EEEGL

Mushroom enterprise around Volcanoes National Park

At the beginning of our project, we scanned several enterprise development opportunities around the Parks. Our purpose was to identify local economic activities which could be strengthened through more effective linkages with markets, be of benefit to poor residents, and would not have negative environmental impacts.

Around the Volcanoes National Park land is very scarce. Our analysis and consultations confirmed interest and market demand for mushrooms. We conducted a value chain analysis to strategize our support to producers and to engage buyers and service providers. We started this activity with initial co-funding from the Protected Area Biodiversity project (funded by UNDP/GEF and executed by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority).

We designed extension support activities targeting groups of farmers, to whom we provided initial inputs to get started as mushroom producers. After the initial trials, we hit a good approach by engaging a local private firm (BN Producers Ltd) specialized in the production of mushroom seed tubes based on the Juncao technology.

We contracted the firm to train in this mushroom production technique about 130 farmers in five sectors around the park (Bugeshi, Jenda, Shingiro, Kinigi and Gahunga). The farmers experimented through a production cycle and were closely monitored and supported by extension agents from our contractor.

As a condition during the training session, each farmer set aside a mushroom growing demonstration plot of less than one square meter with ten mushroom tubes on her/his garden. The farmers were also offered the following:

1. A training module to introduce mushroom production and marketing.

2. Training on Juncao technology using a hands-on methodology including techniques of mushroom shed construction.

3. Basic inputs, including quality spores and other vital materials for mushroom production during the practical part of the training.

4. Technical support to ensure quality production.

5. Direct supervision of mushroom shade construction.

After the first trial, each farmer produced on average about 20kg of fresh mushrooms. Most of these were consumed by the producers or sold locally. This volume is still relatively modest. However, our purpose is to introduce and disseminate this new crop (which can be of interest to people with very little land) in a manner capable of both generating a business for farmers and of leveraging linkages with market actors to ensure its profitability. We intend to measure our success by the establishment of sustainable relations between farmers, buyers and service providers. We reckon that, if these relations will make business sense, the enterprise will gradually develop in a market-driven fashion.

One of the lessons learnt so far is that farmers have taken mushroom growing with gusto. One of the most encouraging signs is that some farmers, after the first trial, bought seeds with their own money. We collected this quote from a local farmer during a recent field visit: “This is astonishing yield. When my wife started putting up a mushroom shelter, I was apprehensive. But after only three weeks, I became convinced (of the benefits of mushrooms’) when she began to harvest and I thereafter started to help her. I realized that only one meter squared of land is enough even for 60 spawn and it does not require much time”.

We are facing a number of challenges. Certain gardens were invaded by termites. Farmers also need to learn how to control temperature, water management and ventilation, to avoid that the seeds get damaged resulting in loss of production. We are still supporting extension services to the farmers and at the same time we expect to expand and better structure their linkages with buyers and service providers.

Yvette Ishimo, CARE Rwanda.

Negotiating the bye-laws of Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA)

EEEGL is collaborating with the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Districts neighboring the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area to review the bye-laws regulating the access to the park and its resources by local people. We recently met with Rogers Akatwijuka, who is the Natural Resources Officer of Kanungu District. Rogers chairs the park bye-laws review task force in Kanungu District and we asked him about the progress of the activity.

Q: What is the job of the task force you head?

The small team involves District officials (my self, the Environment Officer, the Veterinary officer and the Community development Officer). We have held consultations with UWA officials and the communities living around our section of Bwindi Impenetrable NP. Similar teams have also been established in Kabale and Kisoro Districts. They are supported by a consultant hired by EEEGL and by the EEEGL team.

Our purpose as a task force is to identify issues generating conflicts between the communities and the park, to capture the perception of local communities on law enforcement and to seek consensus on adaptation of the park bylaws. The existing bylaws were introduced when the park was established, without much public consultations. UWA has since recognized the need to review them and make them more relevant to the local context.

