Treaty to Protect Mountain Gorillas

Last month, nine African countries signed a treaty in Paris to improve protection of the mountain gorilla. The mountain gorilla is on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss, disease and poaching.

The agreement, finalised today at a meeting hosted by the Government of France and the United Nations (UNEP) Convention on Migratory Species, will function like a mini-convention or treaty. It specifies efforts that governments need to undertake and to collaborate on. These include combating poaching, supporting law enforcement and building capacity in the legal and judicial areas. The agreement will be legally binding, unlike previous declarations from the range countries, such as the such as the GrASP Kinshasa declaration in 2005.

Central African Republic, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Cameroon, and Gabon participated in the talks while Rwanda was unable to attend. WWF and TRAFFIC, who between them are active in gorilla conservation in most of the range countries, were heavily engaged in the negotiation process and final text.

Too little, too late?

Photo by Simian.