Burundi’s natural habitat was badly damaged during its civil war—and it's now under threat from population pressure and poaching. Conservation drones and local communities are helping protect wildlife.
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00:00One of the few remaining highlights in Burundi's national parks,
00:04chimpanzees, but they too are endangered.
00:08Decades of over exploitation of the natural environment
00:12have left their mark. In many places, antelopes and
00:16elephants have disappeared completely. Only smaller animals have survived years
00:20of poaching.
00:21The settlement surrounding many parks are a big problem.
00:25Burundi's population is growing and much of the farmland
00:29is depleted. So several years ago Justin Saviyumba
00:33moved into Viyanda Forest Nature Reserve and began farming there.
00:37I grow different types of crops here in this nature reserve because it is more
00:46fertile and I don't have much land to farm.
00:49I grow beans, cassava, maize and other crops.
00:53But he won't be able to stay here much longer.
00:59His illegal farm was discovered by drones that are now being used to monitor
01:03Burundi's nature reserves.
01:04They've helped improve the situation in conservation areas according to
01:09drone pilot Bruce Abarungira.
01:17This new technology is unprecedented and allows us to protect the environment.
01:22Now there are areas where the forests are no longer being cleared and animals
01:27are safe again. Before the drones were introduced, the situation was worrying.
01:31Strengthening this technology is crucial if we want to achieve sustainable
01:36results
01:37with conservation.
01:41Authorities and conservation organizations are now working together.
01:46Samuel Navitanga from Burundi's Environment Ministry frequently mediates
01:50in conflicts over boundary disputes
01:52between the parks and the farmland.
01:54Now boundary markers are supposed to clearly
01:58identify borders.
02:03People say they don't see where their property lines go to
02:06even though there is a map. So we are doing this to make sure the
02:11conservation areas'
02:12boundaries are recognized. Meanwhile a major awareness-raising campaign
02:18is underway in the surrounding communities. Locals are learning about
02:22environment issues, nature conservation and sustainable
02:25agriculture and how they can change their practices.
02:29The communities are helping
02:36save Burundi's conservation areas from disappearing.
02:40That encourages me to keep going.
02:45Together we've developed a sustainable economic
02:50model.
02:54Leonidas Nzigiyima is the director of 3C
02:58or Conservation and Community Change, a Burundian conservation group.
03:02It helps procure the drones. The NGO also develops programs to provide new
03:07financial opportunities
03:09for villagers who are mostly poor. This includes a solidarity saving bank
03:14that grants more loans.
03:19The members of this group meet regularly
03:24to discuss how to spend their capital or
03:27their joint fund and also to talk about the forest,
03:31the trees planted, about conservation.
03:34So it's a model approach
03:37that creates a win-win situation for biodiversity and
03:42for the communities.
03:45The project has been well received by local communities.
03:50Many have begun to respect nature more and are trying out new farming concepts.
03:55The 3C organization has taught us a lot about
04:02biodiversity and agriculture. We used to
04:06poach animals in Kibira Park, but now we are helping protect it.
04:12The training from 3C
04:16have also helped us to increase our agricultural production.
04:20But this is just a first step, says Samuel Navitanga.
04:27Burundi has ambitious plans to restore its wildlife.
04:32Species will be reintroduced in the park of Kibira and Rusiizi.
04:37We will hire a consultant and carry out studies.
04:44Based on the results of these studies,
04:47we will be able to determine the species to be reintroduced.
04:51The hope is that the wild animals will also attract more tourists
04:58to Burundi and thus bring much-needed revenue.