The celebration this past weekend of the 20th edition of Kwita Izina was more than a symbolic act of naming newborn gorillas. It was a reaffirmation of Rwanda’s success story in conservation and its commitment to protecting one of the most treasured and rare species on earth. The steady growth in the population of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park located in the north-western part of the country, is a triumph that has placed Rwanda on the global map as a leader in conservation. Yet, as the nation applauds this achievement, a troubling truth cannot be ignored. The natural habitat of these gorillas has not expanded to match their growing numbers. On the contrary, over the years the park’s boundaries have faced increasing pressure from human encroachment. This imbalance risks undermining the very progress Rwanda has made and endangers the delicate coexistence between people and wildlife. Expanding Volcanoes National Park has long been identified as a crucial step in safeguarding the future of mountain gorillas. The current size of the park is simply not sufficient to sustain a population that continues to rise. Gorillas require extensive ranges to forage, migrate and maintain healthy genetic diversity. Without additional land, they will face mounting challenges, from competition over food to heightened human-wildlife conflict. Expansion is therefore not a matter of luxury but of urgency. It is the logical continuation of Rwanda’s conservation journey, a step that must now be expedited with determination and clarity. However, conservation cannot be advanced at the expense of human dignity. Communities living along the borders of the park are not mere obstacles to expansion but essential partners in this process. For decades, they have borne both the benefits and the burdens of conservation. While tourism has created jobs and revenue, it has also restricted access to land and resources. Any expropriation in the name of expansion must therefore proceed with sensitivity and fairness. Livelihoods should not be disrupted without robust plans for resettlement, compensation and sustainable alternatives. Only by ensuring that families affected by expansion are provided with opportunities to thrive elsewhere can Rwanda demonstrate that conservation and human development go hand in hand. The world is watching Rwanda as it shapes the next chapter of this story. By moving swiftly to enlarge Volcanoes National Park while respecting the rights of its people, Rwanda can prove once again that it is possible to lead in conservation without leaving communities behind. This balance is not easy, but it is necessary. The good thing is that we will are not reinventing the wheel. This partnership has worked. Already, thousands of families eke their livelihood from the park, through several communitity projects funded from tourism revenues. The same spirit should be sustained.
