WCS and Nyungwe
WCS is working with local communities and leaders to find ways of preserving Nyungwe Forest through tourism development, awareness campaigns, capacity building, and policy development. Thanks in part to these efforts and our work here over the past 20 years, in 2005, the forest was designated the third national park in Rwanda.
WCS and its partner organizations have established a network of moderate hiking trails, a canopy walkway, and an interpretation center, which is the first of its kind in the region.
Wardens and rangers have been trained and six patrol posts have been constructed to maintain control of the forest. WCS has also worked with the Rwandan government to develop a park management plan that determines zoning for conservation, tourism, and sustainable harvesting. Working with the National University of Rwanda and the Agricultural Research Institute, we have developed research collaborations for students and scientists.
Recently, WCS has been facilitating a collaboration between Rwanda and Burundi with the aim of conserving Nyungwe and neighboring Kibira National Park as one landscape. Since the launch of this initiative, a Memorandum of Understanding between Rwanda and Burundi has been ratified.
Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society (www.wcs.org), founded in 1895, has the clear mission to save wildlife and wild places across the globe. Our story began in the early 1900’s when we successfully helped the American bison recover on the Western Plains. Today, we protect many of the world’s iconic creatures here and abroad, including gorillas in the Congo, tigers in India, wolverines in the Yellowstone Rockies, and ocean giants in our world’s amazing seascapes.
During our 115 years, we have forged the power of our global conservation work and the management of our five parks in New York City to create the world’s most comprehensive conservation organization. We currently manage about 500 conservation projects in more than 60 countries; and educate millions of visitors at our five living institutions in New York City on important issues affecting our planet. Our parks include: the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo.