SGF takes over wildlife compensation role

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) handed over to the Special Guarantee Fund (SGF), cases of 357 victims whose property or lives were affected by wildlife.306 of the cases originated from Akagera National Park, 34 from Nyungwe and 17 from Virunga Park.The cases involve those who suffered financial loss due to physical damage of crops, livestock and property, as well as death of family members caused by wild animals.Rica Rwigamba, the Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB, whose department originally fast-tracked the cases, yesterday, handed over the files to Bernardin Ndayishimye, the Director General of SGF.“We look at conservation in a holistic approach, hence putting coexistence between communities and wildlife at the core of our activities,” Rwigamba said.“In the same spirit that the revenue sharing scheme was launched in 2005, the government has set up this compensation fund to respond to the needs of communities whose properties, and unfortunately even lives, have been affected by wildlife,” she said.SFG is supposed to be funded by 5 percent of the profits got from tourism revenues, however, Ndayishimye, said that RDB was yet to provide funds for the compensation to begin.“Our team will ensure that all residents who report cases to the authorities are surely investigated and compensated,” Ndayishimye said.Although Rwigamba could not ascertain the date by which the funds could be released, she said the process was ongoing and that financing will be available to the body as soon as possible.To limit the damage inflicted on communities surrounding game zones, RDB has started electrical fencing programs, with the one at Akagera expected to be concluded by December this year.