Name: Community efforts to protect Burundis birdlife
Uploaded: 2025-12-04T14:43:49.954Z
Duration: 5 min 21 s
Description: Burundi’s lakes host hundreds of bird species now threatened by hunting and habitat loss. Local communities are stepping up to protect them.

Burundi’s lakes host hundreds of bird species now threatened by hunting and habitat loss. Local communities are stepping up to protect them.

Bujumbura

Lake Rwinda in northern Burundi, home to more than 180 bird species, faces threats from climate change, habitat loss, and poaching. In response, local communities—some of whom were once poachers—are now collaborating with conservationists to protect the lake's ecosystem. 

Measures include establishing a 50-meter buffer zone around the lake, reforesting cleared areas, and providing alternative livelihoods such as ecotourism and agroforestry. While some residents have struggled with the loss of farmland, ongoing education and support aim to balance environmental protection with community needs.

Community efforts to protect Burundi's birdlife

Bird Lake in northern Burundi, officially known as Lake Rwinda, is a paradise for more than 180 bird species, including the great egret, the reed cormorant, and the African fish eagle. But their home is under threat from climate change, habitat loss, and poachers like this illegal fisherman. These men also used to hunt here. They show how they made snares from branches and cords. They haven't forgotten the craft, but today, they are dedicated to protecting wildlife. Thanks to the training from the conservationists, I have changed the way I see birds. Today, I see them as part of myself. If I come across someone who hunts birds, I try to stop them, or I report them to the authorities. Joseph Bizibungul heads one of Burundi's most important conservation groups. He may well be the country's chief bird protector. In training sessions, he reminds communities around Lake Rwinda why it's vital not to disturb the birds or their habitats. Anyone who plants crops in the protected area harms not only nature, but themselves. The message seems to be getting through. In recent years, we've faced disasters linked to climate change. It stopped raining here, while other communities still had rainfall. That led to severe farming. Our job is to educate people about protecting the environment. We show them concrete examples, places where nature has been destroyed. That helps them understand that if the environment isn't protected, they too will suffer the consequences. People around the lake mainly grow maize and rice. To protect the birds, they've had to make tough sacrifices. A legally defined 50-meter-wide buffer zone was created around the lake. In this zone, there can be no farming or tree cutting. Families had to be relocated, a drastic measure as land is scarce. The cleared areas are being reforested to create new nesting sites and restore ecological balance. When we learned they wanted our land to plant trees, it was hard to accept. We grew sweet potatoes and bananas there, especially in the dry season because the land is close to water. Imagine someone who owns less than a hectare of land. If you take away 50 meters, that can be very frustrating. That's why many people, sometimes out of desperation, return to the buffer zone to cut trees or farm, despite the ban. Farmers need alternatives. One option is ecotourism. Farmers are taking out on boats like this for bird watching, but so far, only about 500 come each year. More alternatives are needed for people to make a living. We need to increase the number of agroforestry trees, provide people with livelihoods like fruit trees or small livestock, and also look for other financial partners to help strengthen and empower the communities. Some former poachers are now paid by diversity wardens. In the past, they hunted crowned cranes, one of the most endangered species at Lake Rwinda. The birds were sold at high prices to hotels and wealthy clients. Today, these same men earn extra income from protecting them. They report disturbances and guide tourists to the best viewing spots. We now also give training sessions in our communities. We try to raise awareness so people understand it's forbidden to hunt crowned cranes or do anything that might scare them or drive them away. I've come to understand that it is possible to live in harmony with birds. If you want to, they flee because people disturb them, but if you offer them peace, they become friendly towards us too. The island in the middle of Lake Rwinda is the heart of the protected area. Birds live here, but many bird species also nest or rest here, as long as they are given the peace they need.

The New York Times has sued the U.S. Defence Department and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in an effort to force the Pentagon to abandon its restrictive new press policy. The Times alleges that the policy, rejected by at least 30 news organizations, violates its rights to free speech and due process.

New York

New York Times sues Pentagon, Hegseth over press restrictions

President Trump weighed in on Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has more.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Trump insists Putin wants to end Ukraine war after Witkoff's trip

Democrats have released never-before-seen images in the Jeffrey Epstein case. They were taken at his private island estate. It comes as the Trump administration faces a deadline to release the full Epstein case files in two weeks.

Newly released images and videos show Epstein's private island estate

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, more than five times more than the United States.

Caracas

Maduro accuses U.S. of pushing for regime change to get Venezuela’s oil

Australia starts enforcing a landmark ban requiring social media platforms to take down accounts belonging to under-16s

Canberra

Australia under-16s social media accounts to be taken down

European Union lawmakers and member states reached a deal to ban all imports of Russian gas before the end of 2027, as the bloc seeks to choke off key funds feeding Moscow's war chest. Aimed at breaking a reliance the bloc has struggled to end despite the invasion of Ukraine, the accord marks a compromise between EU capitals and the European Parliament, which wanted the ban to hit sooner.

