Community Perceptions of Human–Mountain Gorilla Interactions and Their Implications for Conflict Mitigation and Benefit-Sharing around Volcanoes National Park: Evidence from Kinigi Sector, Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58197/a19bfd81Keywords:
Community perceptions, Human–mountain gorilla interactions, Mountain gorilla conservation, Livelihood impacts, Human–wildlife conflict, Kinigi Sector, RwandaAbstract
This study assessed community perceptions of human–mountain gorilla interactions and their implications for conflict mitigation and benefit-sharing around Volcanoes National Park (VNP), using Kinigi Sector, Musanze District, Northern Rwanda, as the study area. A convergent mixed-methods design was used, combining quantitative data from 99 households selected through simple random sampling and qualitative data from eight purposively selected key informants, with the two strands integrated through a joint display that classifies findings as convergent, complementary, or divergent. Data were collected using questionnaires, key informant interviews, and document review, and were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages and 95% confidence intervals) and thematic analysis. In the household survey, perceived gorilla-related crop raiding (attribution to gorillas was not independently verified) was the most commonly reported interaction (46.5%), followed by tourism-related interactions (26.3%) and direct encounters (19.2%). Crop loss (49.5%), property damage (25.3%), and income loss (20.2%) were the principal negative livelihood impacts reported by respondents. Most respondents held positive perceptions of mountain gorilla conservation (62.6% positive or very positive; 95% CI: 52.8–71.5%) and 53.5% supported conservation efforts (95% CI: 43.8–63.0%), so majority support among all households in the sector cannot be inferred; 27.3% opposed conservation efforts. Key informants explained the positive perceptions by reference to employment, tourism income, infrastructure development, and community programmes; these are informants' explanations, not relationships demonstrated by the survey data, which were descriptive, cross-sectional, and drawn from a single sector, and therefore indicate association rather than causation. The study offers study-informed recommendations, not tested interventions, for strengthening conflict mitigation, rapid-response mechanisms, equitable benefit-sharing, and community participation to promote sustainable coexistence between local communities and mountain gorillas.
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