Assessment of the Impact of Community-Based Conservation Interventions to Biodiversity Conservation Around Protected Areas: Case of Nyungwe National Park

Community-based conservation can be the venue to shape the attitude of local communities towards conservation and contribute to counter biodiversity losses in protected areas. This study aimed to assess the impact of community-based conservation interventions on biodiversity conservation around protected areas, specifically focusing on Nyungwe National Park (NNP). Primary data were collected using a checklist of the questionnaire, and secondary data were collected by reviewing Earth Ranger data on illegal activities from 2021-2024. The study utilized descriptive and correlational analysis research designs. A purposive sample of 225 individuals from seven cooperatives operated around NNP, constituted the study population, with a sample size of 144. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics and were then processed by using SPSS. The correlation coefficient ® of 0.942, implies that community-based conservation interventions increase attitude and behaviour changes towards biodiversity conservation. From 2021 to 2023, the illegal activities spiked due to much effort applied by the management of NNP for diagnosing and collecting them. However, they were a significant decline in illegal activities in the year 2024, which implies that community-based conservation interventions have played a big part in this decline. The researcher revealed that in 2024, snares 6,831 were uprooted in NNP, where community-based conservation through community eco rangers played a crucial role in uprooting 3,848 snares (56.3%) within the park through their joint patrols with park rangers. For maintaining the positive attitude and behaviour changes towards conservation and momentum of the decline of illegal activities in NNP, it is recommended to enhance the involvement of local communities in deterring illegal activities mostly community eco-rangers; to scale up and monitoring income-generating projects throughout the parks; To intensify environmental education and awareness programs for curbing the culture and beliefs of local communities on wildlife animals