Overall, the Green Amayaga project will advance the restoration of the degraded forests in the area, the landscape of which covers more than 550 hectares, or 0.14% of Rwanda’s total national natural forests, 10% of the planted forest as well as many patches of remnant forest. The Amayaga region hosts the 354 hectare natural forest of Kibirizi-Muyira as well as the Busoga forest reserves.

The project targets forests that host important biodiversity and provide crucial ecosystem services to local communities. The project will enhance sustainable land management in the agricultural lands in the landscape, increase the productivity of plantation forests and reduce the negative impacts of household energy systems on the forests by introducing improved cookstoves as well as sustainable charcoal production. 

Regarding climate adaptation and resilience, the project will strengthen the resilience of communities and biodiversity and contribute to climate change stabilization particularly in the District of Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyanza and Gisagara.  

The Green Amayaga project will also increase the erosion control and protection of marshlands and buffer zones, this will also increase agriculture productivity. In total, 263,000 hectares of agricultural land will be restored and rehabilitated. Small and large watersheds will also be rehabilitated and restored to provide water for human consumption as well as livestock and agriculture activities. 

The project will improve the livelihoods of local communities, increase agricultural productivity and food security, create green jobs as well as promote gender equality and expand forest management knowledge. More than 1.3 million people will benefit from the project, the majority of whom are women and young people. 

The project will create approximately 150,000 jobs during the six years of implementation and provide 7,500 households with livestock to improve food security and increase incomes. In addition 60,000 households will be provided with improved and energy efficient cook stoves to reduce wood consumption and greenhouse gases emissions, and halt indoor respiratory diseases.