Viessmann Foundation supports Virunga Alliance with 150,000 Euro for rain forest protection and sustainable development
March 21, 2026 – The Viessmann Foundation has donated 150,000 Euro to the Virunga Alliance to support the protection of Africa’s most biodiverse protected area. Located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of global importance. The Virunga Alliance aims to protect the Park’s rainforest and exceptional biodiversity by making conservation economically valuable for local communities, thereby supporting long-term peace and stability in the region.
Max Viessmann, CEO Viessmann Generations Group: “Protecting the foundations of life for future generations means taking action where the challenges are greatest. The Virunga Alliance is a remarkable example of how protection, clean energy, and economic opportunity can work together while fostering peace. With our contribution we help preserve one of our planet’s most vital carbon sinks and its unique biodiversity. This partnership perfectly reflects the Viessmann Foundation’s commitment to climate protection, people and sustainable development.”
Emmanuel de Merode, Director of the Virunga Alliance: “The support from the Viessmann Foundation comes at a defining moment for Virunga National Park. The contribution is a vital investment in the people who defend this World Heritage Site every day. By helping us equip our rangers and scale clean energy solutions for the community in Goma, we can directly reduce the pressure on our forests and create a path toward peace and economic stability. Together, we are proving that protecting nature and supporting human prosperity are two sides of the same coin.”
The donation will support the restoration of the park operations and the repair of tourism infrastructure. The Viessmann Foundation’s contribution addresses a critical funding gap as the park faces an insecure environment and a significant shortfall following the withdrawal of international aid. It comes at a pivotal moment for Eastern DRC, as renewed diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region coincide with the launch in 2025 of the Kivu–Kinshasa Green Corridor — an ambitious national initiative to create the world’s largest protected tropical forest reserve. Spanning more than 500,000 km², the corridor seeks to reconcile conservation with economic opportunity at scale. At its core lies the model pioneered by the Virunga Alliance, which has already demonstrated that protecting nature, creating jobs, and fostering peace can go hand in hand — a model now being expanded across the Congo Basin.
The Congo Basin rainforest acts as one of the “lungs of the planet”, absorbing 30 billion tons of CO2 every year. This critical ecosystem is approaching a tipping point. Since the 1990s, Virunga has lost 90 percent of its mammals due to a combination of extreme poverty and ongoing armed conflict. The region is home to some of the highest population densities in Africa, with many people living in extreme poverty on less than 1.90 USD per day. In this precarious environment, armed groups profit from the illegal trafficking of charcoal, ivory, and timber. These criminal activities not only threaten global climate goals but also undermine the safety and livelihoods of the local communities.
The Virunga Alliance was born out of a commitment to protect the park and the five million people living near its borders. Launched in 2013, the initiative brings together public authorities, civil society, and the private sector to pursue a shared vision of sustainable development. The Alliance focuses on three equally important goals: conserving natural resources, reducing poverty, and promoting peace. By recognizing that these objectives are interdependent, the park has become a major economic driver for the province. Its development strategy centers on tourism, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture to create a stable and prosperous future for the region.
Viessmann Foundation gGmbH
Founded in 2020, the Viessmann Foundation gGmbH is the philanthropic arm of the Viessmann Generations Group, united by a shared purpose: co-creating living spheres for generations to come. Rooted in family values, the Foundation acts where market solutions fall short - deploying catalytic capital to complement the Group’s investments and driving systemic change toward resilient, equitable communities. We focus on three high-impact areas, partnering with exceptional organizations: Climate & Ecosystems, Education & Democracy, Health & Wellbeing. More information here.
Virunga Alliance
The Virunga Alliance is an integrated development approach that links conservation with economic growth and peacebuilding in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It works by responsibly harnessing the Virunga National Park's natural resources, particularly through renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, to create jobs, provide essential services, and reduce reliance on the illegal exploitation of resources. By transforming the Park into an economic asset for surrounding communities, the Alliance aims to alleviate poverty, stabilize the region, and ultimately secure the long-term protection of Virunga National Park and its biodiversity.
Press Contact:
Viessmann Generations Group
Byung-Hun Park
Vice President Corporate Communications
M: +49151-64911317
Virunga Alliance
Nick Colwill
Press Officer
E: press@virunga.org
M: +44 7808 091100
