Furthermore, the conservation areas for mountain gorillas take up a substantial portion of the total land available for local natives, particularly in densely populated Rwanda. At present, there is no buffer zone between the cultivated land where people live and the park land designated for mountain gorillas. In nations, such as Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo, where populations are growing rapidly and natural resources are scarce, it is increasingly difficult for the people to take a long-term approach to conservation for future generations. National governments are coming under increasing pressure to convert additional park land into cattle-grazing areas in order to maintain herds. Above right: The gorillas' shrinking world has little protection from encroaching humans. Photo: Courtesy of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

What is it like to live in poverty? How much time might you spend doing simple tasks, such as getting water and gathering fuel with which to cook?

The average annual income of Rwanda is $200. In order for you to live on $200 a year, you would have to do the following:

• Live in the backyard in a storage shed. 
• Live without running water and toilets. 
• Trade your bed for a mat on the ground. 
• Unplug all electrical appliances, including lights. 
• Remove all food from the kitchen, except a few handfuls of dried rice, beans, or potatoes. 
• Cook over a wood fire. 
• Heat with wood only. 
• Walk everywhere.  
• Limit yourself to one shirt and one pair of pants. If you're lucky, you may have a pair of shoes.  
• Cancel the newspaper and give up all battery- powered devices, such as CD players or walkmans.  
• Spend most of the day hauling water and looking for firewood. 
• Suffer, possibly, from a form of dysentery or parasites. 

[ Economics of Rwanda ] [ Economics of Uganda ]
[ Economics of Congo ] [ Living in a Poor Country ] [ Ecotourism ]
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