Africa's oldest nature park counts on sustainability

Aug 2, 2014 | Marc Jourdier
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PEOPLE living in and around Africa’s oldest wildlife reserve – Virunga National Park – threatened by armed groups and oil prospectors, are pinning their hopes on sustainable development projects for energy, agriculture and tourism. ..Under a scorching sun, dozens of workers busily scoured the bed of a future canal that cuts through the rich vegetation. Once completed, the channel will draw water from the Rutshuru river to power a 12.6 megawatts hydroelectric station, which by 2015, will bring power to 140,000 people, starting with residents of the town of Matebe, a few kilometres from the park.. The canal is one of many projects launched by the Virunga Alliance, founded in 2008 to instigate sustainable development techniques designed to help the four million people living in and around the park. The coalition includes park authorities, civil society groups and members of the local community…The Alliance intends to promote sustainability in four main sectors: energy, fisheries, agro-industry and tourism.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Environment/2014/07/28/Park-protection/