Dungu, 25 May 2015— The MONUSCO Dungu Base on Saturday 23 May 2015 hosted the Dungu press’s first forum, organized at the initiative of the UN Mission’s Public Information Office, in partnership with the local press. The theme selected for this first meeting was « The Garamba National Park (GNP): realities and perspectives». Mr. Laurent Kidima, head of the GNP Community Conservation Department, was an invited guest speaker at the meeting.

Those attending included the local politico-administrative authorities, some MONUSCO members, civil society representatives, pupils and students, and members of the local press.

Mr. Laurent Kidima’s introductory statement was divided into three parts:

• History of this Park
• Uniqueness of the Park, as a « protected area »
• Situation of flagship species and management constraints

In essence, Mr. Kidima told the meeting that the Garamba National Park, 4,900 sq. kilometers, created on 17 March 1938, is an exceptional site, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1980. It is endowed with an exceptional biodiversity which is now under threat. To ensure its survival, the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) has since 2005 signed a site management agreement with the foundation African Park Network (APN).

In terms of statistical data, the meeting participants were apprised of the following figures concerning the wildlife: northern while rhinoceroses (350 in 1976, 0 in 2006); elephants (25 000 in 1976, 1800 in 2013); northern giraffes (350 in 1976, 32 in 2013). It can be seen from these figures that white rhinos have totally disappeared since 2006, and the speaker noted this was largely due to the poaching activities of armed groups during the different armed rebellions that took place in the region. The figures also reveal that 134 elephants were killed in 2014.

The speaker further explained, that the great challenge for the ICCN and APN is to ensure conservation in favor of security, good governance and development, in a win-win partnership with local stakeholders, including national defense and security forces (army, courts and traditional authorities), the press, State Education, and community groups, so as to consolidate a support group for the conservation of the Garamba National Park.

This was followed by interesting, sometimes heated exchanges on the need for increased awareness raising activities for the local populations, stronger advocacy with parliamentary and administrative authorities for trans-boundary management of the Garamba Park, and enhanced synergy among local stakeholders for the creation and functioning of a support group for the conservation of the Park. Also discussed was the importance for the communities to develop planning and management tools to ensure reduction of their dependency on exploitation of the Garamba Park’s natural resources.

All participants agreed that this was a productive meeting. It was also agreed that a “Press Forum” would be organized monthly on some relevant and timely theme, so as to make this meeting not only a platform for exchanges and reflection but also a force of proposals for the development of Dungu.