In the shadow of the Nyiragongo volcano, acrid smoke and chainsaw buzz signal a growing environmental crisis in Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest reserve, as reported by AFP on January 19, 2023. Over 200 hectares (500 acres) of forest have been razed in just two months, driven by tens of thousands of Congolese refugees fleeing clashes between the M23 militia and the military. Desperate for survival, displaced people are cutting trees for charcoal and firewood, often under militia extortion, threatening the park’s biodiversity, home to mountain gorillas. By 2025, deforestation has escalated, with 964 hectares lost since June 2023, per Global Forest Watch.
Refugees and Deforestation Crisis
The influx of refugees, driven from northern villages like Rugari by M23’s resurgence since November 2021, has fueled deforestation in Virunga’s Nyiragongo zone. “It’s extremely worrying,” said park official Methode Uhoze, noting the rapid destruction. Displaced individuals like Fabrice, a 15-year-old at the Bushagara camp, produce makala (charcoal) to survive, selling it roadside, per AFP. The camp, housing thousands near Goma, relies on the park’s resources, with 2,000 huts built using 15-18 trees each, per Global Press Journal.
Militias, including the FDLR—a remnant of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide perpetrators—exploit the crisis, taxing charcoal production and selling park land, claiming “this is the end for the park,” per a refugee named Mugisha. “We’re hungry,” said Byikusenge Ndibeshe, acknowledging the environmental toll but citing desperation. By 2025, M23’s control of key park areas like Rutshuru has intensified illegal activities, per Mongabay.
M23 Conflict and Park Security
The M23 militia, accusing the Congolese government of breaching a 2009 integration deal, has clashed with rival groups and advanced toward Goma, displacing nearly one million people since 2021, per Human Rights Watch. A November 2022 ceasefire failed, with 2025 reports of over 140 civilian killings near Virunga in July, per X post by @KargnHasret. Rwanda’s alleged support for M23, denied by Kigali, has heightened tensions, with President Paul Kagame halting refugee intake in January 2023, per Africanews.
Park rangers, once in control, now coordinate with militias to avoid attacks, following the December 2022 killing of two rangers, per AFP. “Eco-guards can’t patrol all areas,” Uhoze said in 2025, noting increased poaching, per Mongabay. The park’s mountain gorilla population, around 350 in the Mikeno sector, faces risks from traps, per a 2019 census.
Broader Context and Challenges
Virunga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans 790,000 hectares and hosts rare species like okapi. Yet, 14% of its land is illegally used for agriculture and charcoal, per Le Monde. In Nigeria, facing 52.2% inflation in 2023, Virunga’s plight resonates as a call for sustainable development, akin to Nollywood’s global advocacy. By 2025, 40% of the park’s income has vanished due to conflict, per Le Monde, hampering conservation.
A Call for Action
“We’d like to return home and not touch the park,” Ndibeshe said, reflecting refugee desperation. With two million displaced and 40% of DRC outside government control, per Semafor, Virunga’s survival hinges on peace. International calls for sanctions on M23, per Human Rights Watch, and conservation efforts like the Virunga Foundation’s hydropower projects, per World Economic Forum, offer hope, but the crisis demands urgent global attention.