Q: What is the general feedback you are receiving from community members and leaders?

Most issues of law enforcement within the park boundaries and conflicts arise from damage caused by animals to farmers’ crops; the illegal exploitation of park resources, such as collection of water, firewood, medicinal plants, plants used to make crafts, fish, game, gold mining and so on; the movement of people along trails across the park; and the punishments meted by UWA to those we do not comply with the existing regulations. These issues are regulated by the law, the park regulations and bylaws. Yet people feel that at times punishments are unnecessarily too harsh, well beyond the due deterrent power (lets not forget we deal often with very poor people) and not in proportion to the offence. They also say that punishments are sometimes not applied in an even manner. They want to be heard and consulted on matters of law enforcement and on the cases of offences.

Q: Why do you think that local people need to be consulted on these matters?

We think that, by proposing a more uniformed system of park bylaws and a process of consultations with community leaders on enforcement of offences, we can help build better understanding between people and park authorities. It is not a matter of lowering the deterrent power of law enforcement. The point is rather to have an enforcement practice that is consistent both with the need to protect wildlife and with the maintenance of positive, mutually beneficial relations with neighboring communities. People need to understand the rationale of law enforcement. Repression per-se does not seem to produce a decrease in the frequency of offences. Local communities and their leaders know well the area and can help authorities to better control offending individuals. Law enforcement can become a more social process, than mere repression.

Q: Which benefits are you gaining from this task supported by EEEGL?

Some of the issues we are dealing with are critical to our people’s livelihoods; some, like problem animal management, are complex and easy solutions are not available. Rural communities living near the park sometime cry foul over damage caused by wildlife to their crops and at times to themselves (injuries or death). This issue is an old one. Yet, prevention measures are under-funded and compensation hardly exists. If people keep seeing park management just as a repressive system, relations will not improve. The adaptation of the park byelaws can be a strong contribution to the range of collaborative management measures that park authorities have put in place over the years. This activity is helping us to consult with lots of people in the process.

Q: What is this task going to deliver in practice?

At the end of the consultations, we shall produce draft bye-laws reflecting the consensus achieved. These bye-laws will adapt the existing ones (included in the present park’s management plan), and provide a more detailed guidance on enforcement. In the end, we shall submit them to relevant authorities (UWA), for consideration and, hopefully, approval. UWA is willing to review the bye-laws as long as they can help a harmonious coexistence between the park and local communities leading to enhanced conservation of the park. If the bye-laws are reviewed in line with all stakeholders involvement, it is expected that this will contribute to better local understanding of park management; and therefore, that illegal activities in the park will decrease, along with conflicts and conservation costs.

From left to right:   George Agaba (Environment Officer),  Beda Mwebesa (EEEGL) and  Rogers Akatwijuka at Kanungu District.

Launch of the EEEGL website

I am excited and very pleased to launch the EEEGL website !

The EEEGL project has been implemented for just little more than three years. We were absorbed first in shaping and starting a demanding field and regional project, which involves two partners across three countries, and many other local and national collaborating partners. Most of the work we initiated is at field level, on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes and across the hills surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. That is where our team is meant to spend most of its time and effort.

We faced major challenges in DRC with the conflict that engulfed Kivu in 2008 and led to the suspension of our project there. We are now appraising the resumption of work in DRC. Meanwhile, the project has made strides in Rwanda and Uganda and through its regional level activities.

We thought that the time is now ripe to widen our dialogue and communication about our work. This website has three purposes:

- To document what we do, in plain language;

- To share information about the work we are engaged in with our partners, among concerned stakeholders and others working on similar issues;

- To discuss about the successes and challenges we experience and to identify options and ideas to move forward.

We have chosen to do so through a blog. Members of our team and other partners will share their work and thoughts in their own words through this journal.

We shall gradually post and make available information on past and ongoing work and future events.

We shall welcome contributions, dialogue and feedback from all interested parties !

Giuseppe Daconto, EEEGL Regional Programme Coordinator