The Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), today launched the Nyungwe–Ruhango Corridor Restoration Project, a major initiative aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience, and improving livelihoods for communities living along the Nyungwe–Ruhango corridor.

Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented with technical support from the World Bank, the five-year project (2025–2030) forms part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to promote sustainable landscape management and nature-based solutions under the Green Amayaga Program.

The project will restore forests, wetlands, riverbanks, and degraded landscapes across parts of Nyanza, Ruhango, and Nyamagabe districts, helping to reverse ecosystem degradation while improving the resilience of communities to climate-related shocks.

Speaking at the launch, officials highlighted that the initiative builds on lessons and successes from previous landscape restoration efforts and reflects Rwanda’s shift toward a programmatic approach to environmental protection, where ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, and livelihood improvement are addressed in an integrated manner.

The corridor faces increasing environmental pressures including soil erosion, land degradation, biodiversity loss, floods, and landslides, which threaten ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods. Through ecosystem-based restoration and climate-smart land management practices, the project will help stabilize landscapes, protect biodiversity, and safeguard ecosystem services that communities depend on. 

Key interventions will include afforestation and reforestation, wetland and riverbank rehabilitation, agroforestry promotion, and sustainable land management practices, combined with initiatives to support climate-resilient livelihoods and community participation. 

Over its five-year implementation period, the project is expected to:

• Restore over 2,100 hectares of degraded forests and wetlands

• Improve sustainable management of nearly 9,000 hectares of productive landscapes

• Directly benefit close to 290,000 people, with women representing at least 50% of beneficiaries

• Promote nature-based livelihoods and green jobs, particularly for youth and local enterprises. 

“Nyungwe–Ruhango Corridor Restoration Project is part of Rwanda’s programmatic approach to landscape restoration. By expanding the work initiated under the Green Amayaga Project, we are scaling up ecosystem restoration efforts that protect biodiversity, reduce climate risks, and support sustainable livelihoods.” Said Juliet Kabera, Director General of REMA.

By restoring critical ecosystems and strengthening sustainable land management, the project will contribute to reducing climate risks such as floods and landslides, improving agricultural productivity, and protecting biodiversity in one of Rwanda’s most ecologically important landscapes connected to Nyungwe National Park.

The initiative also supports Rwanda’s national development and climate commitments, including Vision 2050, the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy, and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

The launch of Nyungwe–Ruhango Corridor Restoration Project demonstrates Rwanda’s continued leadership in integrating environmental conservation, climate action, and sustainable development, ensuring that ecosystems are restored while communities thrive.