Musanze, a district bordering Volcano National Park, has seen local communities benefit from the park's resources through revenue sharing. However, in recent years, some residents have resorted to illegal activities such as poaching, timber cutting, and bamboo harvesting to sustain their livelihoods. Although farming remains the primary occupation for most locals, there has been a noticeable increase in arts and handcraft production for local products.
The residents of Kinigi Sector, an area with well-established tourism facilities like the Kinigi Commercial Complex (KCC), are spearheading efforts to discourage dependence on illegal activities within the park by promoting community-based start-ups.
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Jean d&039;Amour Ntihemuka, a University graduate in Finance and owner of an art and craft shop at the Kinigi Commercial Complex, is among those benefiting from the park through his business. However, he believes that the community would greatly benefit from additional projects.
"If we have more community-based projects here, it would provide valuable opportunities for young people like me," expressed Ntihemuka.
Hélène Nyiramugisha and Jean de Dieu Maniteze, two local residents, also share the vision of welcoming more projects to the area to stimulate business growth. Jean de Dieu Maniteze, who makes a living by selling walking sticks to tourists for Rwf20,000 (approximately $20) each, reflects on how their lives have improved since they started engaging in crafts. "Life has changed significantly since we began making these walking sticks and handicrafts," Maniteze stated.
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Nyiramugisha, who aspired to study accounting but opted for art school instead, claims that her marriage and shelter were made possible through their involvement in local arts and crafts. She emphasizes the need for more local tourism projects to attract a larger clientele. Nyiramugisha also suggests extending the presence of the Kinigi Commercial Complex to Nyabihu and Rubavu districts, which also share borders with the park.
The Kinigi Commercial Complex, established by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in collaboration with the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), serves as the only developed facility where locally crafted products are organized in a cooperative and made available for sale to tourists. The GVTC, an intergovernmental organization dedicated to preserving the Greater Virunga Landscape, comprising Volcano National Park, Virunga National Park in Congo, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, supported the construction of the complex.
According to Juvenal Mukeshimana, the Acting Program Coordinator for the GVTC, the establishment of the Kinigi Commercial Complex was driven by the high population density in the region, where some individuals relied on natural resources from protected areas, often resulting in illegal activities. He emphasized the importance of implementing alternative development projects to reduce the pressure on the park.
Francis Bayingana, the Tourism Warden for Volcano National Park, highlighted that local communities benefit from the park through revenue sharing, with approximately 10 percent allocated to community development and 5 percent for compensation. Andrew Rucyahana Mpuhwe, the Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development, encouraged residents to remain focused, work diligently, and ensure that all guests receive the best service. He also emphasized the district's commitment to advocating, planning, and implementing necessary infrastructure improvements, with priority given to areas with a high volume of tourists.