Cutting trees at Rusizi National Park limits causes a conflict

For expanding the RN4 road commonly called Bujumbura-Gatumba road, some trees along the road should be cut. But a conflict arises between Rusizi National Park authorities and Cyprien Nibitanga a so- called owner of an emphyteusis, about cutting trees’ management-by lorraine Josiane Manishatse

Jean Claude Ndayishimiye, the Senior Warden of Rusizi National Park: the law clearly prohibits activities of grazing, transhumance, hunting, fishing, and tree cutting in protected areas limits.©Iwacu

As the RN4 road Bujumbura-Gatumba must be soon expanded, trees along the road will be cut in order to facilitate the activity. The conflict arises between Cyprien Nibitanga, who has a leasehold of a piece of land inside Rusizi National Park for 30 years since 12 Mars 1997, and the Park authorities.
Nibitanga has decided to cut and sell the trees because according to him they are in his land. He states that the Article 45 of land code N° 1/13 of 19th August 2011 allows him to cut trees which are in his leasehold land.
“I prefer to cut them myself rather than letting them be cut by road building company agents” he explains.
According to Jean Claude Ndayishimiye, the Senior Warden of Rusizi National Park, Nibitanga has violated Articles 21 and 25 of the Decree Law N° 100/282 of 14th November 2011, related to protected areas in Burundi including national parks. For him, the law clearly prohibits activities of grazing, transhumance, hunting, fishing, and tree cutting in protected areas limits.
“The new law into force doesn’t allow him to continue his livestock activities in the Park and cutting trees that he hasn’t planted,” deplores Ndayishimiye.
In the same way, Mohamed Feruzi, the Managing Director of INECN (National Institute for Environment and Nature Conservation) indicates that even though Nibigira has a leasehold contract in the Rusizi Park, he is practicing activities that are incompatible with the conservation of the protected areas, so he has to stop his activities and wait for the compensation from the government.

“We will appeal against him for cutting trees of the Park, and he must leave the place because the new law doesn’t allow him to continue his activities” he concludes.