Tshiaberimu

Hi this is Vhosi, Social Assistant at Mount Tshiabirimu for the Gorilla Organization      

Currently at Mount Tshiabirimu two activities are putting a massive strain on the gorilla population: charcoal production and bamboo growing. We have more than fifteen villages where the human population rate is about 203 people/square kilometre of density, and their food comes from plants and animals which the land and waters must sustain.    

Communities in the nearest villages from Mt.T, such as Burusi, Kitolu, Kisone and Buswagha, are growing beans – they wild-raise bamboo sticks from the bush and sometimes illegally from the gorillas habitat to support the growth of these beans. Others are wild-raising bamboo sticks for sale in order to earn money for their survival. Wood is also being used for building, fuel (charcoals), and for other uses. Much is now the product of tree plantations, but immense quantities are still harvested from wild forests. There are currently two trucks in Kyondo town, which transport charcoals from Burusi, Kasisi and Buswagha villages to Butembo city three times weekly with 40 and 80 packs (80-90kg each); meaning that there is a loss of trees from these villages to produce about 30,600kg of charcoals for Butembo people every week. 

Last week I had a talk with Mwami Kapita (the customary chief of Isale Kasongwere), in Burusi village about bamboo stick cutting and charcoal consumption. He told me that he is highly concerned because the natural resource shortages and disease are proportionately increasing with the population – unfortunately gorillas will be the main victims of this. He concluded with suggesting that we have to increase public awareness to support the community projects in a hope that we can create a better balance between the expanding population and the resources we have available, to secure the cousins of ours.