Conservation History in Rwanda

Conservation in Rwanda has a unique history and a success story to share with the world today. In the 1990s, the pristine national parks like Akagera National Park suffered heavily during the Rwandan genocide. Today, Akagera National Park is best described as a miracle park for many reasons given the violent past that it underwent before becoming a glorious safari destination. Poaching was the order of the day at the time that the big game in Akagera National Park and the critically endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park became nearly got extinct in the wild.

In 1997, about 15 percent of Rwanda area was gazette as national parks and nature reserves and it was during the same period that Akagera National Park reduced to 40 percent. Presently, 8.9 percent of Rwanda is conserved as national park and this includes Gishwati-Mukura National Park that was established in 2015. The Rugezi Marsh features as ancient RAMSAR site in Rwanda. It was gained its Ramsar status in 2005.

The success story of wildlife conservation in Rwanda is by far one most incredible achievement especially with recovery of its pristine parks. Wildlife conservation in Rwanda is very key and plays a great role towards sustainable survival of unique wildlife in their natural habitat. It entirely involves protecting wildlife, plants and their habitat for today and future generations. Wildlife conservation in Rwanda comes with a number challenges as most of its protected areas still remain threatened because of illegal hunting, invasive plants, livestock grazing, illegal fishing, bamboo harvesting, habitat encroachment, firewood collection, extraction of plants for medicine, bush fires a mention but a few.

The main focus of wildlife conservation in Rwanda is ensuring that nature is preserved for future generations for them to also learn the significance of wildlife protection and wilderness areas to human life. To achieve wildlife conservation goals in Rwanda, a number of approaches have been put in place including local community involvement in tourism and conservation practices, tree planting to increase habitat for endangered species.

By 2020, Rwanda plans to record an increase in tree plantations to increase on its current forest cover from 10 to 20 percent. By 2007, the forest cover in Rwanda stood at 240746.53 hectares and this consisted of natural forests at 33.15 percent, degraded natural forest cover of 15.79 percent, the savanna at 1.55 percent, bamboo forest at 1.82 percent while 26.4 percent account for current tree plantation especially the eucalyptus and 5.01 percent for pinus plantation. Rwanda’s rainforest date back prior the ice age and boasts of rare floral and faunal species including 200 tree species, several flowering plants like the giant lobelia as well as the beautiful orchids that make up a total of about 140 in Nyungwe Forest.

Rwanda’s tourism sector is entirely nature based with its unique wildlife consisting of fauna and flora a good reason for devoted efforts to conserve its wildlife and habitat. Today, its natural vegetation and fauna are well-preserved in the 4 pristine national parks and forest reserves that is; Volcanoes National Park in the northwest, Akagera National Park in the east, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park while its pristine forests include Gishwati Forest Reserve, Mukura Forest Reserve, Busanga Forest Reserve and Buhanga Forest in the eastern province.

Volcanoes National Park is located in northwestern Rwanda and spans up to 160 square kilometers. Parc National des Volcans was gazette in 1925 to offer refuge to its diverse species including distinct mammal species such as mountain gorillas, spotted hyenas, bush bucks, black fronted duikers, buffaloes, golden monkeys as well as unique bird species that today make up a total of about 200 bird species. Rwanda is popular for gorilla mountain gorilla trekking which is conducted in Volcanoes National Park.

Nyungwe National Park is found in southwestern Rwanda and comprises of montane forest. It was founded in 2004 and spans up to 1000 square kilometers. Nyungwe National Park boasts of its pristine rainforest, swamps, grassland, bogs, bamboo, about 13 primate species including chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys; over 310 birds a mention but a few. A visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park allows you take part in chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk, nature/primate walk, birding and others.

Akagera National Park is set in eastern Rwanda and features as the only savanna park in Rwanda. It spans up to 1122 square kilometers and it was created in 1934 to offer refuge to its unique wildlife species including the big five game (elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, rhinos), antelopes, about 520 bird species and others. Akagera National Park is popular for game drive, bird watching, boat cruise, sport fishing and many other exciting safari activities.

Gishwati-Mukura National Park is situated in southwestern Rwanda and remarkably a newly founded national park. It is another primate paradise consisting of chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, baboons and others.

Conservation in Rwanda involves a number of stake holders including local communities, Wildlife Conservation Society, Rwanda Development Board and many others. The current Rwandan government is very keen on the environment and more conservation efforts have been put towards wildlife with national parks dully protected. Rwanda is set suitably in East Africa and remarkably that one unique destination that is worth exploring while on safari in Africa.