( CNN ) Working as a warden in Rwanda 's Volcanoes National Park , home to the endangered mountain gorilla , Edwin Sabuhoro was determined to do whatever was necessary to protect the animals he was committed to defend -- including putting himself in harm 's way . Following a series of incidents in 2004 where wildlife had been lost , Sabuhoro volunteered to infiltrate poachers on their own turf by disguising as a potential buyer for a baby gorilla . The mission was successful and the culprits were put to prison . `` I felt so bad that I had put these people in jail -- but I felt so good that I saved a baby gorilla , '' recalls Sabuhoro , whose next move was to visit the jailed poachers , as well as their families , to apologize for tricking them and find the reasons behind their actions . What he heard was stories of starvation and desperation . Poaching , he found , was the only way for these people to survive . `` That 's when I decided that what I was doing was not part of giving a solution to what is wanted outside the park , '' says Sabuhoro . He quickly decided to quit the job and come up with an idea to help poachers make a living -- a plan that did n't include killing wildlife . `` I thought of an idea of turning poachers to farmers , '' says Sabuhoro , who took all of his savings -- $ 2,000 -- and divided it to poachers to rent land , buy seeds and start farming . `` I left them with that and they started farming , and when I came back six months after I found they had harvested enough -- they had enough food at home , but they were [ also ] selling more in the markets . '' But Sabuhoro was n't finished . While talking to tourists who came to visit the volcanoes , Sabuhoro came up with an idea to capitalize on their interest in the area , and provide work for former poachers . `` I started a tour company called Rwanda Eco Tours , and I said for tourism to thrive in the country we need eco-tourism where tourists can give back to the community and then the communities will have an incentive to conserve the park . So we built a cultural village in 2006 -- before we finished , we had tourists visiting us . '' he says . `` In 2010 , we got $ 30,000 net income from the cultural village and put this back to different activities in the village level . '' Sabuhoro , whose work with the cultural village has received international recognition , including a chance to briefly meet U.S. president Barack Obama as a Young African Leader , is now trying to take his idea further to other national parks across Africa where poaching is causing similar problems . `` If we can work together , on a regional level , continent level , we can save these species , '' he says . `` Because these are the last species that we have . And as human beings we ca n't afford to fail the wildlife . '' Watch this : Meeting the men who poach Rwanda 's gorillas . Watch this : Flourishing community protects gorillas . More from African Voices .
Conservationist Edwin Sabuhoro founded a cultural village in Rwanda . The village provides work for poachers and unemployed youth .