Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA)
Partner Snapshot
Partner
Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA)
Location
Musanze District, Northern Province, Rwanda
Category
- Community Livelihoods
- Endangered Species
- Protected Area Management
Urgent Appeals
None currently
Date Founded
2004
Website
Partner Qualifications
About SACOLA
Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA) is a community-led conservation organization working around Volcanoes National Park, home to one of the world’s last remaining mountain gorilla populations and one of Africa’s most important montane forest ecosystems. What makes SACOLA unique is that it was created by the communities themselves, with a focus on addressing the human challenges that drive pressure on protected areas.
Through initiatives such as reducing reliance on firewood, supporting sustainable agriculture, improving household livelihoods, and strengthening community stewardship, SACOLA helps communities become active partners in conservation. Its work has included constructing a buffalo wall to reduce human-wildlife conflict, distributing more than 57,000 avocado and passion fruit seedlings to support agroforestry, and providing clean energy alternatives that reduce pressure on forest resources.
Working alongside community members, local leaders, women and youth groups, conservation practitioners, and the Rwanda Development Board, SACOLA helps build lasting connections between the people living around Volcanoes National Park and the protection of its wildlife.
Their Challenges
Volcanoes National Park protects Endangered mountain gorillas, unique Afro-montane forests, and countless other species, but the ecosystem faces ongoing pressure from surrounding communities with limited access to resources and economic opportunities.
The most immediate threats include illegal firewood collection, small-scale logging, and forest encroachment. These pressures are driven less by a lack of concern for conservation and more by the daily needs of families who depend on natural resources for cooking, construction, and livelihoods.
Ranger patrols are essential for protecting the park, but long-term conservation requires support from the communities living along its borders. Without stronger community engagement and alternative livelihood opportunities, habitat degradation could continue, threatening both the wildlife that depends on the forest and the people whose lives are connected to it.
Their Approach
SACOLA believes that conservation succeeds when local communities become part of the solution. Instead of focusing only on enforcing protected area boundaries, SACOLA addresses the underlying challenges that drive resource pressure by creating opportunities for communities to benefit from and participate in conservation.
Working with the Rwanda Development Board, local authorities, community leaders, women, and youth groups, SACOLA combines sustainable livelihood programs, conservation education, and community-based monitoring to strengthen local stewardship. Its projects—from agroforestry and clean cooking initiatives to livestock support and human-wildlife conflict reduction—are designed to reduce specific pressures on the park while improving quality of life.
SACOLA’s Community Eco-Guard Initiative builds on this approach by training local volunteers to monitor vulnerable areas, identify threats, educate neighbors, and strengthen communication between communities and park authorities. By empowering local people as conservation leaders, SACOLA helps create a more resilient system for protecting Volcanoes National Park.
Why They Need Your Help
Donor support will help SACOLA establish and equip a community eco-guard program that strengthens protection along the boundary of Volcanoes National Park.
Funding will provide the equipment, training, coordination support, and stipends needed to transform committed community members into a functioning conservation team. Currently, many conservation challenges rely on park patrols and informal community reporting, leaving a gap in proactive monitoring and early threat detection.
Long-term support will allow SACOLA to build a consistent community presence around the park, collect monitoring data over time, and strengthen local ownership of conservation efforts. A sustained eco-guard program can help reduce threats before they reach the forest while creating meaningful opportunities for the people who live closest to this globally important ecosystem.