Brussels

EU agrees deal to ban Russian gas by end of 2027

President Trump pardoned Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife on Wednesday. The couple was indicted in 2024 on more than a dozen federal charges. Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing.

Washington

Trump pardons Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife

Sources say the Pentagon watchdog found Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could have endangered American service members when he shared military information in a Signal group chat in March. Alex Plitsas, a former Pentagon official, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.

Watchdog found Hegseth jeopardized sensitive military information

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee Wednesday released never-before-seen images of the private island owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more details.

Never-before-seen images of Jeffrey Epstein's island released

The doctor who pleaded guilty to selling ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the actor's overdose death has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Los Angeles

Doctor who sold Matthew Perry ketamine sentenced to 30 months in prison

Google subsidiary YouTube has criticized an Australian law banning social media accounts for under-16s, arguing the legislation set to start Dec 10 makes young users of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube less safe.

YouTube attacks Australia's underage social media ban

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Putin in the Kremlin on a revised Ukraine peace plan but left without a deal. Russia insists on territorial gains, army cuts, and blocking NATO membership, while Zelenskyy calls for long-term deterrence against future aggression.

U.S. envoys Kushner, Witkoff leave Kremlin without Ukraine deal

U.S. President Donald Trump, in a televised cabinet meeting, said “I don't want them in our country” about Somali immigrants, sparking outrage from politicians and migration experts. His remarks coincided with reports of planned federal raids targeting Minneapolis’ Somali community.

Trump targets Somali immigrants amid reports of Minneapolis raids

A Russian tanker carrying sunflower oil was hit by a drone off the Turkish coast, with no casualties. The attack is part of recent strikes on Russian-flagged vessels targeting Moscow’s oil sector, while Putin warns of possible retaliatory measures.

Russian tanker attacked off Turkey, Putin warns of retaliation

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had watched the first U.S. strike in September on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in real time, but did not see survivors in the water or the second lethal strike that he described as being carried out in the "fog of war."

Hegseth says he didn't see survivors before second strike on boat

Republican comfortably beats Democratic challenger after polls showed candidates in a close race in US state.

Tennessee

Trump’s pick Van Epps wins special election in deep-red Tennessee

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to expand his crackdown on drug trafficking during a cabinet meeting, suggesting he’d order land strikes on Venezuela and attacks on any country transporting illegal drugs into the U.S.

Trump threatens to expand strikes beyond Venezuela

Ahead of a meeting to discuss the U.S. proposal for peace in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed European counter-proposals as 'unacceptable' and said his country was ready for war if Europe wants one.

Putin says Russia is 'ready' if Europe wants war

OpenAI has declared a "code red" as Google threatens to unseat the AI industry's early leader, according to the Wall Street Journal. Technology journalist Jacob Ward joins CBS News to discuss.

California

OpenAI declares 'code red' as Google threatens its AI lead

Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin on Tuesday (December 2) for talks on a possible way to end the deadliest European conflict since World War Two.

Putin meets Trump envoys Witkoff, Kushner for Ukraine peace talks

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the deadly boat strikes in the region near Venezuela and Colombia have "only just begun." This comes as Republicans and Democrats in Congress question the legality of the military action.

Hegseth defends boat strikes near Venezuela during Cabinet meeting

President Vladimir Putin has hailed what his commanders told him was the full Russian capture of the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine as an important victory after a prolonged campaign, saying it would help Moscow fulfil its wider war aims.

Pokrovsk

Russia claims control of Pokrovsk

Major rescue and recovery efforts are underway across Southeast Asia after a series of severe storms battered the region displacing millions and killing more than 1,100 people.

Nuwara Eliya

Severe storms batter Southeast Asia, displacing millions

Honduras’ presidential race is too close to call, with Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla nearly tied at just under 40% each as technical glitches delay official results.

Tegucigalpa

Asfura, Nasralla in tight battle for Honduras presidency

Airbus must inspect hundreds of its A320 jets for potential quality flaws in the plane's body as a total of 628 aircraft contain panels that may be too thick or too thin due to a manufacturing issue at a supplier.

Blagnac

Airbus to inspect hundreds of A320s for defective panels

U.S. President Trump warns against actions that could ‘interfere with Syria’s evolution’ amid new Israeli incursions and strikes.

Damascus

Syria demands Israel withdraw amid escalating cross-border incursions

The White House confirmed it authorized a second airstrike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in September, but denied it ordered everyone on board be killed, which would be considered a war crime.

U.S. authorization of second strike of Venezuelan ship questioned

Monday is World AIDS Day. It has been recognized globally since 1988, but this year, the U.S. government is not commemorating it for the first time.

U.S. not recognizing World AIDS Day this year

Operation "Swamp Sweep," a monthslong immigration crackdown centered in New Orleans, is set to begin Monday. CBS News national reporter Kati Weis has the details.

New Orleans

Immigration enforcement operation set to begin in New Orleans

Luigi Mangione, the man charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, was in a New York City courtroom on Monday for a pre-trial hearing focused on what evidence the jury will see. CBS News' Anna Schecter has the details.

Breakdown