Karongi, Rwanda – October 31, 2025

From October 27 to 31, 2025, a training workshop was conducted for representatives of fisher cooperatives, water transport operators, farmers, and wetland users operating around Lake Kivu. The training brought together 197 participants from Rubavu, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro, and Rusizi districts, aiming to strengthen their knowledge on the sustainable management and protection of Lake Kivu and its surrounding wetlands.

Throughout the sessions, participants were reminded of their critical role in preserving Lake Kivu’s ecosystem amid increasing pressures from human activities, including unsustainable fishing, encroachment into buffer zones, agricultural runoff, and improper waste disposal. Facilitators guided them through Rwanda’s environmental laws, lake ecology, the impacts of plastic pollution, and community-based approaches to protecting water bodies.

Participants were urged to uphold best practices that safeguard the lake’s resources, ensuring long-term productivity and community well-being. The training also emphasized the importance of stronger collaboration between cooperatives, local authorities, and environmental committees to enhance monitoring, reporting, and compliance with national regulations.

The workshop concluded with participants committing to raise awareness within their cooperatives and communities and actively contribute to the sustainable future of Lake Kivu.

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