Les aires protégées du Rwanda dans la tourmente

The Akagera National Park (ANP) and the Volcano National Park (VNP) are the main protected areas in Rwanda. Following civil war that bloodstained the country since 1990, the destiny of these two parks diverged. The VNP, dedicated to the conservation of one of the last population of mountain gorillas and of their habitat, recovered somehow the same situation as before the war despite some gorillas were lost. The ANP, on the other hand, has been invaded by large herds of domestic cattle, which resulted in serious injuries at its integrity. It seems that two-thirds of the park are on the way to be sacrificed and will be devoted to human and cattle settlement. The fate of the remaining third is still undecided. About 63 years after the park was created. the golden era of this protected area of international reputation seems close to an end. But it is the conservationists' duty to carry on.