Perspectives on Conservation Strategies and Survivorship Potentials Amongst Human, Birds, and Some Domestic Animals in the Eastern Province of Rwanda

Abstract

Some communities live for decades with diverse populations of humans, birds, domestic animals and plant species interacting among themselves and the environment. In the Eastern Province of Rwanda, this is a common agricultural practice (agrosilvopastoralism). Causal observation was conducted across the province, and some domestic animals listed include cattle, goats, poultry, fisheries, rabbits and sheep, and some the crops documented include beans, cassava, carrots, onions, pepper, sugarcane while tree species include Calliandra calothyrsus, Grevillea robusta, Leucaena leucocephala, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus grandis, Erythrina abyssinica, Tithonia diversifolia, Maesopsis eminii. Humans as higher animals have the strongest adaptation capacities, with the potentials to manipulate other populations through innovations. Domestic animals and crops are rated with high survivability potentials because of the protection and support given by humans through agricultural practice and research enforcement; however, they are vulnerable to epidemics. Tree species have high survivorship potential due to environmental protection laws while birds are rated moderate depending on the species (speciesspecific) and are sometimes highly vulnerable due migration. The longterm impacts of these interrelationships on the biophysical environment, socio-economic and even the health of the people and the co-inhabitant needs of be documented empirically. It is therefore important to investigate the ecological implications of such decades of coexistence. This research perspective is therefore a genuine quest to propose approaches that could be used in investigating in details, the long-term impacts of the agrosilvopastoralism on the livelihood of the community. A suggestive Hypothetical Research Approach (HRA) was designed whereby the General Objectives (GO) 1-6, and the Specific Objectives (SO) A-D could be deployed in answering the Research Questions (R1-R6). This is necessary in order to strategically respond quickly to any eventualities arising from any practical shift in ecological domains due to shock and consequent surprises (climate change, disease, flood, fire, etc.) among the interacting components within the community.