The ministry of environment has announced a move to engage local communities in conservation decision making in its latest efforts to save some small natural forests from human encroachment. According to statistics, at least 7,000 hectares of small natural forests in different parts of the country are under threats related to human activities—agriculture, poaching, settlement, wood pilfering and fires. While the small and somewhat isolated natural resources cannot attract the interest of big investors their protection and conservation remains key. The government is also mobilising resources for restoration of critical ecosystems including natural forests. Some 30.4 per cent or 724,695 hectares of Rwanda’s land is now covered by forest. Of these 130,850 hectares is natural forests, 161,843 wooded savannah and 43,963 hectares is shrubs. Among the activities that have led to the near extinction of this forest include illegal hunting, clay mining and logging, which have also decimated wildlife. Human activity has also triggered huge losses in biodiversity richness in Kibirizi-Muyira Natural Forest located in Nyanza District. The few surviving creatures in the forest include birds, monkeys, and rabbits, according to residents. Due to hunting, some animal species have faced extinction, involvement of the community will further lead to progress in undoing the vice. Rwanda has committed to restore two million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes by 2030. Currently, 900,000 hectares are being restored. The country has invested $652 million in forest landscape restoration programmes, according to the ministry of environment. Including local communities in the conservation efforts will among other things breed ownership and sustainability maintenance of forest cover. This will among other things require awareness raising initiatives as well as educating members of the community on the benefits of conservation.
