When primatologists such as Dian Fossey in the 1960’s begun insisting that mountain gorillas would go extinct, efforts by governments and conservation agencies started investing money to save gorillas. Eventually conservation of gorillas became possible and presents benefits for wildlife and the highest human population desntities living in around gorilla habitats is more than 300 people per sq km.
Mountain gorillas live in only 2 habitat ranges of Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park and Virunga conservation Area which includes volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Mgahinga gorilla national park in Southwestern uganda and virunga national park in eastern DR Congo.
These areas protect important ecosystems including tropicla forests, swamps, savannahs, which are rich in biodiversity and provides social, environmental and economic benefits. From acting as a source of food, fresh air, water catchment areas that local people depend on to reducing negative effects of climate change by storing carbon and other green house gases which cause global warming.
Therefore protection of mountain gorilla habitats helps to secure water catchment areas for instance Bwindi rainforest alone is a source of five streams which provide fresh water, save other wildlife species that live along with gorillas including albertine rift endemic birds, forest elephants, buffaloes, primates and small living creatures.
Gorilla tourism and gorilla tracking safaris are resposbible for generating dollars and creating jobs for conservation area managers, wildlife rangers, guides and much more.
Yet mountain gorillas are ciritically endangered having declined to less than 500 individuals in the 1980’s and their habitats are threatened with human encrochment leading to loss of habitats through unsustainable farming and now gorillas are confined to only 4 national parks on planet earth.
Uganda and Rwanda are committed to creating lasting solutions such as reducing poverty levels, supporting and empowering local pcommunities for the benefit of both gorillas and people.
however, DR Congo’s virunga national park, africa’s oldest park is highly faced with civil war and political instability which displaces people and this increases loss of forests through illegal mining and charcoal burning, continues at a high rate which creates imbalances towards sustainable conservation within the gorilla habitat ranges.
Fortenately the successful gorilla tourism and increased gorilla tracking safaris in Rwanda and Uganda is significantly increasing revenue generation to meet the economical, social and environmental needs of people. Hence conseration of gorilla and their habitats achieves a win-win situation for current and future generations.
Through gazetting national parks like Virunga in 1979 as world heritage site and adding Bwindi rainforest on the UNESCO heritage list in 1991, gorilla habitats were restored. Rwanda currently is planning to expand volcanoes national park by 3,000 sq km which will further enlarge gorilla habitats.
In addition, due to increased security and conservation since 1990 mountain gorilla population has been increasing and currently are estimated to be about 880 individuals thriving in the wild (2011 census). Its no secret that mountain gorilla numbers had declined to less than 500 individuals in the 1980’s due to poaching and human encrochment.