There is shortage of agricultural and pastoral land throughout Africa, and populations are still growing. It is only the western tourist dollars that stops most parks from being overrun in a similar way to what occurred in the Akagera. Akagera may be just the first domino in a line that will eventually see all of the great east African parks disappear. Even the famous Serengeti national park in Tanzania has seen in ten years a doubling of the human population the last 10 years, now numbering 1 million people, living along its borders. Most people are not born there, but migrate there to benefit from conservationists' efforts in improving the lifestyle of the people around the park.
Many settlers turn into poachers.
The disaster in Akagera national park is a reminder of Malthus' prediction of an exponentially growing human population devouring all its natural resources just to stay alive. The Akagera is one case where a visionary donor country could make a long lasting impact by providing a package to Rwanda of humanitarian aid in the northern region and restoring the park in the southern region. This park was also created over 60 years, the first national park in Africa. It is listed on the World heritage List. Probably half of the bamboo forest has been cut already.