This is Augustin Kambale. Last Monday, I led a patrol on the south side of Nyiragongo with 10 men. It was an “out and back” patrol, meaning we left early and came back the same day. Spending the night would have been too risky because we had heard that the FDLR militias were operating in the area, protecting the network of illegal charcoal kilns. This was the first patrol in Shahero in quite some time because the Interhamwe (FLDR) presence has been too strong. The Interhamwe, for those of you that don’t know, are made up of extremist Hutus, the band credited with the Rwandan genocide in 1994. We left our camp at 5 am and climbed the slopes of Mt. Nyiragongo. By 7 am, at an altitude of 2850 meters, we found a large deforested area, the obvious site of illegal charcoal production. The tip-off we received about the kilns proved to be true. We found 70 kilns burning and 10 sacks of charcoal staged and ready for transportation. In the following hours, we destroyed all 70 kilns, seized 10 hoes, burned 2 make-shift camps, and apprehended two kiln workers. It was because our patrol started so early that we didn’t catch more workers. The majority were not back yet from spending the weekend in Goma, where they go to re-supply and relax. The charcoal “bosses” in Goma are the ones who pay these men to go into the park to make illegal charcoal. These workers are paid an average of 1US $ per day to cut trees, make kilns, and to burn and put the charcoal into sacks. Once the charcoal is ready (normally it is a 6-day process), the bosses hire people as “mules” to transport the charcoal from the Virunga NP to Goma city. They don’t cross Kibati checkpoint to reach Goma any more because of all the recent seizures of illegal charcoal. Instead, they use a footpath far to the south-west. One look at the area makes it apparent that charcoal production in this area is rampant. Now that we know the FDLR isn’t operating in the Shahero area, we need to step up our patrols to shut down all the illegal activity. We must protect the vulnerable flora and fauna in the area.
Destroying a charcoal kiln
Augustin Kambale destroying a kiln
Trees cut down to make yet another illegal kiln
What was once beautiful forest is now moon scape
The camp site of a kiln worker
Kiln workers being arrested
11 Comments posted on "Back for a Nyiragongo Patrol"
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on May 3rd, 2008 at 1:05 am
Augustin, thank you for this very sobering report. I am at a loss here, between the destruction of the forest and the increase in poaching elephants, no access to the gorillas, and overflowing IDP camps. Very overwhelming. The good news is the fantastic work done by you and your patrols, really a superb operation! Also great news that FDLR have vacated this area. Besides ongoing support for the rangers, what else can we do, to help?
sheryl, washington dc on May 3rd, 2008 at 6:04 am
Augustin, it’s good to hear from you. I can’t believe how much forest is lost - chopped down by hand, no less. It’s shocking and an enormous tragedy. Thanks for working so hard to find this new smuggling operation and for destroying. Y’all be careful out there. s.
Robert Williams on May 3rd, 2008 at 8:59 am
Hi Theresa and Sheryl, thanks for your ongoing interest in this work. I’m glad you keep focusing on the good things that are happening and don’t get sucked down the rabbit hole of despair. This whole issue is coming to a head in Goma and we are very much under the gun to bring solutions to replace charcoal. Toward that end, I am trying to build a consortium of engineers to donate their time to design an automated biomass briquette press — one the can make briquettes in mass quantity. If you know of any engineers in your community of friends that would be interested in helping, please have them contact me through our blog. Thanks!
Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL on May 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
Robert, have you checked out the M.I.T. website? They have a non-profit think tank, The DaVinci Institute, located in Longmont, Colorado. Perhaps, they can put you in touch with some folks.
Robert Williams on May 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
No, I have not. Wow, that’s a stones throw from me. I will contact them for sure. Thanks Theresa!
Blog about Kiln Workers » Blog Archive » What others have been saying about kiln worker on May 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
[…] http://endingcharcoal.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/03/back-for-a-nyiragongo-patrol/We found 70 kilns burning and 10 sacks of charcoal staged and ready for transportation. In the following hours, we destroyed all 70 kilns, seized 10 hoes, burned 2 bivouacs, and apprehended two kiln workers. It was because our patrol … […]
Lisa, California on May 3rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Amazing work you all are doing. The sight of that incredible destruction is very, very disturbing. I’m so glad you were able to get out there and do something to stop it, at least in this particular sight. Good job, keep it up. Theresa, you amaze me with all your knowledge. I hope that works out for you Robert. Lisa
Blog about Kiln Workers » Blog Archive » ‘kiln worker’ on the web on May 4th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
[…] http://endingcharcoal.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/03/back-for-a-nyiragongo-patrol/We found 70 kilns burning and 10 sacks of charcoal staged and ready for transportation. In the following hours, we destroyed all 70 kilns, seized 10 hoes, burned 2 bivouacs, and apprehended two kiln workers. It was because our patrol … […]
Linda, G4G, UK on May 5th, 2008 at 4:07 am
Augustin - Good to hear from you. Fantastic work you and the rangers are doing and so dangerous…I hope the prosecutions in Goma are followed through. Take great care Augustin.
Blog about Kiln Workers » Blog Archive » Quick Roundup on May 5th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
[…] http://endingcharcoal.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/03/back-for-a-nyiragongo-patrol/We found 70 kilns burning and 10 sacks of charcoal staged and ready for transportation. In the following hours, we destroyed all 70 kilns, seized 10 hoes, burned 2 bivouacs, and apprehended two kiln workers. It was because our patrol … […]
Blog about Kiln Workers » Blog Archive » Quick scan of the net - kiln worker on May 7th, 2008 at 12:55 am
[…] http://endingcharcoal.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/03/back-for-a-nyiragongo-patrol/We found 70 kilns burning and 10 sacks of charcoal staged and ready for transportation. In the following hours, we destroyed all 70 kilns, seized 10 hoes, burned 2 bivouacs, and apprehended two kiln workers. It was because our patrol … […] Post a comment
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