4.4. Qualitative analysis of the data got from the
interview with the local leaders of Kitabisector.
With this subsection, the researcher aimed at getting local
leaders? views on how they contribute to the environmental conservation as a
means of achieving sustainable development in rural areas especially in Kitabi
sector.
4.4.1. The role played by the local leaders in
environmental conservation for achieving sustainable development in rural
areas.
The local leaders argued that, the conservation of the
environment is prerequisite for achieving sustainable development in rural
areas in which the majority depends on. One of the strategies used by the local
leaders is to encourage local population adjacent to the Nyungwe National Park
to take part and get involved in the conservation activities, meetings are
organized at sector level about the importance of environment.
> Awareness campaign on the sustainability of environmental
and natural resources;
> Involvement of local population in decision making and
implementation process of environmental conservation;
> Building capacity for planning and implementation of
natural resources management activities at grassroots level. Therefore, from
these findings the researcher observed that the local leaders have major roles
to play in the best environmental conservation and achievement of sustainable
development of rural areas especially in Kitabi sector.
4.2.2. Respondents' views on how environmental conservation
could be best implemented and lead to sustainable development in rural
areas.
Respondents were asked to point out the ways in which
environmental conservation can lead to sustainable development of rural areas.
The local leaders confirmed that environmental conservation is the best way of
sustainable development by the utilization of the following strategies:
> Environmental education, it is argued that, the local
leaders needed to be educated enough about environmental conservation and
mobilize local people to make self-help project which don?t degrade the
environment. It is best when local leaders are educated, they can mobilize the
local population. Therefore, from these findings the researcher recommended
that environmental education could be extended to the people of grassroots
level, this would be a sustainable tool for proper environmental conservation
which conducts to sustainable development.
> Protection of flora and fauna, they argued that one of
the strategies which lead to sustainable development of rural areas through the
outcomes gained from flora and fauna .This must be protected to enhance the
environmental conservation for the benefits of the future generation because
the achievement of sustainable development requires a long process.
> Forestation, the respondents reveal that, it is necessary
to put into account the environmental conservation as a real strategy for
achieving sustainable development which consists of planting the plants for the
means of protecting against environmental issues.
> The use of improved cooking stoves and radical terraces:
the local leaders point out that it is important to use improved cooking stoves
which doesn?t degrade the environment and radical terraces which is one of the
strategy to protect soil against erosion because Kitabi sector presents several
hills and high altitude which are affected to the soil erosion.
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