Oil Exploitation at Virunga Park as a Threat to the Environment and to Endangered Animal Species

Oil exploitation within Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and critical habitat for endangered species like mountain gorillas and okapis, poses significant environmental threats. The study highlights the conflict between economic development, championed by the DRC government through oil drilling permits granted to multinational company Soco, and conservation efforts advocated by international organizations such as UNESCO, WWF, and HRW. While the government argues that oil exploitation could alleviate poverty for riparian populations, the research underscores the risks to biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Using a descriptive approach grounded in bibliographic surveys, the study employs dialectic analysis to weigh these opposing perspectives, emphasizing the urgent need to balance development with environmental preservation.

Bizawu, K., & Gomes, M. F. (2016). OIL EXPLOITATION AT VIRUNGA PARK AS A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO ENDANGERED ANIMAL SPECIES. Veredas Do Direito: Direito Ambiental E Desenvolvimento Sustentável, 13(27), 11–29. https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v13i27.897