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Until the early 2005s, before the government of Rwanda put in place volcanoes national protection measures and introduced Gorillas’ baby naming ceremony; poaching was a usual and cultural activity of members from communities neighboring Rwanda’s volcanoes national park, such as Gacungu Leonard, Mukanoheli Venancia, François Ndungutse, Nyirasuku Elisabeth, Nyirasuku Elisabeth from Musanze district.
How these Ex-Volcanoes National Park’s Poachers turned into park protectors through mindset change
Before 2005, the communities who lived near Volcanoes National Park in Northern Rwanda, Musanze district in Kinigi sector, used to destroy this park through poaching and hunting activities. After being shifted to Kinigi IDP model village they have turned into Volcanoes National Park protectors.
Mukanoheli Venantia from the Kinigi sector one of the people who were relocated to Kinigi IDP Model Village says:’’ From my marriage, I used to eat meat of wild animals. My husband’s profession was to hunt different animals like deer. Even Gorillas were trapped in Snarers even if were not edible. To change our mindset, I remember, we were sensitized to go in cooperatives. During that time, we used to destroy the park by cutting bamboo trees which we used for our shelters while these trees were the food of Gorillas. We were also poachers and engaged in hunting and other illegal activities which destroyed the biodiversity in Volcanoes National Park. One day we met with Mr. Eduin Sabuhoro, the founder of Gorilla Guardian’s Village which is also known as Ibyiwacu Cultural Village meaning “ Treasure of Our Home” and found someone who was carrying firewood from the forest, and asked why we didn’t care about Volcanoes Forest, and answered him that forest is our feeder. He told us that a good solution is to go into cooperatives and weave baskets finally foreigners will give us money instead of returning to the park. From that time, we started to join cooperatives and now I am a member of a cooperative which is called ‘’ITEGANYIRIZE.’’
She added:’’ Now we are in good condition. See now am weaving this Plate. They are going to buy it and I get money to feed my children.’’ Also, the Rwanda Development Board supports our cooperatives by funding different projects through revenue sharing, they gave us Cows and Sheep. Now I am a mother who helped my children to study till university, I am living well and protecting Volcanoes National Park because of changing my mind and forgetting being a poacher.’’
At the age of 15, Ndungutse started poaching animals in the nearby Volcano National Park.
Ndungutse François, has 8 children. He lives in Nyabigoma cell, Nyakagezi village in the Kinigi sector. In his testimony on how He was changed from a Poacher to a Protector of the park, He says:’’ Last year I used to poach animals and cut the park’s trees, especially Bamboos (food of Gorillas) to build our huts.
He added:’’ I am among those who were poachers who hunted wild animals in the park. I started this by following my parents in the park, because were the ones to go to the part to hunt before. In my Youth with my colleagues, we took the initiative to hunt together. During that time, we became familiar with that activity. I poached Cephalophus silviculture and buffalos, and we used to cut Bamboos and other trees to build houses.’’ After that, I think in 2001, where the Former ‘ORTPN’ Rwandan Office for Tourism and National Parks changed into the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and then, they organized and put together all of those who were hunters and poachers by teaching us in pieces of training that hunting animals is not a culture. However, they informed us that a good choice is to stop and form cooperatives instead of harming the park and its biodiversity. They accepted to fund our cooperatives through what is called revenue sharing.’’ I am in a cooperative called KAIKI.’’ He added:’’
Ndungutse continues by thanking the Government of Rwanda for its extraordinary work of shifting Poaching from bad living conditions, and right now, they are among the protectors of Gorillas in the general development process. I thank the government of Rwanda for moving us from Volcanoes National Park. They built for us beautiful houses. And now we are living in a Modern Village.’’ We, Ex-Poachers, were engaged in protecting and maintaining the Volcanoes National Park. We were offered different jobs like renovation of park’s fence and others guide and protect luggage of tourists.’’
Even if many things went well, but also, I can’t forget to mention some challenges and wishes I have: As community that still has plantations near the park, there are still some animals that destroy the fence of the park like buffalos and out by grazing our crops. So, we wish that the whole park would be fenced with cement or fence it like what they did in Akagera National Park using electricity. Even though we get some decompensation on grazed crops by CJF it is not enough.’’
Nyirasuku Elisabeth is a mother of five children. She says that her living conditions last time when she was cutting bamboo trees to cook, were bad. But now, she changed her mindset and she lives in good condition through works of Gorillas protection. She says:’’ I was living in a traditional hut which was built by bamboo trees, we stole in Volcanoes National Park. We came from the park with the help of Mr. Ndungutse with RDB, they taught us to familiarize ourselves with working in cooperatives.’’
Today, I sit in an amazing place due to Gorillas. Tourists visit Gorillas and pay money also in my cooperative which is called “KAIKI’’ we do work that generates money like renovating Stone Park’s fence to prevent Gorillas from going out of the park. We also turn back any Gorilla which can go out.’’
Gacungu Leonard who works in Gorilla Guardian village says that was among the poachers but now he is engaged in cultural tourism.
