IUCN Management Category II and IX (National Park and Biosphere Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 3.20.12 (Central African Highlands)

Geographical Location 15km north-west of the town of Ruhengeri in the Virunga massif of north-west Rwanda, on the Uganda and Zaire borders. 1°21'-1°35'S, 29°22'-29°44'E.

Date and History of Establishment Part of the park was protected in 1925. Albert National Park, which included the entire volcanoes area, was established in 1929 and divided in 1960 with the independence of Zaire. Current protection is under a Decree of 24 April 1974. Accepted as a Biosphere Reserve in 1983.

Area 12,500-13,000ha; contiguous to Virunga National Park (809,000ha) in Zaire and Gorilla Game Reserve (8,800ha) in Uganda. The area of Volcanoes National Park could be 12,000-16,000ha, depending on whether the plan area or estimate of true surface area is used. The problem arises from inaccurate base maps with significant errors of scale. A figure of 77,000ha is often quoted, which probably refers to the surface area in the 1950s of the entire southern section of Albert National Park. The Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 15,065ha.

Land Tenure Government

Altitude 2,400-4,507m

Physical Features The park contains Pleistocene volcanic peaks belonging to the chain which forms part of the watershed between the Nile and Zaire river systems. The peaks include Karisimbi, one of the highest mountains in Africa. Terrain is difficult and broken with steep slopes. The forested slopes are recognised as important water catchment areas for the surrounding agricultural lands. Outflow decreased dramatically with the decrease in park area between 1958 and 1978 when forest was cut to be replaced by Pyrethrum plantations. There is a high annual rainfall of 1,975mm at 3,030m, with a marked decrease to the west. Mean annual temperature is 9.6°C.

Climate No information

Vegetation Vegetation varies considerably due to the large altitudinal range within the park. There is some lower montane forest (now mainly lost to agriculture). Between 2,400 and 2,500m, there is Neoboutonia forest. From 2,500 to 3,200m Arundinaria alpina (bamboo) forest occurs, covering about 30% of the park area. From 2,600 to 3,600m, mainly on the more humid slopes in the south and west, is Hagenia-Hypericum forest, which covers about 30% of the park. This is one of the largest forests in Africa with Hagenia abyssinica. The vegetation from 35-4,200m is characterised by Lobelia wollastonii, L. lanurensis, and Senecio erici-rosenii and covers about 25% of the park. From 4,300 to 4,500m grassland occurs. Secondary thicket, meadows, marshes, swamps and small lakes also occur, but their total area is relatively small.

Fauna The park is best known for mountain gorilla Gorilla gorilla berengei (T) with a population in 1980 of 250 in the area covered by the parc national des Volcans, and the Virunga National Park in Zaire, about 110 occurring in the former. This subspecies is endemic to Virunga Mountain and Bwindi Forest in Uganda. Other mammals include: elephant Loxodonta africana (T), black-fronted duiker Cephalophus niger, buffalo Syncerus caffer, spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta and bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus. There are 178 recorded bird species that include Grauer's swamp warbler Bradypterus graueri (V) and at least 13 species endemic to the Virunga and Ruwenzori Mountains including: handsome francolin Francolinus nobilis, Ruwenzori turaco Tauraco johnstoni, Ruwenzori flycatcher Batis diops, strange weaver Ploceus alienus, dusky crimson-wing Cryptospiza jacksoni and Shelley's crimson-wing C. shelleyi, and 16 endemic subspecies.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities The Mountain Gorilla Project, jointly financed by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), the Flora and Fauna Preservation Society (FFPS), Peoples Trust for Endangered Species (PTEF) and WWF has worked to improve tourism so as to achieve economic independence for the park. This has involved habituating four gorilla families to the presence of humans so that visitors can be guaranteed close-up views. Cooperation Belge has also contributed finance to set up a new park bureau/guest house and visitor reception complex, now approaching completion.

Scientific Research and Facilities There are general surveys on the ecology and status of bird populations, and intensive research on the mountain gorilla and its habitat has been carried out for the past 15 years, including a census in 1980 funded by WWF and New York Zoological Society.

The Karisoke Research Centre has a resident director, a varying number of research scientists, about 15 trackers, and camp staff. The centre has poor access. There are meteorological stations in the park area.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Total

Zones have developed with general usage, but have no fixed boundaries. They are: research zone (between Karisimbi and Bisoke), tourism zone (Bisoke and between Bisoke and Sabinyo), and strict reserve zone. There is no buffer zone.

A management plan is being developed and should be available soon. A public awareness programme on the park periphery aims to promote understanding of the park and stimulate local support. It includes creation of wildlife clubs in primary schools, park visits by local people, and film shows in the villages with Kinyarwanda commentaries. An IUCN/WWF mission in 1985 noted that there was perhaps insufficient interaction between the management of the park, and the scientific research done within it.

Management Constraints The main threat is the possibility of further excision of park areas by the Government for agricultural purposes, but this has now been halted. The park is already reduced to a size which may not be large enough to support viable populatons of some species were it not for the neighbouring protected areas in Zaire and Uganda. Lack of technical and administrative staff and absence of a buffer zone are problems, but their effect is exacerbated by population increase on the park periphery. Damage to agriculture in the periphery area, particularly by buffalo, seems to be increasing and could cause resentment from local people. Gorilla poaching affects both survival of the species in this area and tourism. Problems associated with tourism are: over-demand for gorilla viewing and degradation of upland habitats through trampling, but these can be controlled. Other problems include encroachment, illegal wood and bamboo cutting, and feral dogs. Grazing is now under control. The yellow duiker Cephalophus sylvicultor probably occupied areas that have been turned over to cultivation in the past 30 years and it has now disappeared from the park. Leopard Panthera pardus (T) was also present, but there have been no records since 1979. Recently a number of gorillas have died of an unknown illness.

Staff Some 45-55 staff: two administrative, 28 guards, specialist gorilla guides/trackers or hiking guides, and watchmen. Three Mountain Gorilla Project staff, and one full-time and two part-time MGP guide/trackers.

Budget Environmental education in the park is financed jointly by WWF, FFPS and PTES.

Local Addresses

Office Rwandais du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux, PO Box 905, Kigali.

References

Fossey, D. and Harcourt, A.H. (1977). Feeding ecology of free-ranging mountain gorilla. In: Clutton-Brock, (Ed.) Primate Ecology. Pp. 415-447. Academic Press, London.

Ghoit, C. and Ruwet, J.C. (1974). Le Parc national des Volcans (Rwanda) Zoologie et assistance technique. FULREAC, Liége. Pp. 321-334.

Goemines-Somirwa (1981). Evolution entre 1958 et 1979 du couvert forestier et du debit des sources dans certaines régions du Rwanda. Report by Professor J.P. Harroy instigated by Geomines-Somirwa and produced under the auspices of IDR, Kigale.

IUCN/WWF Project 1578. Rwanda, Gorilla conservation and Nature and Environmental Education programme.

IUCN/WWF Project 1613. Primate Action Fund.

IUCN/WWF (1985). Rapport d'une mission au Zaire et Rwanda. IUCN/WWF, Gland, Switzerland.

Spinage, C.A. (1972). The Ecology and Problems of the Volcano National Park, Rwanda. Biological Conservation 4: 194-204.

Date May 1985