The eastern province has long carried the scars of deforestation. Once characterised by savannah woodlands, wetlands and scattered forests, the region gradually lost much of its tree cover as communities cleared land for farming and relied heavily on firewood and charcoal. The result has been visible: shrinking forests, worsening drought, and fragile livelihoods. ALSO READ: Depletion of forest resources at 9.6 percent Yet the same farmers who once depended on cutting trees are now proving they can be the most powerful force in restoring them. Across districts such as Kayonza, Kirehe and Ngoma, farmers are increasingly embracing agroforestry and community-led tree planting. Their participation is not just desirable, it is essential if Rwanda is to meet its ambitious goal of restoring two million hectares of degraded land by 2030. ALSO READ: How women have taken lead in deforestation fight in Eastern Province The reason is simple: farmers manage most of the land. Projects aimed at landscape restoration in the Eastern Province are already demonstrating how effective farmer-led initiatives can be. Agroforestry, which involves integrating trees with crops and livestock has become a key strategy, accounting for a large share of restored land in ongoing programmes. This approach not only rebuilds ecosystems but also strengthens rural livelihoods. Farmers planting trees such as Calliandra and Leucaena are improving livestock feed while stabilising soils. ALSO READ: Govt turns to agroforestry to increase forest cover Others are combining forestry with beekeeping, creating alternative income streams that reduce the need to cut trees prematurely. In some communities, improved cookstoves are also reducing household demand for firewood. These efforts show that restoration succeeds when it aligns with farmers’ economic interests. But scaling up this progress will require sustained support. Access to seedlings, training in agroforestry practices, incentives for private forest management, and wider adoption of energy-efficient cooking technologies must remain priorities. Cooperatives and community forest groups should also be strengthened to enable farmers to manage trees collectively and benefit from timber, honey and other forest products. Equally important is the continued promotion of indigenous species that are better suited to the Eastern Province’s semi-arid climate and play a crucial role in restoring biodiversity. The greening of the Eastern Province will not be achieved by government programmes alone. It will depend on thousands of farmers choosing to plant, nurture and protect trees on their land. Encouragingly, many are already doing exactly that.
