Established in May 2013, Conservation Heritage-Turambe (CHT) is a local non-governmental organization which exists to educate local communities living near Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda to ensure they live in harmony with mountain gorillas and their habitat.
After School Conservation and Health Programs
CHT teaches local community members including schoolchildren about conservation and health and discuss issues facing wildlife especially mountain gorillas, great apes that thrive in only the Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, Virunga National Park, Mgahinga and Bwindi Forest of Uganda. This is aimed at alleviating the conflicts between the wildlife and the community.
The Community based organisation also aims at teaching kids about environmental stewardship through art projects that reinforce recycling and reusing materials.
Improving Community Livelihoods
CHT recognizes in order to save wildlife, communities must have their basic needs met. We contribute to our local communities in many ways including:
Donating rain water tanks to reduce the need for humans to enter animal habitats in search of water. This decreases the likelihood of disease transmission between humans and gorillas.
Planting bamboo and trees to prevent soil erosion and provide animal habitat.
Building clean latrines to promote cleanliness and healthy living.
Providing hand-washing stations and trash bins to inspire children to be ambassadors in their families by practicing good hygiene and keeping the environment clean.
Supporting alternative income sources to reduce the need for taking resources from Volcanoes National Park. For example, we donate sheep to local families. The sheep can be used to provide other sources of income, rather than harvesting wood for sale from the forest.