Kayonza–A wildfire that broke out a few weeks ago destroyed an estimated 20 per cent of the area covering Akagera National Park in the Eastern Province.The park covers 1121.93 square kilometres, making it the largest in the country.A statement from Rwanda Development Board (RBD), which quotes information from Akagera Management Company, puts the destruction at 20 per ent of the land mass covering the park.The fires broke out on August 8 and on August 15 in Nyamatete, located in the northern part of the park; another started in Gihinga near Akagera River.“Three other fires broke out in Rwisirabo, Kirimbari, Birengero, Muyumbu and most recently, in Kageyo peninsula on August 20, 25 and 26 consecutively,” the statement reads in part. The fires are believed to have been ignited by illegal trespassers.“RDB together with Akagera Management Company have reinforced the monitoring teams and also put in place numerous fire breaks in the park,” said Rica Rwigamba, Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB.She appealed to communities living along the park boundaries to refrain from any other hazardous activities that may degrade the biomass of the parks and to avoid all activities that may ignite any fires considering that savannah parks are prone to fire outbreaks, especially during the dry season.Rwigamba noted that the fires did not cause any loss to the tourism industry since the wild animals and birds in the park were not affected.“Awareness and information sharing initiatives are being driven by the park management, security officials, local authorities and communities to limit risk and mitigate any future fires.”Akagera National park is home to a variety of wildlife and is a natural habitat for over 500 different bird species.Earlier in the week, Télésphore Ngoga, in charge of national parks at RDB, told The New Times that Akagera often suffers at the hands of arsonists during dry spells.“The fires are normally set by poachers who want to trap wild animals in the burnt area. The recent fire surprised us because it took many days before it could be contained,” he said.Ngoga said park rangers were tracing the culprits, warning that whoever will be caught illegally trespassing will be charged.Meanwhile, Rwigamba commended the collaborative efforts and timely intervention exhibited by the park management, the National Police, the Rwanda Defence Forces, rangers, the local authorities as well as local communities to fight the fires.“It took concerted efforts from all groups who intervened to fully contain the fires,” she said.Rodrigue Nzayizera, an official in charge of social affairs in Kayonza District, reiterated the need for the park’s protection.“We have farmers who burn the bushes deliberately and the fire meanders to the park. There are also poachers from either Tanzania or Rwanda, unless we devise new ways to combat them, we shall continue witnessing such fires,” he said.
