Thank you to everyone who voted for the Gorilla Organization in the World Challenge competition for grassroots conservation. Voting has now closed.

A stream of local people came to the Resource Centre in Goma to cast their online vote for the fuel-efficient stove project in DR Congo, which has reduced charcoal consumption in areas near gorilla habitat.

The competition also generated lots of interest on worldwide websites, blogs and social networking sites, with lots of people voting for the project.

More awareness of the issues affecting the gorillas and the people living around the Virungas was also generated by television coverage of the project after it was broadcast on the BBC World News channel.

Unfortunately the ‘Jiko Rescue’ project was not one of the top-three winners, but to be chosen as one of twelve finalists out of nearly a thousand nominations is still a notable achievement. The winner of the World Challenge will be announced at an awards ceremony on 5 December.

Thank you to everyone who voted for the Gorilla Organization. If you would like to buy someone a 'Green Gift' for Christmas, you can purchase a fuel-efficient stove for a villager in DR Congo for only £15 ($25) at our online shop: www.gorillas.org/Shop