Conflict resolution strategy for Kahuzi-Biega National Park
Full Solution
Cimanuka Silverback in Kahuzi-Biega National Park
TBC
Eastern DR Congo is one of the most difficult areas on the planet, with over 20 years of civil unrest, displacement,... WCS, GRASP and IISD developed a Conflict Sensitive Conservation methodology with national park managers. It focuses on analysis of key themes of conflict, analysis of their causes and effects, identification and mapping of stakeholders and how they affect/are affected by conflicts, and development of conflict resolution strategy.
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Context
Challenges addressed
beneficiary security, jealousy and loss of habitat
Main challenges include insecurity in the area as some of our beneficiaries have lost their assets due to individual attacks and internal displacement and jealousy from other community members to those who have benefitted from the project. The Ninja Corridor, a project pilot site, is an important corridor once connecting mountain and lowland forest, but it was invaded by farmers and almost disappeared
Beneficiaries
262 Members of community of Bugobe (Kabare) around Kahuzi Biega NP and the DRC Wildlife Authority as resources in that area are protected in cooperation with communities
Location
Itebero, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
West and Central Africa
Process
Summary of the process
The project was developed to help managers and communities to support biodiversity conservation through conflict resolution. This is seen as a complementary strategy to law enforcement as it includes awareness and dialogue. Through conflict and power analysis, the CSC approach builds trust by increasing commitment from communities to protect the parks and protected areas to develop small-scale economic activities to support community livelihoods (WIN-WIN solution). For example, the microcredit scheme was chosen to support livelihoods activities and reduce human impacts on biodiversity. By establishing trust through dialogue and collaborative approaches, managers gain time and resources. The conflict sensitive conservation approach helped in understanding links between natural resources, conflicts and local livelihoods, but also in developing collaborative actions that can positively change the conflict state to peacebuilding and sustainable livelihoods.
Building Blocks
Community Conservation Committees
Conservation approaches have evolved from traditional practices (fine and fence) and include now different stakeholders who interact or are interested in natural resources, either as users or managers. To ensure that local communities make their voices heard to park managers, local committees (Community Conservation Committees) were established in the early 1990s to act as bridging actors between communities and protected area managers. Members of Community Conservation Committees (CCC) are elected by villagers from different professional groups: farmers, pastoralists, public workers, civil society, etc. The CCC’s are composed of up to 12 persons, with a Chair who is either elected or a local chief to ensure monitoring and integration of community interventions into local development. The CCC’s main role is not only interacting with protected area managers, but also monitoring development activities implemented by the park. Therefore, they are in charge of selecting beneficiaries and request training in case of need. These committees have been used to manage and solve conflicts at local level and support conservation activities on the ground.
Enabling factors
Existing conflict over natural resource, willingness, existence of conservation law and enforcement mechanism, dynamism of local leaders and need of locals to improve their livelihoods can be seen as enabling factors for the establishment of local committees. The willingness of both parties to minimize conflict is seen as a critical factor that allows cooperation
Lesson learned
Community awareness and capacity building are key for structuring communities and ensuring involvement of women and local administration.
Resources
Conflict Sensitive Conservation methodology
Natural resources are key for local communities to sustain their livelihoods although there are laws that prevent such practices. This is always a source of conflict between protected area managers and local communities. Conflicts arise when protected area managers enforce law where arrests and fines occur. The method has been implemented to minimize conflict between actors on the ground and maximize sustainable management of resources while supporting local livelihoods. The most interesting side of this approach is mainly to monitor how activities implemented on the ground are making positive changes on conflicts and how sensitive are these activities. The sensitivity of activities is measured through participatory meetings to assess what conflicts have arisen from implemented activities.
Enabling factors
Enabling factors include the availability of a facilitator who masters the process, field staff to implement all the steps and monitor changes, as well as stakeholders willing to change the situation and resources.
