Proactive community vs. lenient management for sustainable environment and livelihoods near protected areas

Presented by: Majyambere Methode

World Environmental DayUR, Huye campus

3 June 2015

RationaleThe topic is a scientific opinion in the context of

environmental safeguard and protected areas resources management

The case study is Nyungwe National ParkThe base of my opinion is not a literature review, or

any systematic research, but formed from critical observations

Observations were also connected with research studies

They inspired me with more thinking about the research intervention to be encouraged in the future

RationaleThe problem is how people exploit natural resources in

unsustainable ways, and have some negative behaviors;This threatens much vulnerable forest edges, protected area biodiversity, and depletes resources for the future.

I sought causes in the framework of how community impacts near protected areas are managed

The community might have enjoyed a kind of easygoing / laisser-faire/ lenient management

This probably ended by obscuring their consciousness in sustaining their future livelihoods

I would not term this poor management but rather maybe lack of sound strategies

RationaleThree periods comprised my observation

and critical thinking: In 2009 when I was carrying out research

on chimpanzees in Cyamudongo forest; In 2011-2012 when a MSc research was

carried out at Uwinka in Nyungwe NP on small mammals;

In 2013 at Gisakura I was involved in research as field assistant for assessing threats to chimpanzees

Case 1: Cyamudongo (2009)

Take a while to understand from the picture1)How young are these guys; 2) How steep is

this zoneAnd be aware that:

i) This is not more than 15 m from the natural forest

ii) There is a quarry for bricks abutting road

This large amount of wood collected in about a minute

Case 2: Uwinka (2011-2012)

Traps once used for small mammals are

damaged for no gain

Fallen pine tree is cut for wood even in 5 m from

natural forest More alarming than this is the cutting

of young trees (on rate, frequency, severity) as tutors in agriculture; NO

picture available for it

Case 3: Gisakura (2013)

Tea Cow grazing, leaving dung every where

This side is the natural

forest

The natural forest

Tea estate

There was much more alarming than this near tea;Especially where there was much thicker

vegetation and little space between tea and natural forest;

HUMAN EXCREMENT/FECAL WASTE!!!!

Towards effectivenessThere is no way to undermine strong efforts

produced so far in terms of conservation status The situation is regarded as what I termed

lenient management, or the laisser-faire, in regard to the community

Was it from superficial analysis of the problem, poor monitoring, or just lack of awareness, all of these can be combined as issues of laisser-faire

We know how this can lead to increase of ‘tragedy of the commons’ and increasing ‘ecological footprint’

Towards effectivenessWith developing this theme I envision 2

complementary alternatives (they are assumptions):

1) being strict with the community regarding current trends and awareness of environmental issues can be an effective strategy

2) people can be sensitized to be more proactive rather than being reactive to challenges of which they have been source

(Mutual collaboration = umwe aba ijisho rya mugenzi we aho ibintu byenda kugenda nabi)

Towards effectivenessThis strategic management also emphasizes

the nurture of environmental ethics. In Rwanda people are now quite aware of

social ethics; they should quite easily understand the need for environmental ethics.

They are trained and sensitized to be environmentally responsible, and build trust and hope for the future.

It is of paramount importance to be proactive than reactive in face of current environmental challenges.

Thank you for your kind attention!