CHAPTER TWO: DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS AND THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
This chapter provides a conceptual and theoretical framework
of the study on the issues of the topic. It further gives the concept
definitions views of different scholars and authors. The study includes the
following key concepts: Environmental conservation, sustainable development and
rural areas.
2.1. The concept of environmental conservation
2.1.1. Environment
Environment (from the French Environner: to encircle or
surround.) can be defined as the circumstances and conditions that surround an
organism or group of organism or the social and cultural conditions that affect
an individual or community. Since Human inhabit the natural world as well as
the built or technological, social or technological world, all constitute
important parts of our environment. CONNINGHAM (2004:3)
The Canadian environmental protection act (1988:3) defines
Environment in terms of the earth?s components which include: air, land and
water, all layers of atmosphere, all organic matter and living organisms and
the interacting natural systems that include components referred to above.
According to MININTERE:(2003:7), environment is a set of
physical, chemical, biological element and socio-economic, cultural, aesthetic,
intellectual factors likely to have a direct or indirect, immediate or
long-term impact on the development of environment, human beings and human
activities.
According to the environment bill, in its 4th
article, environment is divided in both natural and human environment. Natural
environment comprises of soil and the subsoil, water resources, air, biological
diversity and landscape, Sites and monuments while human environment concerns
land use management and living environment.
The environment in the study refers to the man?s activities which
modify his own life and his wellbeing.
Therefore an urgent conservation activities is needed to the
rural space for sustainability and build infrastructures in a manner that would
facilitate of population to basic needs .Harashina (1996:7)
The major environmental problems in the study are land
degradation, deforestation, reduction of biodiversity. All these factors have
led to the proliferation of unplanned residential areas, accelerated
environmental degradation and the deterioration of living conditions of rural
population.
2.1.1.1. Characteristics of Rwandan environment
According to MINITERE: 2003, Rwanda enjoys a temperature
climate. The thermal rhythm is relatively consistent.
In the course of the year, temperature varies between 16 and
17oC in the high altitude region, between 18 and 21oC in
the central plateau and between 20 and 24oC in the low lands of the
East and West. Annual rainfall varies between 7000 mm and 1400 mm in the
lowlands of the East and West, between 1200 and 1400mm in the central plateau
and between 1400 mm and 2000 mm in the high altitude regions.
The vegetation also varies according to the relief and the
distribution of the rainfall. There is whole plant diversity from the dense
forests in the West to the semi arid savannah of the East, land constitutes a
resource of highest value. It occupies a first rate place in the national
economy since the farming employs more than 90% of the working population and
contributes about 93% of exports. However, the small size of the country makes
land very limited and therefore much subject degradation. Varying ecosystems
cover the country: natural ecosystems consisting of mountains, rainfalls,
gallery forests, savannah wetlands and aquatic areas and man-made forests.
According to MINITERE :( 2003:9) the country possesses
abundant and varied biodiversity. Biomass is the principal source of energy and
it meets 94% of national needs. Wood fuel and plant residues are used for
cooking and in industries and cottage industries as a source of primary energy.
This predominance in meeting energy needs, coupled with high population density
leads to extra demand every year, and worsened by the use of inefficient
carbonization and cooking techniques, has resulted in overexploitation of this
resource.
9
A layer of soil less than a meter deep supports all
terrestrial plant and animal life and agricultural production of this planet
including Rwanda. Our land is a finite, fragile and non- renewable resource.
Pinchot (1999:7)
Human activities contributing to Rwandan land degradation
include, overgrazing, deforestation, agricultural mismanagement, fuel wood
consumption, industrial expansion and urbanization. The degradation of soil is
a threat of the Rwandan food market. Grove (1997:2)
About 90% of Rwandan population is engaged in subsistence
farming and they are not able to grow sufficient amount of food. This is linked
with ecosystem service of food production, as food supply is characterized by
low and mixed agricultural productivity caused overexploitation of soil. REMA
(2005:3)
Water resource is an essential human need of critical
importance for sustainable developmet.It is needed for agricultural, pastoral
and industrial puposes.It is used for human consumption both in rural and urban
areas. Water is also used as source of hydroelectric energy and for transport.
All these forms of use have harmful consequences on water source which are
often characterized by physical, chemical and biological disturbances. Miller
(1997:3)
Turner.k (2000:6) asserted that water pollution in Rwanda is
mainly caused by domestic waste, agro-pastoral activities and industrial
activities.
i) Pollution by domestic waste
It is caused by domestic water mainly from septic tanks;
latrines, animal waste and refuse infest drinking water cause diseases? such as
epidemics typhoid, chorela and gastro-intestinal disease.
ii) Pollution from agricultural activities
As a result of the scarcity of land and over farming,
agricultural productivity has declined. In order to increase soil fertility,
the use of fertilizers and the application of pesticides and herbicides
increase too. Yet, high concentrations of such chemical products in drinking
water are dangerous for human health and environment.
iii) Industrial pollution
Even though industries in Rwanda are not many and are
agricultural based or produce detergents, breweries or other small and medium
industries, they are almost all found in or near wetlands and throw all their
affluent and products in the water .This increase water pollution and chemical
components used in these industries are dangerous for human, animal consumption
and for environmental in particular. Saarinen (2003:4)
The basic physical infrastructure for the overall development
of the country consists of human settlements. Management, maintenance and
transformation mechanisms of these settlements must be clearly defined so as to
meet the environmental and quality human settlements requirements. MINITERE:
(2004:5)
| 
