On June 29, a workshop was organized in Muremera (Kigamba) to raise awareness on human-wildlife conflicts and encourage community members to comply with regulations for effective conservation in Burundi.

This workshop was invited to grassroots administrators including hill chiefs, technical managers including agricultural instructors and judges, security forces in the area of the site and representatives of local communities and users of natural resources (agri-farmers, beekeepers, beekeepers, beekeepers, beekeepers, traditional practitioners, fishermen, and park managers).

In his welcome speech, the head of the Ruvubu National Park, Mr. Marc BAKUNDINTWARI thanked the OBPE for organizing the workshop. He recognized that the relationship between the protected area and the coastal communities was marred by some irregularities. On the one hand, coastal communities are disregarding the law and even prohibited activities. These include illegal fishing with inadequate equipment, the cutting of grass and wood, bushfires during the dry season, animal trapping and poaching, etc. On the other hand, these are animals including Buffaloes that come out and ravage those around them outside on private properties. It is this situation that is the source of misunderstanding between the communities and the park.

Taking the floor, Mr. MASABO Onesphore, thanked on behalf of the OBPE and the Director General the participants in this mini workshop. He reported that today's activity follows the results of exploiting the data collected during a study on “Indicators on conflicts between Buffaloes in the Ruvubu NP and hippopotamuses in the Rusizi NP and the local communities living in the area” conducted in 2020. For this purpose, he also thanked them in recognition of the contribution of one or the other in responding to the survey questionnaire and/or for the information or clarifications given on one or the other issue during the field work.

With these words, he invited the participants to follow with interest the presentation by Prof. NKENGURUTSE Jacques on the “Analysis of the conflictual cohabitation between the Rusizi National Park and the neighbouring populations”.

In his presentation, Prof NKENGURUTSE called for the protection of biological diversity in a sustainable manner and for compliance with current regulations.

He then returned to the importance of setting up PAs for maintaining biodiversity.

The main AP in terms of extent, it is still home to large mammals: hippopotamuses, buffaloes, various species of antelopes but also crocodiles and birds that are both migratory and sedentary.

He said that the results of surveys on (i) Importance of the PNR for the coastal communities; (ii) the possible conflicts between the park and the communities in turn, and (iii) the mode of governance of the site and its perception by the population show that:

• 88.5% of the respondents recognize the services provided by the PNRuvubu ecosystem, The main services listed are: rain and clean air, granted employment, wood energy, fish and meat, fish and meat, fruits and medicinal resources, etc.
• 100% of the population surveyed recognize the problems caused by park animals.
• That the factors that influence the Relationship between the Communities and PNRuvubu are the ban on entry to the park, the damage caused by animals, the offenses committed in the park, the punishments inflicted in case of violation and the governance of the PNRuvubu.

The measures taken by communities to counter the damage concern: entrapments including the digging of ditches, sentinel actions, and people remain indifferent.

Respective proportions of 59%, 23% and 18% respectively require regulation, protection and elimination of these animals.

The punishments for offenses committed include: the seizure of equipment and loot, fines, the confiscation of domestic animals caught grazing in the park and possibly the imprisonment of the owners.

 

For the governance of PN Ruvubu, as in all PAs in Burundi, an unanswered question (not provided for by the law in force) remains: “Offences committed by communities are punished but communities that have suffered losses caused by animals are not compensated”.

The interviewees raised the lack of a collaborative framework to find solutions to the problems that oppose them as well as the lack of community management committees.

86.8% of respondents recognize awareness-raising actions related to the protection of the environment in general and PAs in particular.

However, it is concerned about the follow-up to the measures taken during these awareness-raising activities.

From this presentation, the park manager spoke and gave clarifications on the current regulatory forecasts that govern Ruvubu National Park as a protected area.

In conclusion, the results show that the relationship between PNRusizi and the communities in turn is not healthy. These irregularities mainly concern the non-compliance with the regulations in force, on the one hand, and a law that remains silent on certain issues that arise and that were not taken into consideration when drafting regulatory texts relating to the management of PAs. This includes dealing with questions related to the possible damage that may be caused by animals outside of PAs.

The participants thanked the organizers and referred to the effects of degradation of the environment in general and of biodiversity in particular.

The following suggestions were put forward: (1) set up a conflict management committee, to enforce the regulations in force by all parties, (2) to develop community development projects (in particular ecotourism, beekeeping, etc.) as alternatives, and to highlight the persons affected for the support provided as well as for possible recruitment.

by MASABO Onesphore