HUMAN IMPACTS ON FORESTS ECOSYSTEM

CASE OF AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK ,

EASTERN PROVINCE, RWANDA
Dr. Nkurunziza Prosper
 
• HUMAN IMPACTS ON FORESTS ECOSYSTEM
CASE OF AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK ,
EASTERN PROVINCE, RWANDA
Introduction

Forests ecosystem has time and again been

threatened by human activities throughout
the development era. Human activities added
pressure on natural and limited resources in
general.
• Forests amongst others have face human
pressure owing to the ever-increasing demand
and overreliance on forests resources like
firewood, charcoal, wood for furniture,
construction and many other purpose. This
has borne considerable impacts on forest
ecosystem.
• This papers is an attempt to highlight human
induced impact on forest ecosystem in
Akagera National Park, Rwanda. Identifying
these impacts will contribute to the creation
of awareness of both government, citizens,
• partners in development and individual
business people about the degrading forest
ecosystem and the need to come up with
preventive, mitigating and responsive
measures so that our forests are protected
and conserved adequately.
• Various impacts to include desertification,
deterioration, extinction of some species and
animals have been observed in different
regions during recent decades.
During this development era whereby the
whole world has been integrated as a result of
globalization, effects of human activities and
development in general can be felt in each
corner of this globe.
• These changes in forests ecosystems have call
for the intervention of various responsible
government and non government bodies to
contribute their efforts conservation and
protection of various forest resources
Brief overview on Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park lies along Rwanda's

eastern boundary with Tanzania and is named
for the Kagera river that runs its length.
• Akagera is quite distinct from the rest of the
country's reserves, lying at a relatively low
altitude and with rolling grassland plains with
broad-leafed and Acacia woodlands through
its middle region. 
The western side of the reserve is marked by a
low-lying mountain range, whilst the eastern
section is defined by substantial wetland and a
series of lakes and papyrus swamps.
• Apart from the negative impact of
encroaching human presence, the park is still
worth a visit.  There are still plenty of wild
animals to be seen, with elephant, zabra,
buffalo, giraffe, various species of antelope,
crocodile and very high concentrations of
hippo
The fate of the park's few remaining lions is
uncertain and while leopards are certainly
around, you are not likely to see anything but
their tracks, although the locals do see them
regularly. 
• Bird life in Akagera is however outstanding,
with 550 species recorded with many rare
specials, including a good density or raptors
and good numbers of large waterbirds around
the lakes.
The reserve itself is quite scenic and one can
drive for hours without passing
another vehicle, but it's fate is uncertain. Prior
to 1994, Akagera supported an estimated 250
lions, with some prides adapted to the lakes
and swamps and others that were known to
climb trees. 
 Definition of Key Concepts

 
• Human: Of people, relating to or involving or
characteristic of human beings
• Human Impact: In this paper Human Impact
means the immediate or strong effect that
human beings may exert on something or
somebody.
• Forest: in this paper forest refers to a dense
growth of trees or a large area of land covered
in trees and other plants growing close
together, or the trees growing on it.
• Ecosystem: Ecosystem is a community of
organisms and their nonliving environment
interacting as a whole unit (Sutton and
Harmon, 1973). It is simply the interaction of
the living organisms and its non-living
organisms.
• We can consider a certain community and its
interaction with the soil, atmosphere, water,
sunlight, climate and temperature as an
example of an ecosystem.
• Forest ecosystem: in this paper forest
ecosystem refers to a community of trees and
plants that interact with other organisms both
living and non living like soil, water, animals,
insects, fungi, and bacteria.
 Settlement and size of Akagera Forest

Encroaching human pressure on the Akagera

National park has resulted in so many negative
impacts that has been affecting forests
ecosystems in this reserve.
Returning refugees in the aftermath of 1994
genocide have settled in much of the northern
part of the park and this has put pressure on
the wildlife and this human presence resulted
in much of the northern and western parts of
the park settled thus diminishing the size of
the park and affecting the other biotic and
abiotic organisms in general.
 Desertification
Various human activities and pressure exerted
on Akagera Park threatens some parts of the
park face the danger of desertification.
• Land is relatively degrading and as can be
observed on these photos some dry land
regions become increasingly arid obviously
losing their bodies of water as well as
vegetation thus affecting wildlife.
Arid areas facing the danger of deserfication
 Overgrazing and forest resources

