ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes how mountain gorilla ecotourism can be used in Africa's Great Lakes region to support macroeconomic growth and provide livelihoods to local populations following a series of conflicts in the region. It details the conflicts in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and provides an overview of the mountain gorilla population to introduce the post-conflict situation in which mountain gorilla ecotourism has developed. The chapter identifies opportunities and challenges for further developing mountain gorilla ecotourism in the Great Lakes region. The DRC has not yet implemented many of the approaches that have made mountain gorilla ecotourism successful in Rwanda and Uganda, and it cannot do so without first reestablishing security and stability. With respect to livelihoods, it is essential to make connections between the mountain gorillas, ecotourism, revenue, development projects, and local populations. When mountain gorilla-based ecotourism is promoted, tension can arise between boosting macroeconomic growth and providing local livelihoods.
