(Posted 16th December 2024)
Courtesy of Gorilla Highlands and Christopher Burke
This is the first article in a series called Gorilla Highlands Unpacked that feeds into our Bluesky community of the same name. Unlike the rest of our media output, Unpacked goes deeper and tackles topics far beyond responsible tourism. Visually it differentiates itself by putting the author first while other experts chip in as well.
The stakes are high for the highlands of western Uganda, Rwanda and eastern DR Congo. Climate change, environmental degradation and socioeconomic vulnerabilities present formidable challenges — but also offer opportunities for transformative change! A smart focus on locally led, youth-driven and trans-boundary approaches will strengthen the region for the transition toward a more resilient and sustainable future.
The Gorilla Highlands region is characterised by extraordinary natural beauty, exceptional biodiversity, rich cultural heritage and high agricultural productivity. However, if left unchecked, the challenges this area faces could destabilise ecosystems, jeopardise livelihoods and impede the region’s development. Urgent action is essential to strengthen local resilience and ensure a sustainable future.
Threats & Vulnerabilities
- Climate crisis. Threats stemming from climate change are intensifying. Rainfall patterns are increasingly erratic, disrupting planting and harvesting seasons. Prolonged droughts alternate with heavy rains, causing floods and landslides with devastating consequences for communities living on steep slopes. Rising temperatures are altering ecosystems and threatening staple crops such as bananas, coffee and tea. The region’s distinctive biodiversity — including the critically endangered mountain gorillas and Grauer’s gorillas — is in grave danger because of habitat degradation under the pressures of climate change.
“Climate change is obviously happening, increasing rains are destroying our farmers’ soils and badly affecting the quality of the potatoes they grow. There are also new risks of viruses and diseases. We need to spend a lot of time looking for mitigating solutions, for instance varieties that are more resistant to shocks,” says Thijs Boer who built Winnaz, a potato chip factory in Rwanda’s Musanze district (pictured with Evariste Nsabimana from the Seed Potato Fund).
- Environmental degradation. The impact of climatic threats is intensified by the constantly degrading environment. Deforestation associated with the collection of firewood for charcoal production and firewood has stripped the region of its forest cover. Sub-optimal farming practices including cultivation without terracing and poor agroforestry techniques cause soil erosion and fertility loss. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), artisanal mining has contributed to deforestation and polluted both rivers and soils, further disrupting local ecosystems. Gorilla habitats in the DRC have been recently affected by armed rebellion and general instability. The rapid expansion of settlements and infrastructure without adequate environmental safeguards is further destabilising the delicate landscape.
- Socioeconomic profile of the region’s population. Smallholder farmers dominate the economy with over 80 percent of households reliant on subsistence agriculture for food and cash income. Women and youth are disproportionately involved in farming and therefore facing increasing challenges concerning access to land, resources and capital. Youth unemployment remains high and a key driver of rural-to-urban migration that strains city infrastructure and exacerbates social inequalities. Indigenous groups such as the Batwa and displaced populations associated with the conflict in eastern Congo face permanent landlessness and limited livelihood opportunities.
“After our region’s governments decided to establish national parks, groups who were surviving dependent on the forest started to struggle in life. The people in charge set rules and conditions without taking into consideration that we are not all the same, especially financially but also socially. Nowadays, children of former forest peoples are migrants in their own country because they were born in landless families. Even those who tried to obtain some education don’t get real job opportunities and that pushes them into alcohol and drugs. Everyone needs to remember these facts when self-reliance is preached,” says Jonathan Gatera, Chairman of the Modern Pottery cooperative in Kigali.
Possible Strategies
- Climate-smart agriculture. By integrating trees into farms, agroforestry techniques can stabilise slopes, replenish soil fertility, and provide extra revenue from timber or fruits. Crop diversity, cover cropping and conservation tillage can also help farmers increase productivity and adjust to erratic weather. Rainwater collection and small-scale irrigation systems can lessen the effects of irregular rainfall and guarantee crop water during dry spells.
