Assessing farmers perceptions of crop raiding incidences by large mammals around Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Abstract

Crop raiding causes human-wildlife conflicts across Africa, negatively affecting people’s livelihoods and conservation efforts. Here, I present a case study focusing on the landscape adjacent to Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Rwanda, home of several globally threatened large mammals and an area that has experienced an increase in crop-raiding incidences over the past decade. In 2022, I used surveys and focus group discussions to assess farmers’ perception of these crop-raiding incidences, the results of which I subsequently compared to the findings of an earlier survey conducted a decade ago. Two overarching research questions were addressed: 1) what are the understandings and opinions of farmers about the socioeconomic effects of crop-raiding on their livelihoods 2) how have farmers' perceptions of crop-raiding changed over time? By using perpendicular line transects of one kilometer (km) from the park edge, respondents were sought every circa 200 meters, while also maintaining a one km distance between transects. The majority of farmers reported experiencing an increase in crop-raiding incidences over the last decade. Some respondents perceived that they nowadays experience animal visits almost every single day and that this increase in crop-raiding incidences is linked to an increase in wildlife population inside the park, insufficiency of food inside the park, inadequate defense/physical deterrent, insecurity inside the park, the small park size, and an increase in the availability of palatable crops planted around the park. The most frequent crop raiders reported by farmers are african buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) and golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti). Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), which were reported to damage various tree species in farmer’s fields, were not thought to pose a significant threat to crop production, while black-fronted duikers (Cephalophus nigrifrons), bushbucks (Tragelaphus scriptus) and african elephants (Loxodonta africana) were the least reported and were also thought to cause less crop damage. According to respondents, crop-raiding affected food availability and induced additional opportunity costs such as a loss in dietary diversity, and monetary losses which led to an inability to afford health insurance and school fees for their children. Farmers expressed their dissatisfaction with a compensation scheme implemented to support those who suffer crop damage. Although some farmers claim to have received some compensation for damages incurred, they do not perceive it to adequately cover the value of their crop losses. Some reported that it takes a long time to receive compensation after crop losses have been verified. Although most of the farmers reported that they protect their crops against raiders, they felt that the current rise in crop-raiding incidences was something they could no longer manage on their own in the future. These findings reveal that farmers perceive crop-raiding to be an increasingly large and frequently occurring problem, findings that coincide with actual incidence reports. This increase is also noticeable when comparing perceptions in 2022 with those a decade ago.