Remarkable national parks
Rwanda is home to extremely varied ecosystems. It has a mountainous character as a whole, with a volcanic fringe in the north of the country, but also wetlands.It ishome to marshlands (Akagera and Bugesa) in the east and part of Lake Kivuin the west of the country
Akagera National Park: located in the north-east of the country, on the Tanzanian border, it protects savannah, mountain and forest ecosystems. It has been reintroduced in the course of its history to compensate for the disappearance of species due to poaching, poisoning and periods of conflict. Lions were reintroduced in 2015. In 2019, cooperation with European zoos, the first initiative of its kind between Africa and Europe, led to the reintroduction of eastern black rhinos. Visitors can also discover giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and hippos.
Nyungwe National Park: located in the south of the country, close to the border with Burundi, it is home to the primary forest of the same name, one of the last and most important highland forests on the continent. Its biodiversity is quite remarkable. Indeed, there are more than 270 species of trees, 100 species of orchids, but also about forty mammals (including chimpanzees) and more than 300 species of birds. Suspended footbridges provide access to the canopy and allow visitors to discover the biodiversity seen from this "roof of the world".
Volcanoes National Park : located in the north-west of the country, on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it protects volcano, swamp and forest ecosystems. It is also home to a wide variety of fauna, but is widely known to have been the field of study of scientist Dian Fossey and to be one of the last sanctuaries for mountain gorillas. Experienced hikers can hike to the crater lake of the Bisoke volcano, or discover the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo and their avifauna by boat. You can also explore the gorillas or golden monkeys, or climb Rwanda's highest peak, Karisimbi, which peaks at 4,507m.
A voluntarist agroforestry policy
Wood is mainly used for heating, cooking and construction purposes. Agriculture, uncontrolled urbanization of wetlands and the civil war have contributed to massive deforestation of the country, with the corollary of soil erosion, overexploitation of land and declining fertility. In addition, some areas are exposed to major flooding and often deadly land movements, as well as to droughts. With the exception of national parks, most primary forests have disappeared. To alleviate these problems, the State, with the support of international institutions, has deployed a national agroforestry strategy and an action plan since 2007. The first promotion of agroforestry was launched in 2009. In 2011, the country has set a target of restoring 2 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Reforestation, construction of terraces, hedges, dikes: prisoners and soldiers are also requisitioned for the work, as well as all citizens during the Umanga. Awareness-raising campaigns accompany this transition and performance contracts are used to reward farmers for their efforts (goats, payment of the mutual insurance company, for example). By 2020, 85% of cultivated plots will have been converted to agroforestry. The Kopama cooperative bears witness to this success. Specializing in the processing and sale of coffee, it has set up a local fair trade certified organic coffee chain, which is in the process of being certified organic.
Waste Management
The sale, import and use of non-reusable plastic bags have been banned in the country since 2004 (compared to 2017 in France for sale). Penalties up to imprisonment are provided for in case of non-compliance with the law. Travellers departing for Rwanda will therefore be obliged to dispose of their polyethylene bags if they wish to enter the country. Rwanda is also considering banning reusable plastic bottles and bags. The country also has a regulation on electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) and the establishment of recovery facilities on the territory. It has been accompanied by awareness-raising campaigns.
Kigali: a green city
Kigali is a "green" city in more ways than one: plantations, encouragement of soft mobility, fight against noise and air pollution, waste management, street cleaning. A green city, or rather a smart city , is being developed in the capital, partly based on digital technology. This pilot project, called "Wakanda" by the inhabitants, is set to spread to other cities in the country. The district will operate solely with renewable energies (biogas, solar). Waste treatment and recycling systems will be installed as well as water recovery systems. Reforestation is also an integral part of the project. The means of transport will be electric. As for the buildings, they will be designed mainly with local materials.
Energy and environmental issues
On 3 May 2020, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed an agreement setting out the rules for exploiting methane from Lake Kivu. This large lake is indeed an important reservoir of methane but also of biodiversity. The methane is transformed into electricity, and could eventually be used as gas for cooking. The agreement aims to impose extraction techniques that are safe but also respectful of biodiversity. The climate remains an issue for the country, which in April 2020, through its Minister of the Environment, reaffirmed its determination to "resist the temptation to return to polluting energies to create jobs". The country remains very committed to renewable energies (solar, hydroelectricity).
