Rwanda is set to build a Smart Green Village in Musanze District as part of a broader plan to expand and restore Volcanoes National Park while improving the livelihoods of communities living around the protected area. The initiative is being developed under the $62 million Volcanoes Community Resilience Project, which is financed through $50 million in World Bank IDA funding and a $12 million PROGREEN grant. The programme aimed at strengthening climate resilience, improving natural resource management and supporting livelihoods in the Volcanoes region as well as reducing human-wildlife conflict. ALSO READ: Inside $255m volcanoes park expansion project The plan comes alongside efforts to expand Volcanoes National Park by about 3,740 hectares (about 23 per cent), creating additional habitat for the growing mountain gorilla population and strengthening conservation of the ecosystem. Planned relocation According to Eugene Mutangana, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Nature Foundation (RNF), the Smart Green Village is intended to form part of the response to the social and economic impact of the expansion. Rwanda Development Board (RDB) documents indicate that more than 500 households could require physical relocation as a result of the park expansion. The government has earmarked approximately 50 hectares in Kaguhu Cell, Kinigi Sector, for the development of the settlement. The site is near Kinigi town and is intended to accommodate future expansion needs, according to the documents. The exact number of households requiring relocation could change as implementation progresses and affected households are identified and assessed. The proposed village is expected to incorporate climate-resilient housing and shared infrastructure, with the wider concept centred on green infrastructure, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The development is also intended to serve as a model for climate-resilient settlement planning that could inform similar initiatives in the future. Why a new settlement is being considered The proposed village comes as Rwanda seeks to increase the size of Volcanoes National Park while reducing pressure on land in communities surrounding the protected area. Mutangana said population density in the Kinigi area and surrounding locations is already high, making land availability a key consideration as conservation plans advance. “The data show that the population per square kilometre in Kinigi and its surroundings ranges between 1,000 to 1,100. That is densely populated,” he said. The challenge is therefore not only where affected households will be relocated, he said, but also how the new settlement can provide residents with infrastructure and livelihood opportunities while reducing pressure on the surrounding environment. “The programme is also designed to improve livelihoods for more than 17,000 people, while reducing human-wildlife conflicts by 80%, ensuring that the future of conservation brings great opportunity and improved coexistence for surrounding communities,” Mutangana added. When will the Smart Green Village be developed? Mutangana said the initiative is expected to be unveiled during the 21st edition of Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony scheduled for September 4, with construction expected to begin towards the end of the year. ALSO READ: Kwita Izina returns in September for 21st edition The Volcanoes Community Resilience Project is being implemented from March 2024 to December 2028, with an expected project closing date in January 2029.
