The newly approved Rwanda Nature Foundation (RNF) will oversee the management of Volcanoes and Gishwati-Mukura national parks, while the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) continues to provide strategic oversight to ensure conservation efforts remain aligned with national priorities and development goals.

Approved by the Cabinet last week, RNF is mandated to oversee wildlife conservation across the country. The foundation is expected to strengthen biodiversity conservation through scientific research, innovation and sustainable ecosystem management while improving park management to boost tourism, protect ecosystem services and generate greater socio-economic benefits for surrounding communities.

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Eugene Mutangana, Executive Secretary of RNF, said the establishment of the agency complements rather than replaces RDB&039;s conservation role.

"RNF will focus on operational conservation management, while RDB will continue providing strategic leadership, policy direction and oversight. RDB will also continue promoting tourism, supporting conservation policies and ensuring the country's conservation agenda remains aligned with national development priorities," he said.

He described the foundation as a dedicated institution focused entirely on protecting nature and biodiversity.

Mutangana said RNF has already been registered by the Rwanda Governance Board and is now completing the remaining operational requirements.

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Taking over two national parks

According to Mutangana, Volcanoes and Gishwati-Mukura national parks were previously managed directly by RDB.

Their transfer to RNF creates a specialised institution dedicated to operational management, biodiversity protection, research, partnerships and community engagement.

Akagera and Nyungwe national parks will remain under their existing public-private partnership arrangements, which he said have contributed significantly to their conservation success.

RNF will instead coordinate conservation partnerships and help ensure a unified national conservation agenda across different management models.

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Why the new agency was created

Mutangana said the country&039;s conservation achievements require a specialised institution capable of addressing emerging challenges such as financing, community engagement, ecosystem restoration and human-wildlife coexistence.

He said RNF will strengthen coordination among conservation experts and partners while providing a more flexible platform for implementing conservation interventions.

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Protecting wildlife beyond flagship species

Mutangana further said RNF's mandate extends beyond protecting iconic wildlife.

"It will support the conservation of wildlife resources as a whole, including mountain gorillas, elephants, chimpanzees, golden monkeys and many other species, as well as the ecosystems that sustain them," he said.

Its work will cover national parks, protected areas, nature reserves, restored ecosystems and areas where communities and wildlife interact.

Priorities and funding

RNF's priorities include strengthening management of protected areas, conserving biodiversity, increasing community participation, improving human-wildlife coexistence, promoting conservation research and innovation, restoring degraded ecosystems, mobilising sustainable financing and strengthening partnerships with conservation organisations and investors.

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The agency will initially be funded through government allocations and existing conservation resources before expanding to international conservation financing, partnerships and other innovative funding mechanisms aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability.

Experts welcome the move

Conservation experts have welcomed the creation of RNF, saying it addresses long-standing institutional gaps.

Dr Ange Imanishimwe, a zoology and conservation expert and founder of the Biodiversity Conservation Organisation (BIOCOOR), said the agency was one of the recommendations that emerged during consultations to develop the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Master Plan (2025–2050).

He said wildlife conservation had previously been managed within RDB, whose broad mandate made it difficult to focus exclusively on conservation.

The new structure, he added, will improve wildlife management, accelerate responses to conservation challenges and make it easier to attract funding from development partners.

Imanishimwe recommended recruiting experienced conservation professionals, strengthening partnerships with universities and conservation organisations, and establishing offices at every national park to improve service delivery and address persistent human-wildlife conflict.

Elisa Tumwesigye, founder of Social Actions for Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (SAEB), said RNF would provide dedicated oversight of wildlife conservation while improving resource mobilisation, community engagement and support for local conservation organisations.

He said stronger management of parks and protected areas could also boost eco-tourism revenue and attract more conservation funding.

He said RNF should also prioritise educating and engaging local communities and young people on the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation.

"Supporting local organisations involved in conservation, research and community engagement will create a more inclusive and sustainable conservation model."

He added that improved management of parks and protected areas could increase eco-tourism revenue and attract additional conservation funding.

Tumwesigye further recommended expanding support for local conservation organisations through increased funding, specialised training and stronger platforms for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Environmental health and economics expert Abias Maniragaba said the country has developed several biodiversity strategies and laws but lacked a dedicated institution to coordinate their implementation.

He noted that while the Rwanda Environment Management Authority regulates the sector, Rwanda Green Fund mobilises financing and RDB oversees tourism, RNF fills the long-standing gap of a specialised wildlife management institution.

Maniragaba also called for restoring indigenous tree species to improve wildlife habitats.

Biodiversity conservation scientist Beth Kaplin described RNF as a major milestone.

"Wildlife is a critical part of the country&039;s economy and ecology. Establishing an independent conservation institution recognises the importance of wildlife conservation and strengthens national conservation and research management to support effective biodiversity protection," she said.