Albertine Apes Alliance

The Albertine Apes Alliance

The Albertine Apes Alliance (AAA) is an informal advocacy network* which brings together different stakeholders committed to safeguard the future of the protected areas of the Albertine Rift on the border of Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC.

The AAA focuses on collaborative action and advocacy to support the work of governments, protected area authorities and conservation organisations in and around the different national parks of the Albertine Rift. The AAA’s core areas stretch from Kibale Forest to the Virungas.

The Albertine Apes Alliance was established at a retreat at Mount Gahinga Lodge in Uganda in November 2022 hosted by Volcanoes Safaris and the Uganda Wildlife Authority to create greater dialogue and collaboration between the diverse actors involved in the Albertine Rift to help safeguard the biodiversity of this unique area in the long term. AAA took 2050 as a future milestone, to reflect the fact that the protected areas of the Albertine reopened some twenty five to thirty years ago.

Participants in AAA discussions have included the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda Development Board, Chimpanzee Health Monitoring Budongo, Conservation Through Public Health, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Gorilla Doctors, Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, International Gorilla Conservation Project, Jane Goodall Institute, Rwenzori Sculpture Foundation, UN Great Apes Program, Volcanoes Safaris, and Wilderness Safaris.

The Albertine Apes Alliance seeks to support work on these main areas

Ensuring that IUCN and GRASP best practise guidelines are followed by all stakeholders, including adhering to the Gorilla Friendly Pledge for responsible gorilla tourism, conservation and disease prevention.
Ensuring that IUCN and GRASP best practice guidelines for chimpanzee tourism are followed by all stakeholders, including conservation and disease prevention.
Education campaigns for communities, especially schoolchildren; as well training on best practice for stakeholders such as protected area authorities, communities and tourism partners.
Collaborative action on habitat protection and creation of corridors.
Action to enhance community livelihoods.
Awareness of the pressures on the protected areas within the Albertine Rift from increasing economic development and human presence.
Effective business plans to ensure protected area authorities maximise revenue to safeguard long term protection of protected areas.
Regular dialogue between AAA stakeholders and invited experts.

The Future of Gorillas and Chimpanzees in the Albertine Rift

Activities involving AAA members in 2022-2024 have included the following: agreeing to the principle of greater collaboration between different participants at Mount Gahinga, November 2022; organisation of ranger training by UWA and Jane Goodall Institute at Kibale in 2023; making recommendations on responsible ecotourism guidelines and disease prevention at Kibale, led by Conservation through Public Health and supported by Arcus Foundation in 2024; holding an informal conversation among partners on gorilla conservation and ecotourism at Virunga Lodge April 2024.

Stakeholders interested in supporting in the work of the AAA are welcome to get in touch with Kevin James at albertineapes@gmail.com.

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*The AAA is an informal alliance of independent organisations and individuals. It is not a registered non-profit organisation. Organisations and individuals mentioned participate as they deem appropriate. The AAA provides a forum for exchange and dialogue and for collaboration on an ad hoc basis; it does not seek to bind participants in any formal way.