Rwanda to integrate biodiversity conservation into agriculture and urban planning

Rwanda is set to broaden its biodiversity conservation efforts beyond national parks and wetlands, with a new five-year plan that will incorporate environmental protection into agriculture, infrastructure development, urban planning and other areas of national development.

The approach is outlined in the updated National Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan (NB-CAP), which will guide efforts to protect and restore biodiversity and ecosystems through 2030.

One of the plan’s key targets is to restore at least 10% of degraded land, restore water in areas that have dried up and rehabilitate wetlands so they can once again support diverse ecosystems.

The government says effective biodiversity conservation requires action beyond protected areas.

Faustin Munyazikwiye, Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), said the plan is built around three pillars: conserving biodiversity, restoring degraded ecosystems and ensuring communities benefit from the resources and services provided by nature.

“The first part focuses on how to conserve biodiversity, including animals and plants. The second focuses on restoring biodiversity and ecosystems where they have been degraded, as well as how they are managed more broadly. The third focuses on how we share the benefits and resources that come from biodiversity,” he said.

Over the next five years, biodiversity conservation will therefore be incorporated into agricultural planning, urban expansion, infrastructure development, forest management and the management of water resources.

The rehabilitation of wetlands is one example of how conservation efforts can help restore ecosystems.

In Nyandungu Wetland, restoration work has led to the return of a range of wildlife, including birds, lizards, snakes and frogs.

Officials say the resurgence of wildlife is an indication that a restored ecosystem can once again support diverse species.

Rwanda also aims to conserve and effectively manage at least 11% of the country’s land and water areas by 2030. Protected areas currently account for about 9.1% of the country’s total area.

The government says biodiversity conservation will also contribute to efforts to address climate change, particularly as changing weather patterns continue to affect ecosystems and communities.

Planned initiatives include major environmental conservation and climate-resilience projects in areas such as the Congo-Nile Ridge, Mayaga and the volcanic belt.

Communities expected to benefit from conservation

The Rwanda Nature Foundation says biodiversity conservation programmes should also benefit communities living near protected areas and other sites where conservation activities are taking place.

The organisation’s Executive Director, Eugene Mutangana, told RBA that greater economic benefits should reach local communities, particularly those generated through tourism.

“Another aspect will be increasing the funds going to communities as revenue generated from tourism in national parks increases, including the 10% allocation, while also looking at how projects that benefit communities and generate income can continue to expand,” he said.

The plan also calls for stronger waste-management measures, efforts to control invasive species that threaten native biodiversity, increased tree and vegetation planting, and the promotion of sustainable ways of using and processing natural resources.

REMA estimates that at least $500 million will be required to achieve the plan’s targets by 2030.

Munyazikwiye said the funding will be mobilised through cooperation among international organisations, government institutions, development partners and the private sector.

“This includes international organisations, institutions with national responsibilities, different partners, private-sector actors and others, so that we can combine our efforts and achieve this goal,” he said.

The five-year plan marks a broader approach to environmental conservation in Rwanda, positioning biodiversity protection as part of national development rather than an issue limited to national parks and wetlands.

Under the new approach, environmental considerations will also be incorporated into agriculture, urban development, infrastructure and economic activities.