Abstract:
Protected areas play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and providing ecosystem services while also offering opportunities to the communities. In Rwanda, the communities surrounding Volcanoes National Park (VNP) obtain benefits from tourism. However, how these tourism benefits affect the attitudes of local communities towards the conservation of the park is not well understood. Understanding how communities perceive benefits from nature tourism can contribute to more effective protected areas management. This study investigated the relationship between tourism benefits and positive attitudes about conservation among communities around VNP. It was intended to identify the direct and indirect benefits of tourism, to identify the relationship between tourism revenue sharing and the willingness of local communities to participate in the conservation of VNP, and to understand the perceptions of community members on the development of projects. A total of 255 interviewed participants were selected from 19 villages located in five cells of Kinigi sector between July and August 2024. Interviews were done using a structured questionnaire, administered via Kobo Toolbox/Collect to ensure accurate and consistent data collection. Results indicated that tourism benefits significantly influence positive attitudes towards conservation of VNP. The study showed that indirect benefits were numerous, and they had a more positive impact on the community to involve in conservation of VNP than the direct benefits.
Findings showed a strong relationship between proximity to VNP and willingness to participate in its conservation. The community living near the park border demonstrated limited willingness to engage in conservation efforts, whereas those who live far from the park expressed a significantly higher level of commitment to conserving Volcanoes National Park. Communities living near the park have identified negative impacts from the park including restrictions on land use and wildlife conflicts which affect their willingness to conserve VNP while communities far from the park receive tourism benefits without negative impacts from the park. Overall, most participants were satisfied with the tourism benefits, while only a small number expressed dissatisfaction. In this research, respondents expressed various strategies for enhancing conservation efforts including establishing medicinal plant nurseries, developing a conservation mobile app, funding small businesses, community prioritization based on distance from the park, and provision of conservation books in Kinyarwanda or simple flyers
