The main threats to the park emanate from the combination of a lack of a true buffer zone and widespread poverty surrounding the park. VNP’s Community Partnership Programme has therefore identified priorities as mitigating crop damage caused by wild animals and establishing new livelihoods for communities. 862 community members organized in cooperatives are involved in park conservation activities and tourism. 262 porters benefit as temporary staff, who earn between $12 to $25 per day to carry visitors' belongings during gorilla viewing and hiking.
As a means of reducing forest resources dependence, we have provided alternative income generating activities, through the establishment of fuel wood plantations and fuel efficient stove adoption, support for developing bamboo propagation and processing outside the park, and support for rainwater harvesting systems. We also developed alternative agriculture options such as identifying crops that are economically viable but not targeted by wildlife crop-raiding.
In 2007, a 1-meter-high stone buffalo wall was completed that spans the entire 76km border of VNPto reduce crop damage by wild animals by Rwanda Development board. We encourage the local community to constantly maintain it.
One of the factors which enabled us is to connect with local communities and train them on different tourism jobs available like being porters, community guides and involve them in the cooperative ownership meaning that we involve them in decision making for all the issues affecting the cooperatives and ensure they create partnerships with other locals whom wish to be part of the programs and teaching them new marketing strategies for new cultural tourism products we develop.
Locals became aware of the different aspects of learning new technologies which we train them on conservation and they become decisive on any issue concerning the administration of the cooperatives and they learn on how to develop any new cultural tourism product we develop.