The Influence of Environmental Protection Interventions on Human Security in Muhanga District in Rwanda

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of environmental protection interventions on human security in Muhanga District in Rwanda. Though the government puts much effort into enhancing the living standards of citizens in the region, they face a huge kind of disaster which harm the surrounding environment.  Methodology: The study employed mixed methods, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches with a descriptive research design which was used. Questionnaire and interview guide, observation and focus group discussion were involved during data collection as the instruments of data collection. A target population of 14,464 individuals were used, with a sample size of 402 respondents selected using Yamane's formula. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 21 while qualitative data was thematically analyzed. Findings: The findings revealed that Training on soil management control was notably lacking, with 52.2% strongly disagreeing on receiving adequate training. The use of terraces for soil erosion prevention was also not widely adopted, with 63.8% strongly disagreeing. Conservation practices such as rainwater harvesting and tree planting showed mixed responses. While there was strong support for preventing deforestation (91.8% strongly agree), practices like rainwater conservation and dam construction faced significant opposition. Satisfaction with water tank availability was low, with 74.2% strongly disagreeing, and 67.9% of respondents faced challenges in accessing or maintaining water tanks. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This paper indicates that there is a significant gap in environmental education, with 52.2% of respondents strongly disagreeing that they had received adequate training on soil management. Not only this it was noted that there is need for increased awareness and support for sustainable land management practices. This paper recommends that there should be development and implement comprehensive training programs focused on soil management, terrace construction, and sustainable agricultural practices.