THE RUSIZI PLAIN, AN AREA PRONE TO THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE

CHANGE AND SUBJECT TO POLITICAL CONSTRAINTS

- CAZENAVE-PIARROT Alain University of Toulouse 2 Jean Jaurès, France. - NDAYIRUKIYE Sylvestre University of Burundi in Bujumbura - GAHAMA Joseph University of Rwanda in Kigali - RWANYIZIRI Gaspard University of Rwanda in Butare/Huye - THIBON Christian University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour, France

THE RUSIZI PLAIN

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SITUATION OF THE RUSIZI PLAIN

Between Kivu & Tanganyika Lakes

In the center of the Countries of the North Tanganyika

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The physical data

- The plain of Rusizi and its drainage basins are situated in the graben of the Western Great Rift Valley

- Aera: 3 000 Km² among wich 1750 to Burundi

- Distances : 117 km from north to south ; 25 km in width at the most from east to west.

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Rusizi river, in the plain, border Burundi-Congo DR

POPULATION DATA

• Population of Uvira (2012) 209.344 (Registry office), but probably 500 000

• Population of Bujumbura 497 160

inhabitants (Census2008), but probably 1 million

• The total population would thus

amount to 2 724 082 inhabitants (together of the plain and the mountain relief) But with the rate of natural increase, the current population can be estimated (esteemed) to more than 3 000 000 Inhabitants

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Bujumbura, view from Kiriri District: Population, demographic pressure,

development

CONSTRAINTS AND STATEMENT

Constraints

• The confrontations which paralyzed Burundi since April, prevented the meeting in Bujumbura of a preparatory workshop for this communication. This one is pushed away in November, 2015 launch a research project on the same subject.

Statement of the problem

• Is it possible to have a political ecology in a natural and human environment which is both subject to the global change and geopolitical tensions ?

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OUR APPROACH

1. The starting point: a familiar environment

2. Short and mid-term projections and challenges to overcome

3. The way forward: answers and implemented knowns, the unknowns of a global approach

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Bujumbura: Ntahangwa river, Three plans- goals: maping of

vulnerable areas, sectorial public policy, long terme policy

One of our tools

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Question of the capacity of the local populations to be been a matter of such challenges, capacity of resilience