[01] Clemence Idukunda, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), Kigali City, Rwanda. [02] Viateur Ntarindwa, Rural Development Inter-Diocesan Service (RDIS), Muhanga, Rwanda. [03] Eric Bagenzi, Rural Development Inter-Diocesan Service (RDIS), Muhanga, Rwanda. [04] Lamek Nahayo, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), Kigali City, Rwanda.

The involvement of local community is crucial in ensuring sustainable protection of environment since the community uses the available resources without thinking of future generations. In developing countries like Rwanda, natural resources and environment are the primary sources of livelihoods; hence their protection is of great importance to community welling and sustainable development as well. This study assessed the impact of community involvement in environmental protection. The authors conducted a pilot study for the project led by the Rural Development Inter-Diocesan Service (RDIS) and considered three sectors (Kibilizi, Kansi and Gikonko) of Gisagara district in the southern Rwanda. The authors randomly selected thirty (30) respondents from the above three sectors. The structured questionnaire helped to collect the study related information analyzed with Microsoft Excel. The results indicated that 77% of respondents were female while 23% were male and more than 60% were aged between 36 and 50. The informants largely (53%) raised the cutting off trees without permission as a cause of environmental degradation. This was attributed to collection of and/or search for firewood mentioned by 67%. However, using of improved cook stoves as the initiative developed, as mentioned by 100% led to the reduction of pressure on woodlands, reduction of indoor air pollution and improvement of the local families’ lives. Thus, the RDIS initiatives contributed to protecting environment in this area. However, since the percentage of using improved cook stoves is still low compared to the total population, it is good to continue mobilizing the community to refer to this approach. In addition, more sensitization mainly increasing people’s literacy as well as increasing local community’s livelihoods would contribute a lot to environmental protection. This study can serve as guiding tool to policy makers while planning environmental protection measures.

Community Involvement, Environmental Protection, Gisagara District, Rwanda

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