State of Africa’s Birds
Threats to biodiversity may have deeper causes Poverty can undermine conservation, especially when people are highly dependent on ecosystem services, which can lead to the unsustainable use of natural resources. It is important to create alternatives first, otherwise conservation actions will be of no use.
PRESSURE: Why birds are declining Poverty, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources at the Ruvubu National Park Ecosystem
Poverty levels around the 50,800 ha Ruvubu National Park in Burundi have made it quite challenging to conserve. The Park is dominated by grassy savannah, shrubs and gallery forest and is home to many species including the globally endangered Grey Crownedcrane Balearica regulorum. Communities on the fringes of the park depend on its valuable ecosystem services and farmed its fertile land to produce food before its gazettement and still depend on its valuable ecosystem services. Now the park’s ecosystem is threatened by bush fires set mainly by poachers, affecting key species such as the Grey Crowned-crane and buffalo. The park also faces erosion, sedimentation and water shortages because the watersheds are affected by fire. This has contributed to degradation of the IBA and undermined conservation. Unless the root cause of poverty is addressed, efforts by the Association Burundaise pour la protection de la Nature (ABN, BirdLife Partner) and the Burundian government can have limited effect. People will still continue to poach, collect firewood, burn the park and graze the buffer areas. There is urgent need for economic empowerment and environmental education of these communities on the benefits of protecting and conserving the Ruvubu National park.
Part of Ruvubu National Park after bush fires.
(PHOTO: ©ABN)
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