sustainable livelihoods and land-use.