He says: ‘’I spent about 12 years, poaching animals in the park. After that, we were sensitized by Mr. Sabuhoro Eduin who told us that we have to stop hunting and innovate other activities that don’t harm the park. In our Hunting activity, we used to kill animals, cut bamboo, and sell it, was like that. We were targeting wild meat but sometimes we killed Gorillas even if is not edible. For me, I changed my mindset after attending many workshops. For some who still have that belief in hunting, I can tell them to deviate, because this park is very important to us. Look at the macadamized road near here, electricity, all of them were built from income generated tourism. Now we are fighting to change others who are still stuck on hunting culture.’’
To surrender the poaching activity was not facile
In past years, poaching in Rwanda was of biggest challenge the Tourism Industry experienced. In the 19th century, the gorillas were almost extinct. Some communities that lived near Volcanoes National Park needed bush meat. This increased the number of poachers in this park. They killed Gorillas to find their products and sell them on the black market. Some of the infant gorillas were captured and sold to rich people with private sanctuaries. Others were killed in traps that were installed to kill other species in Volcanoes National Park.
During that time, also to find where to live (Shelter), it required the poachers to cut the bamboo trees and other types of trees in the Volcanoes National Park to make houses and other facilities. This activity disturbed different species of animals especially Gorillas by missing where they can live, and their food as they eat bamboo. Also, the hunters used to hunt and kill Deer, Buffalos, and Cephalophus silviculture to get meat to eat and to sell on the black market.
The Communities of those who were living near the Volcanoes National Park; especially ex-poachers in the park, from Northern province, Musanze district in Kinigi and Musanze sectors, little by Little were transformed as they have bearded witness. In the beginning, In the support of Dian Fossey, an American primatologist, the government of Rwanda carried out different measures to ensure that poaching in Rwanda was combated, through Teaching, Public campaigns, workshops, introduction of punishment to Poachers, changing living conditions of Poachers and inclusion of them in tourism and protection activities. Were also facilitated to get favorable farming places and modernized houses for their families instead of staying in huts, they changed their mindset, and now they are ambassadors of Gorillas and tourism of Volcanoes National Park in general.
How Cultural Tourism contributes to the protection of Gorillas:
While arriving in the Kinigi sector, near Volcanoes National Park, you find a special site which is called “Gorilla Guardian Village” where those who used to poach animals in the Volcanoes National Park, are engaged in Rwanda Cultural Tourism activities. These activities attract foreign tourists from different countries across the Globe.
These Cultural Tourism activities which are done by ex-poachers are composed of Rwanda’s Traditional Dancing, the Ancient history of Rwandans, the Royal family, the ancient weddings of Rwandans, Traditional Medicine, and other ancient activities
Some of those who are working on that Site’’ “Gorilla Guardian Village” say that this helps them to remember and to be engaged in the protection of Gorillas because they generate money which helps them in development, and the country in general. This also plays a great role in the increase in the number of Gorillas.
Leonard Gacungu, who lives in the Musanze sector, Kabazungu cell says that he spent 12 years in hunting and poaching activities. But right now, He has found a job of singing and dancing in Tourism institution songs concerning the role of protecting Gorillas.
He says:’’ I am here in this institution, doing cultural tourism instead of going in the park to hunt. If I can’t go to the park to hunt, this is a good way of protecting our park. Another thing is that, if I sing and play some musical instruments for our tourists, they encourage others to come to visit Gorillas. I always sing different songs here containing messages of protecting Gorillas. They generate money which contributes to different protection initiatives. Nowadays, we have become the eye of Volcanoes National Park, because we realize good outcomes from the park. ‘’
Mukanoheri Venantie, says that being engaged in Cultural arts enables her to get money from tourists. And be proud of protecting Gorillas because she changed the mindset in engaging in activities which can disturb Gorillas in the park.’’
She says:” After the training, I am weaving baskets and other materials which indicate our Rwandan traditional culture of weaving. The tourists buy these baskets and give me money. I can’t go into the park to disturb Gorillas. Foreign money, this tourism generates, also contributes in the protection of Gorillas.”
How Revenue sharing from Tourism helped ex-poachers to protect Volcanoes National Park:
Rwanda’s strategy of pro-conservation and the tourism revenue sharing scheme ensures communities living around the country’s national parks receive 10% of all tourism revenue. This approach protects the natural heritage and provides world-class experiences while ensuring that all Rwandans benefit.
Mr. Prosper Uwingeri, the Volcanoes National Park manager, says that the program of revenue sharing from Gorillas tourism, where 10% from tourism activities in the park; this 10% be invested in different developmental activities that raise the living conditions of citizens and contributing in the protection of volcanoes national park.
’’ That program of Revenue sharing, where 10% comes from tourism activities, be invested in development activities. To improve the livelihood of the communities through infrastructures like schools, health centers, electricity, and water. Also, this is linked with the contribution of citizens in the protection of Volcanoes National Park.’’ Uwingeri said
Prospero continues by explaining the contribution of ex-poachers in the protection of Volcanoes National Park.
