On World Gorilla Day, Rwanda held the 17th Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony. Modelled on the centuries-old Rwandan tradition of naming newborns, Kwita Izina has become a global celebration of conservation and the endangered mountain gorillas. As with other homegrown innovations, Rwanda has drawn on its rich culture and traditions to foster conservation. Over the last two decades, Kwita Izina has broadened awareness about conservation and recognised the value of community-led initiatives in protecting wildlife and wilderness areas. Since 2005, 352 baby gorillas have been named, and today mountain gorillas are the only great ape species increasing in number anywhere in the world. This demonstrates the resilience of the majestic animals, despite the many challenges they face. It also highlights the resilience of those working to protect the gorillas and the tourism and hospitality industry at large. It is this resilience that was celebrated at this year’s Kwita Izina. Despite the pandemic, the people on the frontlines of conservation - vets, rangers, researchers and communities living around Volcanoes National Park - have ensured that the gorillas continue to thrive. The naming of 24 newborn gorillas was a recognition of this and signalled our continued commitment to protecting them and their habitat today and into the future. These gains in conservation have led to direct benefits for communities living around national parks and all Rwandans. Through the revenue sharing programme, ten per cent of park tourism revenue is invested in community priorities such as building schools and health posts and developing housing and agriculture projects. Since 2005, more than Rwf6.5 billion has been invested in 780 community projects in agriculture, infrastructure, education, health and other sectors through the programme. And despite the decrease in tourism since the pandemic, about 700 million francs are being invested in 49 community projects this year alone, improving the livelihoods of communities living around national parks and creating a constituency for conservation. This continued investment was made possible by our valued partners - from research and veterinary organisations to conservation NGOs, eco-tourism investors, development partners and generous individuals - and has taught us the importance of partnerships to support conservation. It also exposed the over-reliance on domestic and international tourism as the primary source of conservation funding. That is why we prioritise new revenue streams that will reduce reliance on tourism to fund conservation and diversify our tourism experiences. This presents exciting opportunities for investment and innovation by the private sector in the new wildlife economy. The new Visit Rwanda x Arsenal gorilla toy launched during Kwita Izina is just one example. Achieving this, however, will require collaboration and partnerships between governments and key players. Our collective task is to build an ecosystem and economy that sustains wildlife and conservation for generations to come. Rwanda’s new biodiversity law and conservation master plan will support this by enabling community-led conservancies and other innovative conservation models. We welcome investors in the wildlife economy to join with us and be part of the many new opportunities and initiatives already underway - from the expansion of Volcanoes National Park to the development of a 15-hectare experiential centre at the foothills of the park that will take visitors inside the world of gorilla and nature conservation. This year’s Kwita Izina celebrated the resilience of the gorillas, the people who keep them safe and the industry that makes conservation possible. It is up to us to build on this success by creating new revenue streams for conservation that ensure the long-term financial sustainability of conservation. We invite you to join us on this journey to secure a bright future for the mountain gorillas and all plants, trees and animals that call Rwanda home. Ms Ariella Kageruka is the Acting Chief Tourism Officer, Rwanda Development Board
