During Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) leaders meeting, it was found out that residents without access to water negatively affect the natural resources in the parks.
This was revealed by conservation officers in Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo.
Because it’s not easy for some residents in developing countries to have clean piped water; they are forced to fetch swamp water or dig up the water sources especially in parks, which is dangerous to the environment.
Therese Musabe, Assistant Director for GVTC asserts that when residents go to the parks in search of water, they destroy water sources, plants and many others.
Also, some residents use water as a covering to poach animals, says Musabe
To solve the problem of water and poaching, Musabe explains “We have channeled clean water for many residents and provided water tanks to other residents. We hope water problem will be solved soon”
On Ugandan side, Mark Mwine a Ugandan conservation officer laments that residents near the parks have already started misusing infrastructures extended to them.
“Here in Uganda residents spoilt the water sources. And the water tanks we installed in schools so that children take home water, were destroyed and can’t keep water now,” explains Mark Mwine.
Mwine notes that the Batwa tribes in southern Uganda, who used to play a big part in deforestation, have been given houses and water tank for each house.
Leave a Reply