Rwanda is on track to plant 300 million trees under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), with a strong focus on native species. NST2 is a five-year plan by the government, approved in August 2024, aiming to drive economic growth and improve social development in Rwanda. Speaking about the focus on native tree species, Concorde Nsengumuremyi, Director General of Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA), they are being preferred because of their resilience to climate change. He explained that the government has set a requirement that at least 50 per cent of trees planted in urban areas must be native species, in line with national guidelines for urban forestry and biodiversity conservation. ALSO READ: Govt sets new guidelines to boost native trees in cities “The government is advancing the restoration of indigenous tree species as a cornerstone of its environmental and cultural renewal, he told The New Times. He said priority is given to species that demonstrate resilience to climate change and hold economic, ecological, and cultural value. “These trees contribute to a wide spectrum of ecosystem services, ranging from provisioning and regulation to ecological support and cultural enrichment, thereby reinforcing biodiversity and long-term landscape stability,” he noted. ALSO READ: 17 native tree species to help green Rwanda’s Eastern Province Among the indigenous tree species being promoted are Podocarpus latifolius, Afrocarpus falcatus, Polyscias fulva, Dombeya torrida, Prunus africana, Markhamia lutea, Ficus thonningii, and Maesopsis eminii. Indigenous trees in Rwanda have a unique ecological, cultural, and economic significance that sets them apart from exotic species. He said that these trees are well adapted to local conditions and play a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity, supporting communities, and preserving cultural heritage. He acknowledged that they are more costly compared to exotic species such as Entandrophragma excelsum and Milicia excelsa, but stressed that indigenous trees sequester more carbon, show stronger resistance to pests and diseases, and contribute to healthier landscapes. ALSO READ: Rwanda to plant 63 million indigenous trees for carbon market Nsengumuremyi pointed out that the 300 million tree target is being implemented by RFA in collaboration with development partners through various projects. “These efforts encompass a wide range of interventions, including agroforestry, afforestation, reforestation, and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems,” he said. Targeted sites include farmlands, pastoral areas, smallholder woodlots, public forests, riparian zones, as well as degraded sections of Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura National Parks, buffer zones around Akagera National Park, and roadsides, lake shores, and riverbanks. To ensure sustainability, he highlighted three priorities: enhanced forest management through technology, increased densification using indigenous and climate-resilient species, and expansion of agroforestry systems with fruit trees. “These objectives align with Rwanda’s international and national commitments, including restoring two million hectares by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge and AFR100 Initiative, achieving 100 percent agroforestry adoption on farms by 2030, and ensuring that at least 50 percent of trees planted in cities are native species,” Nsengumuremyi said. Progress so far According to him, Rwanda had achieved 30.4 percent national forest cover by 2019, as per the national forest cover mapping. In line with the AFR100 pledge, the country has committed to restoring two million hectares of degraded land by 2030, representing 60 percent of its total restoration target. “Between 2017 and 2024, significant progress was made through agroforestry interventions, with more than 45.5 million trees planted across 230,903 hectares,” he said, adding that these efforts reflect the country’s commitment to climate resilience, sustainable land management, and inclusive green growth. Extinction threats and restoration Nsengumuremyi also spoke about Rwanda’s efforts to mitigate extinction risks facing native tree species. He said species identified as threatened by the IUCN Red List have been reassessed by RFA to inform conservation measures. He pointed out that the 2008 Ministerial Order establishing the list of protected animal and plant species, listed 27 protected plant species, several of which are endangered. “According to REMA (2015), 32 tree species in Rwanda are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Nine of these, including Prunus africana, Pterygota mildbraedii, Acacia kirkii, Dombeya torrida, Entandrophragma excelsum, Harungana montana, Newtonia buchananii, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, and Myrianthus holstii, have already been domesticated for ex-situ conservation, while others are prioritised in reforestation and plantation programmes,” he said. He added that nature-based solutions are being implemented through RFA-led projects, such as establishing biodiversity sanctuaries, promoting ecotourism, and developing recreational parks, all aimed at habitat restoration and species protection.
