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Heroes of the Forest U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Heroes of the Forest In 2011, USFWS provided its first grant to support the widows of Virunga’s fallen rangers, investing more than $132,000 which was leveraged with more than $130,000 in additional funds. USFWS has signed a 5-year cooperative agreement with the Virunga Fund Inc., investing more than $290,000 which is matched by $3.35 million, a portion of which will support the widows and children of Virunga’s rangers who have been killed in the line of duty. rangers and families, and later to other continents as well. Due to the historical and biological importance of Virunga and the intense pressures faced by its wildlife and rangers, initiating the program here was an easy choice. Africa’s most diverse and oldest national park (established in 1925), Virunga National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1996. Virunga is under direct threat by political unrest and rebel activity, contested oil exploration within park boundaries, illegal charcoal production, disease, and rampant poaching. Formerly known as Albert National Park, Virunga lies in eastern DRC and Funeral procession for a ranger killed in the line of duty at Virunga National Park, covers 7,800 square kilometers. It is DRC. Credit: Virunga National Park home to 200 of the world’s remaining critically endangered mountain gorillas and a small population of endangered A well trained and equipped corps well-armed and organized poachers. eastern lowland gorillas. It is endowed of park rangers is essential for the The growing international demand for with more species of birds, reptiles and effective conservation and management wildlife products, including ivory and mammals than any other protected of virtually every natural area around rhino horn, increase the risks faced by area in Africa. The park is managed the world. Increased illegal wildlife these rangers by the day. by the Congolese Institute for the trade and continuing instability in parts Conservation of Nature, the Institut of Africa have led to a dramatic rise In 2011, the Wildlife Without Borders Congolais pour la Conservation de la in park ranger killings, devastating program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Nature (ICCN). rangers and their families. Service (USFWS) launched an initiative to recognize the heroism of In the last decade, 140 rangers park rangers in developing countries have been killed protecting wildlife around the world who are killed while in Virunga National Park in the protecting wildlife of global importance. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Recently, rangers in Cameroon, Chad, This initiative is named Heroes of Republic of Congo, and Kenya have the Forest and it is being piloted also been killed while protecting their in Virunga. The goal is to provide national parks. financial assistance to the dead ranger’s family and to raise public The rise in assaults on rangers are awareness of the dangers the rangers indicative of the increasing pressure face and recognize them for making on wildlife and natural areas in Africa. the ultimate sacrifice to protect their While confronting these growing natural areas and wildlife. Above: The mountain gorilla silverback, threats, park rangers, who are often Bageni, resting with his family in underpaid and poorly equipped, face USFWS plans to expand the program Virunga National Park. Credit: Dr. Martin frequent deadly confrontations with to other African parks and their Kabuyaya The Heroes of the Forest Initiative illustrates the U.S. government’s recognition of the courage, commitment and sacrifice by park rangers around the world. A ranger on patrol in Virunga National Park, DRC. Credit: Virunga National Park Sacrifice of Rangers force to continue their critical work to and support continuation of the protect Virunga National Park and its Heroes of the Forest Initiative. A Despite decades of civil war and globally important wildlife. total of $290,000 was awarded for this conflict throughout the DRC and the agreement and leveraged by $3.35 most recent occupation of insurgent Funding has also been provided to million. rebels in and around the park, develop alternative fuel sources as an Virunga’s gorilla population is believed alternative to charcoal production; to The Heroes of the Forest Initiative to remain relatively stable. This purchase a plane for surveillance; to demonstrates the U.S. government’s conservation success is due to the support an anti-poaching bloodhound recognition of the courage, commitment dedication of park rangers who have unit; and to fund a chimpanzee and ultimate sacrifice by park rangers. continued to patrol the park during habituation and tourism project. While many Americans know and the long civil war and subsequent admire Africa’s spectacular wildlife, periods of unrest and instability, USFWS Wildlife Without Borders few realize that scores of rangers are often for little or no pay in life- Commitment killed while protecting Africa’s parks threatening conditions. The killing of and wildlife. This initiative is a step in approximately 140 rangers in Virunga USFWS serves as a member of the addressing that gap. National Park in the last ten years has Virunga National Park’s Fallen left many of their widows destitute, Rangers Steering committee, a without medical help, or housing. This group of organizations dedicated to ever-present threat has had a profound addressing the needs of the widows impact on ranger morale, and it exacts of Virunga’s rangers. Working closely U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service a terrible burden on their families and with park personnel on a wide range of International Affairs local communities. conservation issues, in 2011 USFWS Division of International Conservation committed $132,764 to the Heroes 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: IA How USFWS is Helping of the Forest Initiative, which was Falls Church, VA 22041 leveraged with $130,040 in matching 703-358-1754 The pilot project of USFWS’s Heroes contributions. This served as the 703-358-2115/fax of the Forest initiative in Virunga seed funding for the establishment [email protected] National Park provides a small ($30 of the fund, which has now grown to http://www.fws.gov/international per month for each family) but critical $200,000. twitter.com/USFWSInternatl financial safety net for the widows Facebook: USFWSinternationalaffairs and children of deceased rangers. It In 2013, a five-year cooperative demonstrates international recognition agreement was signed between the September 2014 of the rangers’ dedication and sacrifice USFWS and the Virunga Fund to and boosts the morale of the ranger improve the ranger force of Virunga .
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