INTERVENTION SUMMARY

The study evaluated the effectiveness of a Ranger-Based Monitoring (RBM) program in reducing poaching-related threats in Nyungwe National Park (NNP), Rwanda, one of Africa’s most biodiverse montane forests. The study assessed data from 17,785 ranger patrols conducted between 2006 and 2015, which recorded 39,463 illegal activities. Patrols were designed to increase the risk of poaching activities, primarily targeting illegal hunting, snaring, and resource extraction. The intervention involved routine foot patrols by trained park rangers, with routes planned based on local knowledge, previous threat patterns, and accessibility. The goal was not only to track where poaching occurred, but also to evaluate if patrol frequency led to a measurable reduction in poaching presence over time. The study's findings demonstrated that increasing the number of ranger patrols within this existing program significantly increased the probability that poaching-related threats would disappear at a site. As ranger patrols increased at high-risk sites, detected poaching activity decreased by up to 57%.

INTERVENTION DETAILS

What was the problem?

The poaching of species from within Nyungwe National Park (NNP) in Rwanda remained a persistent threat despite significant investments in law enforcement.

What was the Intervention and How was it Implemented?

Implementation of a Ranger-Based Monitoring (RBM) System: The primary intervention was increasing ranger patrol frequency, accounting for spatial and temporal coverage. The patrol teams operated 6-7-day patrols across different areas, during the day and night. Community informants were regularly participating in patrols. (Increase the Risks - extend guardianship, strengthen formal surveillance)

Was the Intervention Effective, Ineffective, or Promising?

The intervention was effective because it reduced poaching-related threats in Nyungwe National Park by improving the effectiveness of ranger patrols through the use of a Ranger-Based Monitoring (RBM) program. Increased patrolling was shown to significantly decrease the persistence of poaching threats across the landscape from 7% with no efforts to an estimated 20% with 20 ranger visits annually, reaching 57% with 50 patrols per year.

How do We Know?

The intervention succeeded due to a combination of frequent ranger patrols, deterrence from ranger posts, strategic targeting of high-risk areas, and data-driven management. Frequent patrols increased the likelihood of detecting and eliminating poaching threats, while ranger posts deterred illegal activities in nearby areas. Ranger patrol effort focused on previously-identified high-threat regions, maximizing the efficiency of resources. Additionally, rangers’ skills improved over time, enhancing detection rates. This evidence-based, adaptive approach effectively reduced poaching threats in Nyungwe National Park.

Were Conservation Outcomes Measured?

Direct species outcomes were not measured.

ASSESSMENT

The study showed that increased ranger patrols reduced poaching-related threats in Nyungwe National Park (NNP), Rwanda. The chance of eliminating threats increased significantly with patrol effort.

The intervention's mechanism of change was to increase the risk of poaching through increased ranger presence. It worked by applying frequent and unpredictable patrolling aimed at reducing the opportunity for poaching activities to be undertaken in target areas. The visibility and perceived risk of detection increased for offenders. Proximity to ranger posts also correlated with lower threat levels, indicating a positive effect associated with increased guardianship. The inclusion of ex-poachers in patrols (as community informants) added to the effectiveness of patrol efforts.

Key contextual factors included:

  • The study demonstrated that poaching threats were more likely to occur at lower elevations, especially within close proximity to roads and tourist trails. This finding indicates the important role that access played in poaching threats. 
  • The presence and location of ranger posts, which was shown to have a suppressive effect on poaching activity. 
  • Cross-border instability, particularly near Burundi, was likely associated with limited patrol access in these areas.

The intervention involved long-term, government-led ranger-based monitoring (RBM) programs across Nyungwe (2006-2015). Rangers conducted 17,785 patrols and recorded 39,463 poaching threats. Patrol data analyses revealed that patrol routes were not random but chosen by head rangers. Patrols varied in frequency and location, sometimes with community informants (monthly). For the study, the patrol data were geo-referenced and used to assess spatio-temporal threat trends.

The case study did not conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis. However, it emphasized that ranger-based monitoring is more cost-effective than long-term, independent monitoring and law enforcement programs. Implied costs include staff salaries, patrol logistics, informant payments, and data management infrastructure. The study recommends targeted increases in patrols at high-risk sites to improve cost-efficiency.

SCP COLUMNS

Extend guardianship Strengthen formal surveillance

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Citation

Moor et al. (2018)

Year Range

2006-2015

Country

Rwanda

Landscape

Target Species

Multiple species

Problem type

Poaching

Source: Moore, J. F., Mulindahabi, F., Masozera, M. K., Nichols, J. D., Hines, J. E., Turikunkiko, E., & Oli, M. K. (2018). Are ranger patrols effective in reducing poaching‐related threats within protected areas?. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55(1), 99-107.