Maiko National Park
Encyclopedia
Maiko National Park is a national park
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. It lies in one of the most remote forest areas of the country and covers 10885 square kilometre. The park is divided into three sectors, straddling the states of Nord Kivu, Province Orientale and Maniema
. Three of the country's spectacular endemic animals occur here: the Eastern Lowland Gorilla
, the Okapi
, and the Congo Peafowl
.
created the Bakumu Hunting Reserve on an area that would later encompass the boundaries of the Park as we know it today. The original plans for the region is believed to have aimed at preventing the exploitation of mineral resources rather the protection of the nature and the wildlife. On November 20th of 1970, the Presidential Decree no 70-312 which is bound to the law that had created the ICCN previous year, was signed into force by Joseph Désiré Mobutu. This document asserted the Maiko National Park to be a full-fledged nature protection area.
to retreat after their defeat in 1964. Ever since, they have been making a meager living by poaching on wildlife and controlling illegal mining activities inside of Maiko. The presence of the Simba also stems from the inability of the governing bodies to follow the compensatory measures required by the decree of 1970. This precarious security situation have made it difficult for the rangers to patrol the Park, especially after the ICCN
was coerced by the Congolese army into guiding their attacks towards the Simba. Moreover, conservation work has also been hampered by the presence of rebels, culminating in capture and detainment of several survey crews between 2003 and 2005. At least three other rebels groups are known to be active in different parts of the park, among which the Rwandan Interahamwe
in the east. Put together, these menaces leave absolutely no control over the park area by the ICCN
.
, backed by the ICCN
(then ZICN) and supported by the World Bank
, the European Community and the WWF
, moved into the area and surveyed about 950km of transect
. WCS
further surveyed the North Sector in 2005 and the South Sector in 2006 . These more recent inventories, along with a smaller study , shed light on the decreased presence of flagship species such as gorilla, forest elephant and okapi in sectors disturbed by human activity. All observations point out to the intense hunting pressure caused by miners and the widespread use of guns as serious threats to the remaining animal populations.
A new approach to conservation has been the implementation of compensation measures for Simbas willing to leave the Park. In 2010, FFI initiated the construction of health centers and schools in villages falling inside the zone of influence of the Simbas. The same year FZS
launched an ambitious project aiming at turning the Simbas problem around by recruiting some of them as park rangers and allowing a de facto social reintegration which would directly benefit nature conservation in Maiko.
Fauna Flora International
Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Frankfurt Zoological Society
Jane Goodall Institute
Conservation International
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. It lies in one of the most remote forest areas of the country and covers 10885 square kilometre. The park is divided into three sectors, straddling the states of Nord Kivu, Province Orientale and Maniema
Maniema
Maniema is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Kindu.Following the 2005 Constitution , 25 new provinces were to be created from the 10 current provinces within 36 months . As of October 2010, this had not taken place...
. Three of the country's spectacular endemic animals occur here: the Eastern Lowland Gorilla
Eastern Lowland Gorilla
The Eastern Lowland Gorilla is a subspecies of Eastern Gorilla that is now only found in the forests of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, the Okapi
Okapi
The okapi , Okapia johnstoni, is a giraffid artiodactyl mammal native to the Ituri Rainforest, located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central Africa...
, and the Congo Peafowl
Congo Peafowl
The Congo Peafowl is a species of peafowl. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Afropavo.The male is a large bird of up to in length. Its feathers are deep blue with a metallic green and violet tinge. It has bare red neck skin, grey feet, and a black tail with fourteen feathers...
.
Creation
In 1949, the Belgian colonial administrationBelgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
created the Bakumu Hunting Reserve on an area that would later encompass the boundaries of the Park as we know it today. The original plans for the region is believed to have aimed at preventing the exploitation of mineral resources rather the protection of the nature and the wildlife. On November 20th of 1970, the Presidential Decree no 70-312 which is bound to the law that had created the ICCN previous year, was signed into force by Joseph Désiré Mobutu. This document asserted the Maiko National Park to be a full-fledged nature protection area.
The rebel problem
The roadless and inaccessible nature of the region made it ideal for some Simba rebelsSimba Rebellion
The Simba Rebellion was a 1964 rebellion in the former Republic of the Congo which began as a result of alleged abuses by the Congolese central government...
to retreat after their defeat in 1964. Ever since, they have been making a meager living by poaching on wildlife and controlling illegal mining activities inside of Maiko. The presence of the Simba also stems from the inability of the governing bodies to follow the compensatory measures required by the decree of 1970. This precarious security situation have made it difficult for the rangers to patrol the Park, especially after the ICCN
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature
The Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature is a Congolese governmental partner relegated to the protection and conservation of the Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Members of the ICCN are...
was coerced by the Congolese army into guiding their attacks towards the Simba. Moreover, conservation work has also been hampered by the presence of rebels, culminating in capture and detainment of several survey crews between 2003 and 2005. At least three other rebels groups are known to be active in different parts of the park, among which the Rwandan Interahamwe
Interahamwe
The Interahamwe is a Hutu paramilitary organization. The militia enjoyed the backing of the Hutu-led government leading up to, during, and after the Rwandan Genocide. Since the genocide, they have been forced out of Rwanda, and have sought asylum in Congo...
in the east. Put together, these menaces leave absolutely no control over the park area by the ICCN
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature
The Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature is a Congolese governmental partner relegated to the protection and conservation of the Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Members of the ICCN are...
.
International conservation efforts
The first thorough exploration of the Maiko dates back to 1989, when the Wildlife Conservation SocietyWildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society and currently manages some of wild places around the world, with over 500 field conservation projects in 60 countries, and 200 scientists on staff...
, backed by the ICCN
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature
The Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature is a Congolese governmental partner relegated to the protection and conservation of the Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Members of the ICCN are...
(then ZICN) and supported by the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, the European Community and the WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
, moved into the area and surveyed about 950km of transect
Transect
A transect is a path along which one records and counts occurrences of the phenomena of study .It requires an observer to move along a fixed path and to count occurrences along the path and, at the same time, obtain the distance of the object from the path...
. WCS
Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society and currently manages some of wild places around the world, with over 500 field conservation projects in 60 countries, and 200 scientists on staff...
further surveyed the North Sector in 2005 and the South Sector in 2006 . These more recent inventories, along with a smaller study , shed light on the decreased presence of flagship species such as gorilla, forest elephant and okapi in sectors disturbed by human activity. All observations point out to the intense hunting pressure caused by miners and the widespread use of guns as serious threats to the remaining animal populations.
A new approach to conservation has been the implementation of compensation measures for Simbas willing to leave the Park. In 2010, FFI initiated the construction of health centers and schools in villages falling inside the zone of influence of the Simbas. The same year FZS
Frankfurt Zoological Society
The Frankfurt Zoological Society is an independent, non-profit conservation organisation based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The society is funded through membership fees, donations, bequests, grants and earnings from its endowment fund.-History:...
launched an ambitious project aiming at turning the Simbas problem around by recruiting some of them as park rangers and allowing a de facto social reintegration which would directly benefit nature conservation in Maiko.
External Links
Maiko National Park at Protected PlanetFauna Flora International
Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Frankfurt Zoological Society
Jane Goodall Institute
Conservation International