ADEC : Action for the Development of Community Ecotourism. The goal is the protection of mountains and plains gorillas as well as other protected species by educating local population on the importance of those protected animal species. It uses participatory approach and resorts to donors’ financial interventions.

2019 – 2020 Anti-Encroachment Campaign around Volcanoes National Park

The 2019-2020 Anti-Encroachment Campaign around the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda takes an active, hands-on approach. Our first campaign will ensure the protection of endangered natural resources while working with ex-poachers.  It is with high hopes that our organization will be able to involve current poachers as well. Through educational and conservation-oriented approaches, we hope to change their practices so that they conserve, rather than destroy, the natural world around them. The benefits of this campaign will have a positive,wide range effect across Rwanda, especially in communities bordering the Volcanoes National Park, home of the endangered mountain gorillas.Our organization will work with members of various local communities, allowing them to take active roles in ensuring the future of Rwanda’s conservation efforts. Ex-poachers, as well as current poachers, will have the opportunity to take an active part in our organization’s projects.  Our projects will help develop ecotourism, conservation and humanitarian practices through education, socio-economic research and sustainability.  Our Campaign, like ADEC, itself, is a proactive movement involving Rwandans and Rwandan communities to promote conservation efforts within their own country.

Project summary

This first phase of the project is planned to extend from 2019 to 2020, renewable based on funding. The project is operated by ADEC(Action for the Development of Community Ecotourism ). ADEC, a Rwandan NGO, is an organization which has been granted provisional licensure through the Rwandan Government in order to operate in the area of conservation and community ecotourism. The overall strategy of ADEC is to establish partnerships with other wildlife conservation organizations while working closely with local communities. For this reason, ADEC has begun partnering with global giving accelerator. During its first annual phase, the project will cost 255,000 USD. The major players in this project, as well as ADEC as a whole, include local communities, namely ex-poachers, and Rwandan partners in wildlife conservation. The goal of the project is to be renewed on a yearly basis, allowing a continuous approach to our conservation efforts. Crowdfunding will be the major operating budget based on raised funds. On an annual basis, ADEC hopes to recruit, train and disseminate  600 community workers into this campaign against forest encroachment. It is our goal that each community worker will exercise the various, project activities and further involve, educate and recruit over 100 local, Rwandans in each of the communities we work in. Therefore, the project will extend throughout all of Rwanda’s National Parks and surrounding localities.

Challenges

ADEC is a unique organization because it is one of the few Rwandan run and Rwandan-based wildlife conservation organization.  As Rwandans, we believe that the best practice for protecting our country’s natural environment and endangered species is through the direct actions of local populations.  Being a Rwandan run organization has been challenging. However, we did receive approval and support from the Rwandan government as well as the local communities.  Unfortunately, at such early stages, the organization has not raised sufficient funds to launch its project. ADEC continues to search for partners as well as networks designed in crowdfunding. Fortunately, we have partnered with Global Giving, an experienced organization that surrounds crowdfunding. Another major challenge includes the low level of education that most poachers and ex-poachers have. This will require creative, educational measures in order to sensitize them to our organization and the goals of this specific project. Since ADEC wants to involve Rwandan youth, as they are the very future of our country, the low education extends the challenge to them as well. Since ADEC will be working with people from various backgrounds and age-ranges,itwill require efficient time and managerial skills and resources. The number one challenge that ADEC faces is the poverty of the people surrounding Rwanda’s National Parks. Mobilizing them will require a lot of social and economic incentives.

Solutions

The main approach that will be used by ADEC is partnering with local, national, and international community development workers and wildlife preservation agents. ADEC will grow through the experiences it has with its partners and collaborators.  Currently, our principal partner is GlobalGiving. This partnership will make it possible for ADEC to access the necessary resources that it needs to grow and develop throughout Rwanda. The Campaign Against Encroachment will benefit local communities in terms of promoting biodiversity and sustainability. The regrouping of community workers into associations and cooperatives will boost the socio-economic standards. The socio-economic incentives that will be distributed to local populations will enhance their livelihoods. ADEC plans on using educational projects, socio-economic surveys and humanitarian development to engage communities across Rwanda as well as important local people, including ex-poachers and current poachers, in order to take up the fight for conservation.

Long-term impact

The overall goal of ADEC is to secure the future of Rwanda’s natural environment. In order to achieve this complex but mandatory goal, we must address the issues of sustainability.  How can we achieve this while ensuring the conservation ofRwanda’s biodiversity? It takes commitment, sincerity, perseverance and an overall ethical value that must involve Rwanda and its people!  This is not a short-term or quick solution.  One cannot come and go into a community and expect results.  It will take a long-term dedication to achieve these goals. Local communities will be trained to cope with everyday life hardships by gaining various skill-sets while receiving socio-economic incentives in order to cherish, learn about and ultimately protect their own natural heritage. It is not just about protecting nature, endangered species and diverse habitats.  It is also about ensuring the livelihoods and good practices of local communities. In the long run, the project will positively impact the overall conservation, sustainability and human development  throughout Rwanda.