The fresh scent of spring looms in the air as a new rainy season begins for the Batwa community. New seeds have begun to sprout, signifying the tides of change. The Batwa have always been excellent stewards of their environment, and their care for Mother Nature is evident through their conservation methods during the rainy season. Along with practicing responsible conservation techniques, the Batwa educates future generations to care for their environment and animals for years to come. They certainly do not take their land for granted, implementing sustainable practices in their everyday life.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Alex Byomugabe, a farmer from the Batwa community. Alex explained how he teaches children to plow nursery beds and prepare for the crop harvesting season, emphasizing that this “helps prevent erosion, which is vital, especially in the rainy season.” Weeds are cleared to make room for yams, bell peppers, passion fruit, and cabbages. New seeds have already started to germinate and poke out of the soil.
Byomugabe digging holes to plant passion fruit seedlings
Alex also teaches the importance of using existing resources instead of being wasteful. He creatively solved the problem of not having earthen pots by replacing them with plastic bottles. He instructs the children to poke holes in the bottom for water drainage and soil aeration. Watering is only needed when condensation is not visible on the side of the bottle. Besides their function in cultivating plants, these multipurpose bottles also serve as decorative borders for nursery beds. The Batwa ensure they use the land they already have for farming, avoiding the harmful practices of burning charcoal and clearing forests. This also helps preserve animal habitats from human encroachment.
Batwa children decorating nursery beds by reusing plastic water bottles
In addition to nurturing their plants, Alex’s community is focused on conservation efforts aimed at saving the mountain gorillas. Dividing the forest area isolates gorilla populations, reducing genetic diversity. Additionally, viruses like Ebola can spread easily and wipe out entire gorilla communities. Alex and his community combat this problem by planting trees instead of cutting them down and threatening gorilla habitats. He has recently started planting indigenous trees in the Sanuriro Batwa Community Cultural Center. According to the McLean Trees Foundation, native trees promote biodiversity and wildlife, leading to a balanced ecosystem.
Indigenous tree nursery bed
To continue conserving their environment and encourage their children to carry on sustainable practices for the benefit of the gorillas and their habitat, the Batwa need support and funds for organic pesticides and spray bottles. Although their seedlings have successfully sprouted, there is still a risk of disease spreading and increased pest damage to the crops. With support from the Biocultural Conservation Institute (BCI), the Batwa community aims to tackle these environmental challenges and continue to have a fruitful rainy season. BCI understands that effective wildlife management depends on the support of local people, making their financial support a crucial conservation tool.
