Grace Fabrice

A Congolese conservationist leading gorilla habitat restoration in the face of mining pressures

Grace Fabrice's Mission

Grace Fabrice (b. 1992) is a Congolese wildlife biologist and founder of EWARA, an organization dedicated to preserving the Ecosystems of the Western Rift Valley. Her work focuses on protecting mountain gorillas and their habitats in the Virunga National Park region, threatened by illegal mining activities since 2019.

Community Conservation Model

Fabrice pioneered the Community Ranger Program, training local youth as eco-guards who now monitor 85% of Virunga's eastern sector. This initiative reduced poaching incidents by 67% between 2021-2023. Her 2022 report revealed critical data on gorilla migration patterns, influencing government policy changes.

Technological Innovation

In 2023, Fabrice introduced GuardianNet, a satellite tracking system that detects illegal mining operations in real-time. This technology has led to the dismantling of 42 illegal mining sites and inspired similar systems in Uganda and Rwanda. Her partnership with Google Earth Outreach provides interactive habitat visualization tools for researchers worldwide.

Global Impact

Recipient of the 2024 Ramsar Wetlands Prize, Fabrice's work has become a model for community-led conservation. Her documentary "Echoes of the Mountains" (2023) brought international attention to Congo's biodiversity challenges. Current projects include a cross-border corridor connecting gorilla populations across three nations.