Impact of Volcanoes National Park Conservation on Local Food Security
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Date
2024-02
Authors
Nyiratuza, Madeleine
Maniriho, Aristide
Ming’ate, Felix L. M.
Mireri, Caleb
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
This study employed mixed methods, including a survey of 400 households, 21key
informants, and 10 focus groups conducted in January-March 2019, to evaluate the
contribution of Volcanoes National Park (VNP) conservation to local food security in
Rwanda. Data was collected from communities within 0-5km and 5-10km park buffers,
facilitating distance-based comparisons. Food security status was assessed using the
Consolidated Approach to Reporting Indicators of Food Security. Despite government
attention to food security, its integration into VNP conservation remains minimal.
Shockingly, 71% of local residents experience food insecurity, concentrated within the
0-5km buffer. Interestingly, while only 38% of households directly benefit from park
conservation, 72% of these beneficiaries reside within the 0-5km zone. This suggests
that community conservation and revenue-sharing programs are disproportionately
funded at the park’s edge, where human pressure on resources is most significant.
These findings highlight the need for policy and strategy amendments, as well as
revisions to the park management plan, to effectively integrate food security concerns
into VNP conservation efforts. Linking a specified percentage of revenue-sharing funds
to participation in relevant food security programs, co-managing land for conservation
and community needs, weaving food aid into safety nets for vulnerable groups, prompt
wildlife damage payouts for secured livelihoods and fostered coexistence, and skill
training and microloans for diversifying income and curbing poaching are crucial for
enhancing food security among households around the VNP.
Description
Article
Keywords
Biodiversity conservation, food security, Volcanoes National Park, impact, integration
Citation
Nyiratuza, M., Maniriho, A., Ming’ate, F. L., & Mireri, C. (2024). Impact of Volcanoes National Park conservation on local food security. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), 2319690.