Assessing The Impact of Community Engagement on Natural Resource Sustainability, A Case of Nyaruguru District, Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t2562Abstract
Natural resources are fundamental to human well-being and sustainable development, supporting livelihoods, food security, and ecosystem services. However, increasing pressure from population growth, climate variability, and unsustainable resource use has accelerated environmental degradation in many developing regions. In Rwanda’s Nyaruguru District, challenges such as deforestation, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and land degradation continue to threaten long-term sustainability and rural livelihoods. Recognizing the importance of participatory approaches, this study examined the influence of community engagement on the sustainability of natural resources in Nyaruguru District. The study assessed the level of community engagement in natural resource management, evaluated sustainability outcomes before and after community-based interventions, and analyzed the relationship between community engagement and key sustainability indicators. A mixed-methods approach was used, involving 396 households including 8 sector agronomists, and 2 environmental officers. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, field observations of practices such as Umuganda, agroforestry, terracing, and reforestation and document review. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 29.0, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results revealed high levels of community engagement in natural resource management, particularly in Umuganda, tree planting, soil conservation, and environmental education. Sustainability outcomes improved significantly following increased community participation, with mean scores rising from 2.90 before interventions to 3.80 after. Pearson correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between community engagement and sustainability outcomes (r = 0.92, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further confirmed that community engagement had a statistically significant positive effect on multiple sustainability indicators, explaining between 23% and 36% of the variation in sustainability outcomes. These findings provide valuable insights for strengthening community-driven natural resource management in Rwanda and similar contexts.
Keywords: Community engagement; Environmental degradation; Natural resource; Rural development; Sustainability.
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