A Cabinet meeting on Friday, July 24, approved the establishment of the Rwanda Nature Foundation (RNF), a new body that will help to strengthen the protection, conservation, and sustainable management of Rwanda's wildlife and protected areas. ALSO READ: Rwanda ranks 6th in wildlife conservation in Africa The foundation will oversee wildlife conservation across Rwanda, including the direct management of Gishwati-Mukura National Park and Volcanoes National Park, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. The Foundation will strengthen wildlife conservation through biodiversity protection, scientific research, innovation, and resilient ecosystem management, the Office of the Prime said in an explanatory note released after the announcement of the meeting resolutions. ALSO READ: Inside $255m volcanoes park expansion project It noted that enhanced management of national parks will support sustainable tourism, protect ecosystem services and deliver greater socio-economic benefits to surrounding communities. The new agency comes as Rwanda continues efforts to strengthen biodiversity conservation and address challenges such as human-wildlife conflict. ALSO READ: Senate urges faster review of wildlife compensation guidelines It also comes at a time the government is implementing the expansion of the Volcanoes National Park in a $255 million project that will see the park size increase by over 20 per cent.
