Active participation of local community in wildlife management, Volcanoes National Park/Rwanda; Case of porter association called Cooperative Kabaho Ngagi Sabyinyo. Jean Felix Kinani 1,2, Antoine Mudakikwa 3,4 1.One Health Approach in Conservation/ Gorilla Health 2.OIE National Focal point for Wildlife for Rwanda 3.Rwanda Development Board
OHAC/ Gorilla Health background Since 2004, wildlife veterinarian in charge of the mountain gorilla and golden monkey heath care with others wildlife animals. Interested in the One Health approach and preventive medecine Master in Field Epidemiology from the School of Public Health OIE National Focal Point for Wildlife for Rwanda Intervention and research on cross contamination diseases affecting Humans and/or Non Human Primates Research on Zoonotic diseases programs such rabies, trypanosonosis, brucellosis, and outbreak diseases investigations Primatology research Linking conservation, health, development and poverty alleviation
OHAC/ Gorilla Health activities Mission:To improve the health of wildlife and domestic animals includes endangered mountain gorilla, chimpanzee, golden monkey, pets, livestock animals with humans and ecosystems through animal health care, research, training and advocacy for conservation Vision: A oriented team in One Health Approach for conservation through health prevention, researches strategies for human, animal in their ecosystem
Rwanda Rwanda has four nationals parks with many wildlife animals and we identified regular poaching activities. The Rwanda Development Board and the local government sensitized ex poacher and through training and meeting; they joined cooperatives and benefit from the revenue sharing. Local communities leaving around the Volcanoes National Park organized in association with the support of the Rwanda Development Board. And one of these association bring together local community included ex poacher together Cooperative Kabaho Ngagi Sabyinyo.
Virunga Massif Transboundary management High density; 500 t0 600 habitant/km square Augmentation of interaction between wild animal with people through tourism and illegal activities, encroachment Augmentation of exposure
Cooperative Kabaho Ngagi Sabyinyo Around 550 ex-poachers grouped into 19 cooperatives under the umbrella association Amizero. 12 sectors surrounding the Volcanoes National Park, practicing agriculture, art crafts, and tourism conservation activities. The Kabaho Ngagi Sabyinyo, former by ex- poacher and member of the local community help tourist to carry their bags during gorilla visitation. Involved in the protection of mountain gorillas, building the park s fence, patrol the park in coordination with rangers, and involve in sensitizing others against illegal activities.
Cooperative Kabaho Ngagi Sabyinyo 2002: Association 2009: Cooperative President: Nibizi Andre Vice president: Akazimana Emmanuel Secretariat and finance:munyavuke Theogene Advisors: Mugeni Solange and Shimiyimana Michel 298 membres (270 males and 28 females); all with their familly involved in illegals activities include poaching, medecinal plant, fire wood collection, bamboo cuts )
Cooperative Kabaho Ngagi Sabyinyo Mensual cotisation: 1000 rwandan franc( 1.3 US dollars) Social support for member in difficulty Annual support for widow association and genocide survival association(300,000 Frw: 450 US dollars) Construction of member houses Health insurance support Conservation awareness
Revenues Sharing The implementation of the revenue sharing reinforces cooperatives which received together with others association and the local gorvement, part of the five percent of the total amount of the tourism revenue in Rwanda. 5 other percent for compensation Tourism is estimated to have generated 293.6 Million USD in 2013. Compared to 281.8 Million USD generated in 2012 at the same period, it corresponds to an increase of 4%.(RDB/ Tourism report 2013). The revenue sharing funds porter s project. All porters participate in the inception of projects in identifying their need and then select and implement chosen project.
Revenues Sharing, 2014 Initiated in 2005 for NPs fringe- Local communities Objectives: enhancing NP conservation, promoting community livelihoods, and improve Park-People Relations Supplemented by NGOs interventions 711 millions: 586.8 million disbursed, 124.3 million committed for 2013, with 80% for infrastructure 172 projects: 61 infrastructure (503,034,588); 101 SMEs in cooperatives (170,875,764); and 10 against crop raiding (37,316,400 Rwf) 46 CBOs (36 cooperatives) participate in conservation and benefit from both RS funds and NGOs
Partners include support Others organization partner with the Rwanda Development Board also funds some project with the objectives to increase their livehoold and health condition of the local communities Project such the distribution of livestock anamal, the One Caw per Family program, small stock project (sheep, goat, rabbit, pigs, poulty), water catchments project, the employer health program, community health program, rabies vaccination program for dog and cat, one cup of milk per child, honey production project, among other impact their social economic status and encourage them to sensitize others in wildlife protection. Support veterinary service delivery
Local community efficient support Local communities are supporting the law enforcement unit around national parks and have noticed also efficient patrol, reduction of number of snare, reduction of number of gorilla, chimpanzee caught on snare. There is not poaching of gorilla or chimpanzee in Rwanda, nor capture of live infant for trade as Rwanda converts most of ex poacher in conservation rangers.
The 2004 IUCN red list of threatened species (international union for conservation of nature and natural resources) Goals of management to prevent the population from becoming too small to increase the population as quickly as possible Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (cites) restricts trade in endangered species APPENDIX I - endangered by trade APPENDIX II - are or may be come threatened by trade APPENDIX III - Should be regulated within a nation Criteria for listing: Habitat destruction Overexploitation Likelihood of eradication by disease or predators Inadequate regulations for protection
Ihirwe, captive gorilla. Grace,DRC On the 07 August 2011, I was informed by the Chief Park Warden about the arrest of poachers with a baby gorilla at Rubavu, the twin town of Rubavu bordering Goma in DRC. The gorilla named Ihirwe had a respiratory disease infection. He received treatment and recovered before been send back in DRC on May 2014 at the Grace sanctuary in North Kivu(DRC)after running the genetic analysis that revealed being a graeuri gorilla.
Captives gorilla Ihirwe, captive gorilla to Grace, DRC Gorilla sanctuary
Chimpanzee named Sifa On the 14 November 2014, similar information was reported. A poacher was arrested with a chimpanzee. The chimpanzee was stressed and emaciated. It was rescue and we took care for the diet and receive food and health treatment. Genetic analysis test confirmed that the chimpanzee is related to a population in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The chimpanzee was transfer back to Lwiro sanctuary- DRC on the 13 January 2016.
Chimpanzee named Sifa
Conclusion In general, this collaboration for national park management suggests that active participation of local communities in decision making is a key strategy for reducing illegal activities. Local communities are not just consulted through some meetings and workshop but influence protected areas management. Transboundary collaboration between Uganda, Democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda which involve local communities are efficient in reducing to curb wild animal trade in the region
Gorilla intervention, National Volcanoes Park in Rwanda