In Rwanda’s conservation landscapes, people, wildlife, and nature are deeply interconnected. Around Volcanoes National Park (VNP), pressures from land use, climate variability, and livelihoods intersect daily with biodiversity protection. In 2025, AWF Rwanda focused on people-centered conservation that is practical, locally led, and sustainable, emphasizing that lasting gains occur when landscapes are treated as socio-ecological systems where livelihoods, restoration, science, and governance reinforce each other.
AWF Rwanda advanced this approach by mobilizing youth leadership, securing critical habitats, strengthening community stewardship, supporting women-led enterprises, and helping shape enabling policies for long-term resilience. A youth-led initiative, in partnership with the European Union and SACOLA, trained local youth on climate-resilient conservation, ecosystem restoration, and nature-based solutions, benefiting nearly 26,000 people while building leadership pathways for future environmental governance.
The organization also focused on securing habitat and strengthening coexistence around VNP. Over 105 hectares were acquired and registered to the Government of Rwanda to protect critical habitats and wildlife corridors. These efforts support ecological buffers, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and align with Rwanda’s broader conservation strategies, where habitat protection, sustainable tourism, and diversified livelihoods are integrated to reinforce long-term coexistence.
Women-led enterprises received support through horticulture and market-oriented initiatives. Modern greenhouses, climate-controlled nurseries, and storage facilities were established, improving household incomes and food security while positioning women as central actors in environmental stewardship. These livelihood initiatives reduce pressure on protected areas by providing sustainable alternatives that meet community needs.
Science and community stewardship were strengthened through innovative monitoring and research. Environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies and a baseline biodiversity report enhanced wildlife data collection and evidence-based decision-making. Community eco-guards received training on biodiversity protection, human-wildlife conflict, environmental law, and monitoring, equipping them to actively manage and protect local ecosystems.
Youth engagement was scaled through schools, orchards, and volunteer programs. Ten school orchards served as education hubs while contributing to school feeding initiatives, and 200 youth volunteers planted and monitored 60,000 fruit trees across 12,000 households. This approach combined conservation education, practical action, and climate adaptation while promoting community stewardship at scale.
AWF Rwanda also contributed to advancing national policy and continental leadership. The launch of Rwanda’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2025–2030 and the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Master Plan 2025–2050 reinforced people-centered conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable financing. AWF engaged in Africa-level and global dialogues, strengthening networks that support locally led biodiversity action.
Looking ahead to 2026, AWF Rwanda aims to scale integrated landscape solutions around VNP, linking land acquisition, habitat restoration, livelihoods, and tourism while embedding conservation objectives within national and decentralized governance frameworks. Strengthening partnerships with cooperatives, women’s groups, and youth associations, alongside engagement with private sector actors and climate finance institutions, will support sustainable, community-centered conservation. The overarching principle remains that conservation succeeds when it works for both people and nature.