“Their contributions in not harming the park. Teaching their children, about the importance of protecting the park. Another thing they do is that when there is an issue that arises in the park, they are the ones who solve it first. When animals are out of the park, we work together in their respective groups to protect Gorillas and blue Monkeys which dodge the park day per day. They can’t any animal. What they do, they communicate to us and sit together to take measures on what we can do to protect them safely.” He adds
“We are planning different projects which will bring lasting solutions in protecting Volcanoes National Park; among those projects, we have the project of expanding the park which is expected to improve the protection and more activities which change the living conditions of the communities around the park. Among the Lasting solutions also we are planning, we need animal fencing and hindering these wild animals from coming out of the park, and disturbing agricultural activities of communities which are close to the park.’’ Uwingeri insists
MUGABUKOMEYE Benjamin, the Country Director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program says that changing the mindset of former Volcanos national Poachers to protectors was not easy. He elaborates that they introduced different programs like helping them to join cooperatives of Beekeepers, forming Associations of Arts and farming. Also funded different project proposals and organized training concerning cooperatives management and project initiation.
“Even if many have reached a good step there are still some poachers who refuse to join their colleagues in cooperatives. Ex-poachers have adopted new ways to become protectors but some of them negatively contribute to protecting the hidden works of their neighbors who resisted and continue to hunt. What we are required to do is to continue teaching. ’’He notifies
The Remaining Challenges:
Even though the government of Rwanda set a new program of revenue sharing, but population around Volcanoes National Park still claims that the amount of money that is distributed in this program is not enough. Also, communities around this park are still facing Human and wildlife conflicts where some wild animals dodge the park and Graze the crops of farmers.
A small number of people from the communities around the Volcanoes National Park still have the spirit of hunting. There are Limited training programs in the Kinigi and Musanze sectors
Proposed solutions:
The government of Rwanda through the management of Volcanoes National Park in collaboration with the International Gorilla Conservation Programme has the strategy of Continuous Teachings and public campaigns, Distribution of Infrastructures, and also invested in building a special Village called Kinigi IDP Model Village where all poachers were relocated to improve their living conditions by easily getting access to financial services, adopting Cooperatives enforcement, Empowerment of Women and follow Education for all program. Not only is that, but also Local Citizen’s engagement in protection, cultural and tourism activities set to be improved.
The government of Rwanda is planning to improve Revenue sharing initiatives and completely ban bush hunting. Also, the enforcement law of 2018 determines modalities for protecting, conserving, and promoting the environment against climate change is set to be put in place. The support for conservation projects and the introduction of conservation Centers and schools in Northern Province is set to be improved by 2030.
Why is Volcanoes National Park Rwanda important?
The Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of the magnificent mountain range, its globally important to 1 of only 2 remaining populations of the endangered Mountain Gorilla endemic to the Virunga Massif, and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, that embraces evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. According to the Rwanda Development Board, every year about US$ 600,000 is distributed to more than 158 community-based projects through the revenue-sharing program. Many schools and health facilities are being built, as well as roads rehabilitated through a tourism revenue-sharing scheme.
Contribution of Former Poachers for Wildlife Conservation in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park:
The research conducted on Volcanoes National Park in 2020 by the team
from the Department of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Management, Faculty of Environmental Studies from The University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Rwanda; assessed the contribution of former poachers to wildlife conservation in Volcanoes National Park, the results indicated that the main causes of poaching and other illegal activities are associated with poverty, ignorance and culture and commercial purposes. The results further illustrated that poaching cases decreased in the Volcanoes National Park where, from 2018, the snares removed from the park reduced from above 1000 to 600 snares. In the same year, only 3 poachers from Kinigi and Shingiro Sectors were arrested. The findings illustrated that introducing of revenue sharing scheme where, 10% of the park’s revenues are shared with the local communities living adjacent to the park, and constructing a buffalo wall stone around the Volcanoes National Park are important measures that contributed to solving completing the problems of poaching and human-wildlife conflicts in the volcanic area. However, some respondents reported that the construction of the buffalo wall did not prevent animals from escaping the park, they have proposed the construction of strong fences such as electrically fenced walls.
Volcanoes National Park is located in the Northern part of Rwanda. In this park is where you can find mountain Gorillas. This park was first adopted as a park and protected area in 1925. During that time, the park was composed of small parts of Kalisimbi, Bisoke, and Mikeno Volcanoes. It was the first National Park to be initiated in Africa.
In 1929, this park was expanded by taking some land parts of the former Belgian Congo and Rwanda. During that time, the park was at 8,090 km². After the Independence of Congo in 1960 and Rwanda in 1962, the national park was divided into two parts. And each country took its portion respectively.
On the side of Rwanda, the size of the park continued to decrease, due to surrounding communities who came closer to search for shelters, and agricultural and farming land.
Nowadays, this park has different species of plants and different animals. Types of plants and trees vary according to the altitude. The big part of a forest in small mountains has been cultivated. Between 2,400 and 2,500 meters, there is a forest called Neoboutonia while at 2500 meters high and at 3,200 meters of altitude you may find a bamboo forest of Arundinaria alpine which is on 30% of the whole park.
“This story was produced with the support of GRID- Arendal”
NYIRANGARUYE Clementine
