Anne Jakobsen – Virguna National Park

The 1972 World Heritage Convention strives to protect both cultural and natural sites. One of these natural sites is Virunga National Park in The Democratic Republic of Congo. It has been on the Danger List since 1994 due to the refugees populating the park because of the Rwandan Civil War, it now again under tremendous threat do to the recent uprisings in the Kivu province. The Park contains tremendous value due to its mountain Gorillas, Hippos, Flora, Fauna, and several other types of vegetation that contributes to its unique biodiversity. The paper discusses the relationship between humans and the environment in relation to Virunga National Park and the World Heritage Convention’s mission.