“Touched by malnutrition, we’ve decided to introduce quinoa,” says Maxime Kabanda, founder and food technologist at Rwanda’s Afroquin. “It’s a climate resilient crop that can overcome salinity and drought and therefore significantly contribute to food security. Quinoa leaves are good source of minerals and its seeds can be consumed in different forms, even as bread or porridge.”
- Ecosystem restoration. The reforestation of degraded areas with native tree species can revive water catchment areas, improve carbon sequestration and provide natural barriers against landslides. Community-led watershed management initiatives can empower locals to monitor and maintain forest health. Slope stabilisation techniques such as terracing and vegetative barriers can mitigate soil erosion and reduce the risk of landslides.
“There are some truly inspiring stories! Smallholder farmers in Kisoro’s Nyarusiza subcounty have pioneered a groundbreaking technique to combat soil erosion and landslides: intercropping coffee with other crops. By strategically planting coffee at the end of terraces and in sloping areas, they have found an effective way to control soil erosion during the rainy season. This approach has been enthusiastically adopted by farmers of all ages, with women, children and young men leading the charge,” says Julius Wetala, an agricultural consultant.
- Land rights. Securing land rights for women, indigenous groups and other marginalised communities would empower them as environmental stewards and lay the groundwork for sustainable development. Education and capacity building should be prioritised to equip communities with the knowledge and skills required to implement and maintain adaptation strategies and practices. Climate stress frequently exacerbates land disputes. Greater awareness of the norms rules and procedures associated with both statutory and customary land tenure governance and more inclusive dialogue are essential.
- Effective youth engagement. Half of the population in the region is below eighteen years of age. This demographic possess the energy and creativity necessary for any adaptation initiatives. Formal education that supports rural employment should be prioritized. Programs for green entrepreneurship can help young people build climate resilience and sustainable agriculture enterprises. Youth must be effectively engaged in the development and implementation of adaptation programs to strengthen sustainability.
“The innovativeness and vitality of young people can make a big difference as long as both sexes are properly represented. Women have always been central to the transmission of our values and culture, yet they are often powerless. It’s can still be difficult for a woman to own land in the DRC. In respect to inheritance, society prefers to give land to a male baby rather than a grown and mature woman,” says Gloria Mwenge Bitomwa, a gender and sustainability activist from Bukavu in eastern Congo.
- Private sector involvement. Local businesses have an important role in scaling adaptation efforts. Investment in renewable energy, particularly solar and small-scale hydroelectric power, can reduce reliance on biomass and curb deforestation. Developing climate-resilient value chains for crops such as coffee, tea and bananas will enhance incomes for smallholder farmers and promote sustainable farming practices. Eco-tourism is another avenue for private sector investments providing employment and incentivising conservation efforts. Public-private partnerships can accelerate infrastructure development including cold storage facilities and rural roads to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access.
- Cross-border collaboration. Addressing the region’s challenges requires partnerships beyond national borders. It is crucial to manage shared resources including the Nile and the Congo Basin waters and the Virunga National Park ecosystem. Joint early warning systems for floods and landslides could enhance preparedness and reduce the impact of disasters. Transboundary knowledge-sharing platforms can be used to disseminate successful adaptation practices fostering a collective response to common challenges.
“Religious groups across the region including churches, mosques, temples and other houses of worship should be a place where faithful are taught to care for the earth as good stewards of God’s creation,” says Celestin Musekura, founder of African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries that trains church and community leaders across East and Central Africa in leadership, conflict resolution, forgiveness and tribal reconciliation.
The Gorilla Highlands region stands at a crossroads. The challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and socioeconomic vulnerabilities are significant, but not insurmountable. With sufficient forethought, effective interventions and a collective commitment to locally-led solutions, inclusive governance and transboundary collaboration the potential of the region can be unlocked.
featured photo of a lady from Kisoro by Marcus Westberg
