Contribution to the integrated management of the Sarambwe Reserve

The Sarambwe Reserve is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This 900-hectare reserve borders Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a park listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, located in south-western Uganda.

Situated at the junction of lowland and montane forests, it covers over 32,000 ha and boasts very rich biodiversity, with more than 160 tree species and over 100 fern species. It is also home to numerous bird and butterfly species, as well as several threatened primate species (chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, etc.). One of the last remaining mountain gorilla populations is found here.

Gorilla families often settle in the Sarambwe Reserve, and tourist visits from Uganda can then take place to observe the great apes.

This reserve, and the endemic species living within it, is currently under pressure both from neighbouring populations, for timber and firewood harvesting and charcoal production, and from external threats (poaching).

The association VONA is proposing to improve the effectiveness of the Sarambwe Reserve’s protection, in collaboration with the structures responsible for managing biodiversity in the area.

Furthermore, despite the reserve’s status being officially recognised in 2002, its boundaries are poorly marked. Staff from the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) assigned to the reserve work under difficult conditions and lack the equipment needed to properly carry out wildlife and flora conservation activities.