By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana
The Rwanda Environment Management Authority has officially unveiled an ambitious five-year project designed to restore degraded ecosystems and strengthen climate resilience within the strategically vital Nyungwe-Ruhango corridor. This initiative targets more than 2,100 hectares of degraded forests and wetlands in a landscape currently facing mounting environmental pressures from soil erosion, biodiversity loss, floods, and landslides.
Backed by the Global Environment Facility and supported technically by the World Bank, the project serves as a key component of the Green Amayaga program, a broader national push to promote sustainable land use and nature-based solutions. Officials confirmed that restoration efforts will be concentrated across the districts of Nyanza, Ruhango, and Nyamagabe, where environmental degradation has increasingly threatened rural livelihoods. By rehabilitating these fragile ecosystems, the government aims to stabilize the landscape while shielding local communities from escalating climate-related shocks.
Juliette Kabera, the Director General of REMA, emphasized that the project builds upon previous successful restoration efforts while adopting a more integrated strategy.
During the launch, she noted that the initiative is about scaling up what has worked by linking ecosystem recovery directly with livelihoods and climate resilience. To achieve this, the program will promote agroforestry, reforestation, and sustainable land management practices while encouraging active community participation and the creation of green jobs for young people and local enterprises.
Over its five-year duration, the project is expected to restore 2,100 hectares of forests and wetlands and significantly improve land management across nearly 9,000 hectares of productive landscapes. The socio-economic impact is expected to be substantial, with the initiative set to directly benefit nearly 290,000 people. Notably, the project has established a clear gender-inclusive mandate, ensuring that women make up at least half of the total beneficiaries.
Conservationists have highlighted the critical nature of this corridor due to its close links to Nyungwe National Park, which remains one of Central Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots. Protecting the landscapes surrounding the park is considered essential for safeguarding its internal ecosystems and maintaining agricultural productivity in the neighboring communities.
This initiative also aligns with Rwanda’s long-term development targets, including Vision 2050 and the nation’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. As climate risks intensify across the region, officials maintain that this project underscores Rwanda’s broader strategy of integrating conservation, climate action, and development to ensure that both ecosystems and communities can thrive simultaneously.
By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana
Email: hasingizwimanashaggy@gmail.com
