Rwanda eyes national park status for selected Lake Kivu islands

By The Inspirer.

Rwanda is conducting a feasibility study to determine whether selected islands in Lake Kivu can be designated as protected areas or incorporated into a national park, in a move aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation and expanding tourism opportunities.

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) says the study is assessing which islands have the ecological and tourism potential to benefit from stronger protection. Officials stress that not all of the islands will necessarily be turned into a national park.

Lake Kivu has 113 islands, including 42 in Rutsiro District. Some are inhabited, while others are used for farming and other human activities. Their natural environment and historical significance could provide opportunities for developing new tourism experiences.

Dr Deo Ruhagaze, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA), said more than 30 experts from different countries are participating in the study.

“The information we are gathering is aimed at determining which islands should be studied and the criteria for selecting them. Not all the islands will be turned into national parks,” Ruhagaze said.

Frank Dushimimana, an official at RDB, said the detailed study has been underway for about four months and will guide decisions on whether some of the islands should be designated as protected areas or national parks.

“The study will guide the process of determining whether some of the islands in Lake Kivu should actually be designated as protected areas or a national park,” Dushimimana said.

He added that the study is expected to balance the interests of communities living around Lake Kivu with the wider interests of the country.

“It will be guided by what benefits communities living around Lake Kivu as well as what is in the broader interest of the country,” he said.

The study is expected to be completed in 2027.

Conservation and tourism opportunities

Environmental expert Dr Ange Imanishimwe said stronger protection of selected islands could help conserve their ecosystems while creating additional opportunities for tourism.

“If they are properly conserved, the biodiversity found there will be better protected, while the trees and vegetation will thrive. This can also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while tourists visiting the islands can generate revenue,” Imanishimwe said.

Previous biodiversity assessments have documented significant ecological diversity across Lake Kivu’s islands, including numerous bird, plant, invertebrate, mammal, reptile and amphibian species. Researchers have also identified strong potential for ecotourism and community income generation.

Maurice Niyomugabo, a boat tour operator on Lake Kivu, said tourism activity on the lake is already attracting significant numbers of visitors.

He said his cooperative receives about 1,000 tourists each month, most of them foreigners.

The proposed conservation initiative comes as Rwanda seeks to diversify its tourism products and increase the sector’s contribution to the economy. Lake Kivu is already being positioned as an important tourism destination, with activities including boat trips, water sports, hiking and cycling.

The proposed island conservation project would add another dimension to tourism around the lake, potentially combining biodiversity protection with nature-based tourism and community benefits.

Rwanda has previously outlined plans to develop a biodiversity park on selected Lake Kivu islands, with the initiative expected to strengthen conservation and eco-tourism.

Under the National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2), Rwanda aims to increase tourism revenues to $1.1 billion by 2029.

If selected islands are eventually designated as protected areas or incorporated into a national park, the initiative could provide a new tourism product while strengthening protection of Lake Kivu’s biodiversity.

The final decision will depend on the findings of the ongoing study, including assessments of biodiversity, tourism potential, existing human activities and the interests of communities living around the lake.