The Socio-Economic wellbeing of Local communities Adjacent Protected Area in Rwanda.Case of Virunga National Park (2019-2023)

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to assess the contribution of protected areas to the socio- economic wellbeing of local community in Rwanda. The specific objectives were to

determine the socio-economic benefits of Virunga National Park to the surrounding community, to assess the extent to which the protected areas contribute to the local community, to assess the socio-economic challenges facing Virunga National Park surrounding community, to find out the strategies to address the challenges facing Virunga National Park surrounding community. The study targeted the people living in the surrounding community and data were collected using questionnaire, interview and documentation. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings reveal that protected areas safeguard and foster the biodiversity in ecosystems which has long served as important dietary components such as fish, plants, fruits, honey and much more for local communities. Virunga National Park a s a protected area provides employment opportunities to the people in the surrounding community, which help them to maintain a healthy economic growth. There is also full security control in the region due to the activities, which help people in the surrounding community to move and work freely during the day and overnight. Virunga National Park, a protected area, has enhanced property values to the extent that surrounding community benefits from their plots, houses and other assets in a number of ways. The findings of the study indicate a strong correlation between the protected areas and the socio-economic wellbeing of the people in the surrounding community. However, the findings indicate that exist some challenges persist. These include migration of wild animals, forest shrinkage, human settlement, habitat fragmentation amongst others.