Residents of Kinigi in Musanze District have increasingly played a central role in the conservation of Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas, thanks to the benefits from the park.

Fueled by a constant human-wildlife conflict, area residents previously played a minimal role in protecting the park, some even engaging in poaching. 

Jacqueline Nyiransabimana recalls the time when they were hostile to the wildlife in the park.

"We had no idea what it meant to live in the environs of the park, other than living in constant fear of wild animal attacks,” she told The New Times. 

"Since the park was not fenced then, wild animals often destroyed our crops and some of us also engaged in poaching.’’ she added.

Nyiransabimana said the community was not aware that tourism proceeds from the park could in turn be used to build vital infrastructure such as schools, health centres and roads, particularly for the same communities that were a threat to the wildlife in the park.

"We had no single school around, no access to clean water, and we used to collect firewood from the park, men could also hunt the animals.

"We saw the wildlife as a threat. We did not imagine that they would be of benefit but rather saw them as enemies,” she adds.

However, this attitude is now a thing of the past.

About ten years ago, the government started to give 5 per cent of tourism revenues to communities around national parks and this came in form of facilities such as; schools, health centres, roads, among others.

"As a result, today we have a completely different perspective about parks and the animals there in,” Nyiransabimana said.

The growing investment in the area, she said, has since seen residents abandon poaching, children go to school and brought clean water and electricity to the area. "Many jobs were also created especially because of the construction works as well as the new hotels.”

Today, Kinigi sector boasts of seven hotels.

"Our lives have changed for the better, our children no longer have to walk long distances to go to school,” added Nyiransabimana.

Apart from such shared benefits, Nyiransabimana said, the government and other partners have also identified the most vulnerable among the communities and given them specific support to help improve their lives.

One such partners is Kinigi-based Gorilla Mountain View Lodge that recently donated cows to ten disadvantaged households, including Nyiransabimana’s.

The donation, according to the hotel management, is designed to support the government’s Girinka programme, under which cows are given to vulnerable households in order to improve their livelihoods.

"I am very happy because I had always wished to own a cow,” Nyiransabimana said. "My children will drink milk and sell the surplus to meet other needs.”

Felicien Ndabateze, another beneficiary, said: "We are directly benefiting from tourism sector, and because of the cows, our children do not suffer from malnutrition,” he said.

He also said the increased economic activity in the area has offered him jobs, from which he earns money and to meet his family’s needs including; paying health insurance cover, school fees and providing scholastic materials to his children.

With the improved welfare, the residents of Kinigi and Nyange sectors formed Sabyinyo Community Livelihoods Association (Sacola) to help grow together as a community.

And, thanks to their combined efforts they now own a hotel, namely Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Hotel.

Sacola members get monthly dividends and the association has helped previously homeless people to get houses of their own, while others have been supported to get livestock.

They have also formed art crafts and farming cooperatives.

Paul Muvunyi, the manager of Gorilla Mountain View Lodge, said they will remain committed to working with the community around the park towards their socio-economic development.

He said the hotel procures foodstuff from the community and employs over 90 per cent of local workforce.

Celestin Nsengiyumva, another resident, said they also engage in other activities like brewing traditional beer and preparing local cuisine for tourists.

Sacola was also instrumental in efforts to eradicate thatched houses in the district, donating over 3,500 iron sheets to hundreds of vulnerable and historically marginalised families in the area.

The association also works closely with former poachers, some of whom have since turned into park warders, in efforts to conserve the park.

The association spends at least Rwf120 million every year on community initiatives in the area, according to Nsengiyumva.

Musanze District mayor Jean Musabyimana said tourism has increasingly impacted lives and improved infrastructure in the district.

"We are very impressed by the rewards from the sector,” he said. "Residents now have access to good roads, water and electricity; all these have helped change people’s lives for the better.”

He urged hoteliers and other players in the tourism sector to keep supporting various government initiatives designed to improve people’s lives and accelerate the country’s development.

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