Following the repatriation and reconciliation

programs that followed the 1994 genocide,
there were no policies on environment
protection and particularly there was lack of
zero grazing policies.
Returned refugees who were mainly farmers
were used to farming big size of land to graze
their animals. So they allowed their animals
that included mainly cows to eat the grass and
green plants in some parts of the parks.
This of course affected the park in various ways.
Vegetation species greatly diminished and as
mentioned earlier some dry land degraded in
terms of quality and became increasingly
vulnerable to erosion and other threats.
Overgrazing domestic animals of course
affects the vegetation and this result into
diminished feeds resources for other
herbivorous animals like giant elephants,
zebra, etc.
Domestic and wild grazing animals
 Tourism and forest resources
 

The various human activities that have a

negative bearing on forest resources in the
park include tourism and all activities
associated with it. This made the those
involved in tourism activities construct roads
and make walkways in the park.
Walkway inside the park
 it is quite obvious that making walk ways and
constructing roads affects vegetation, and
some other biotic and a biotic organisms in
the park. Some trees are uprooted some of
which are home to birds, snakes, and other
animals that live in trees.
the walk ways and roads also affect negatively
water resources. Some small rivers and
swamps are dried up as a result the heavy
cars that transport tourists
Furthermore, investors are allowed to
construct hotels in the park to facilitate
tourism and recreation inside the park and
eventually generate revenues that benefit
both individuals and the government at large.
Lodge inside the park with a swimming pool
All of these activities affect forest resources.
Vegetation diminish and in the due course of
doing some activities some heavy machinery
and wasted materials affect the forest
resources.
It is quite obvious that waste from the hotels
affect the forest resources. Most wild animals
feel endangered and may flee to the
neighboring countries when they feel human
presence.
Human activities and water resources in the
forest
The various human activities in general have
affected the physical environment and this
resulted in environmental degradation that
has irregularities in climate thus affecting
negatively the rainfall.
Deforestation, overgrazing, tourism and other
activities in the park have borne negative
effects that affected water resources in the
forest.
 Water resources diminished though animal
demand for water has not decreased. This
makes animals share the scarce water
resources available in the park and aquatic
animals are affected tremendously as other
animals pressurize the water resources home
to these animals
Same animals as can be observed from the
picture below make long ways to the scarce
water sources in the park.
• This of course will affects their health
conditions because mostly the scare water
exposed to pollutants and waste from the
pressure of various animals and human
activities.
If the swamps dry up some animals both small
like frogs, turtle and big like hippopotamus,
and many others face the danger of dying and
extinction.
Long way down for a drink (Giraffe)
Hippopotamous
 Traffic of cars and forests resources

The movement of vehicles in the park bears

tremendously on the green vegetation and
animal resources. As can be observed from
this picture most of cars find a way for
themselves as there are no roads in many
parts of the parks.
Vegetation and other micro and macro
organisms are violated by these movements of
cars. In addition these heavy emit gases that
are harmful to the living organisms and
vegetation.
They might constitute a major source of
airborne diseases that contract animals in
general. Plants are also not spared.
Photosynthesis is also affected negatively
The traffic of cars
Traffic of cars emitting gases that pollute air (breathing animals and affecting vegetation)
Cars making walkways in wetlands
 Hunting and forests resources

Prior to the adoption and implementation of

protective measures by the government the
surrounding community dwellers used to hunt
in the park.
They pursued and killed wild animals for
either foods, animal skin and other various
purposes. During the visit the the park the
tour guide reported that some animals were
killed as a result of hunting.
He further reported that other types of
animals carnivorous and herbivorous were
killed and faces extinction. He narrated a story
of how lions were killed by farmers as these
threatened their cattle.
 They as he reported poisoned these lions and
according to him, as of now there are no lions
in this park.
Some of the hunted animals (gazelle)