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CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to halt this development it is essential law enforce-
ment, resources and training of the rangers is substantially
increased. This includes direct support to international bod-
ies dealing with law enforcement issues such as INTERPOL
and expanded mandate to MONUC to assist in and hinder il-
legal trans-boundary transport of resources across the borders.
Without halting the financing and primary motivation of the
militias and the companies involved the conflict is most un-
likely stop, and hence, neither will the destruction of the na-
tional parks and the gorillas. It is also essential to support law
enforcement to control the bushmeat trade across the entire
range of the ten gorilla states – and address the rapidly rising
food security issue.
Furthermore, it is imperative that investigative bodies are truly
cross-boundary in nature and involve the entire chain from in-
Continued trans-boundary collaboration in law enforcement has proved effective in re-
versing the loss of the critically endangered mountain gorillas and other species in the
parks, in spite of major challenges involved. Substantially upgrading and expanding such
support, training and trans-boundary coordination involving also where required UN
forces in controlling trans-boundary transport outside the protected areas would provide
a critical option for success. This is also due to the facts that the rangers have the local
knowledge and experience in working off the road system inside the parks, but limited
mandate once the resources are extracted from, the protected areas. However, substan-
tial control of the road system and particularly all border crossings is vital for reducing
the pressure on the parks – as well the allocation and extraction and export of resources
through the multinational companies present in the region.
vestigating the complicit timber and mineral companies pro-
curing the resources and based in among other Asia, the EU
and North America, to their subsidiaries or “consultancy” firms
based in Greater Congo Basin in the region, down to close co-
ordination with both law enforcement in the parks, as well as
the UN forces present. Unravelling the continued financing of
the militias and corrupt officials is imperative to stabilizing the
region and involves traditional law enforcement investigations
and the agencies specialized in environmental crime and smug-
gling, including, but not limited to UNEP, INTERPOL, CITES,
UNODC and WCO. Companies that obtain illegally harvested
or smuggled natural resources including, but not limited to,
timber, charcoal or minerals, are not only involved in issues
related to corporate responsibility, transparency or ethical ques-
tions, they become complicit in transnational crime and risk
investigation and prosecution