Lesson learned
Conflict Sensitive Conservation methodology is effective towards natural resource based conflicts related to resource extraction if aiming at improving local livelihoods. Identification and understanding of changes happening during implementation are key for success. In Kahuzi Biega for example, illegal extraction of resources by local communities was identified as a key issue in Bugobe area. Education outreach was used to ensure that individuals are aware of existing legal constrains and consequences. As a result, 180 people identified themselves as illegal resource users. This was taken as an opportunity to identify their motivations and how we could respond to them. Given that they accepted to abandon these illegal activities, they requested support that can allow them develop alternative activities. We then developed a microcredit scheme with the local CCC which has reached to date 250 households.
Resources
Micro-credit scheme
Microcredit is seen as a way of supporting rural livelihoods through diversification of activities and revenue available to communities. The rotative micro-credit scheme developed around Kahuzi Biega NP is a response to local requests after solving the conflict between managers and communities. It has been implemented through four steps: community awareness, identification of beneficiaries based on criteria developed with the CCC, training of beneficiaries in management and micro credit management and monitoring. The seed capital is given to individuals within a group of 10 people including men and women and the reimbursement is done monthly without interest. To ensure mutual responsibility, the group meets once a month to discuss business management and identify individual constraints. These constraints are reported back to the credit management team that includes CCC representatives, protected area representatives and conservation NGOs representatives. The management teams meet at least once a quarter with all beneficiaries to assess progress and issues that have arisen and develop with beneficiaries possible solutions.
Enabling factors
Availability of funds and supporting staff for monitoring and training, potential for individuals to improve their livelihoods.
Lesson learned
To get a micro-credit scheme to work, there is need of dedicated staff, regular monitoring and feedback from beneficiaries and capacity building at local level.
Monitoring natural restoration of forests
Kahuzi-Biega National Park faces several anthropogenic threats that include encroachment for agriculture and pasture. We tested how monitoring of invaded spaces can help secure areas and allow natural restoration of habitat. Invaded areas were used for charcoal and farming. Thus, forest was cut and replaced by crops. The forest regenerated without human intervention but with regular monitoring that prevented people to disturb the forest. Monitoring was done through transects with different experts from different disciplines: mammals, amphibians and plants
Enabling factors
Availability of financial support and staff, security and willingness of protected area managers
Lesson learned
Monitoring can help natural restoration of invaded forest if disturbances are limited.
Impacts
Through the process (conflict analysis, stakeholders analysis, mapping of conflict and interventions), activities implemented to empower local committees and the provision of economic incentives through a micro-credit scheme. Throughout the process by working with the established community Conservation Committee (CCC) we have been able to re-establish dialogue within the community and rebuild trust between the Park and the CCC. Apart from these social results, more than 180 poachers (bamboo cutters, charcoal makers and farmers) abandoned their activities and the part of the park where they have been for some time. In order to respond to subsistence needs, the financial and agricultural seed capital was awarded to community members (204 households). As conservation output, illegal activities decreased significantly. A recovered area in the Nindja corridor was monitored for natural forest restoration by a joint scientific team.
Story
M’cikomola Nzigire is 49 years old and a mother of nine. The death of her husband forced her to engage in the illegal charcoal production industry in Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Each day she would leave at before light and return after dark, risking being arrested and trying to avoid individuals on route that are known to take advantage and inflict abuse on others who conduct this type of activity. In 2009 she found out about the opportunity of the micro-credit scheme that was being conducted by WCS, FFI and ICCN. She expressed her interest and was selected to be among the beneficiaries. In 2010 she was given $100 and used it to develop her small business selling agricultural products. As part of the scheme once beneficiaries pay back the credit they can apply again for larger sums. Until today she has continues to benefit from the scheme and managed to receive funding in 2012 and 2014. M’cikomola was able to receive medical treatment from abuse that she received from the charcoal business, managed to continue to provide the food needs for her family and to keep her children in school. In 2014 her son recently was awarded a state diploma with top marks. “This project opened up opportunities that would have never been possible, I cannot thank those who made it possible enough.” She said. Until this day M’cikomola has not needed to engaged in the charcoal industry and enter the park. M’cikomola has since started her own micro-credit business by loaning her neighbors $20 for three months with 3 dollars interest and is an active member of a community conservation committee.
