OUR COMMITMENT

Saving Mountain Gorillas Through A Multi-Faceted Approach

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is committed to gorilla protection, science, field research, education and awareness, and economic development. Our activities take place on many levels and places, with people from Rwanda and elsewhere in Africa, the United States, and around the world. Recently, have begun to expand and diversify our programs to address pressing conservation challenges on a wider regional scale. The following are some of our most important activities:

• Monitoring and protecting the mountain gorillas residing Rwanda's Parc National des Volcans, through the Karisoke Research Center's programs, including tracking and anti-poaching patrols.
• Sharing our knowledge and experience to promote the use of common gorilla monitoring protocols and practices.
• Collecting demographic, behavioral and environmental data, often in collaboration with major universities in Africa.
• Funding small-scale development activities in communities near the gorilla habitat, in support of the local people.
• Training rangers and trackers.
• Bringing GIS and remote sensing technology to collaborating universities in Africa. Training students and trackers in applying these powerful land use planning technologies.
• Promoting public awareness of gorilla conservation via media and other communication projects.
• Partnering with important gorilla conservation projects in other areas, such as the Tayna Gorilla Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI) $574,963, as part of its Congressional Gorilla Directive. These funds are now enabling DFGFI to greatly expand and enhance its programs in the Albertine Rift area of Africa, including high-tech projects that will map out the mountain gorillas' dwindling habitat, programs to assist with health problems in populations living near the gorillas, support for local conservation and development initiatives, and new schools and other education projects.