Over 27 hectares of restored land are expected to create critical new habitat and increase food availability for mountain gorillas and other unique species that call the Volcanoes National Park home, according to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF).

AWF is an Africa-based global conservation organization protecting wildlife and their habitats as essential parts of a modern and prosperous Africa.

On May 18, AWF announced in a statement that it officially handed the restored land to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) for inclusion in the Volcanoes National Park.

It indicated that the addition was achieved after four years of collaborative efforts with EcoPlanet Bamboo Rwanda.

The restored land boasts 28,000 newly planted trees, creating a vital expansion for the park’s ecosystem, and signifies a major win for conservation in Rwanda, AWF indicated.

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Volcanoes National Park, established in 1925, is a sanctuary for mountain gorillas, the world’s most endangered ape.

Despite their critically endangered status, mountain gorillas represent a remarkable conservation success story.

Thanks to dedicated efforts by the Government of Rwanda and its partners, gorilla numbers climbed from a low of 285 in 1978 to more than 1,000 [currently]. This population growth is creating a new challenge: ensuring sufficient habitat to support these thriving gorillas, IWF observed.

In a press statement, AWF CEO Kaddu Sebunya said it marks a monumental milestone in our relentless journey to conserve Africa's precious wildlife and habitat.

"Having worked with the Government of Rwanda for over forty years, the African Wildlife Foundation is immensely proud to hand over this restored land to the Rwanda Development Board for integration into the Volcanoes National Park.”

He added, "By securing and restoring this land, we are taking a crucial step in addressing these challenges. Undoubtedly, it serves as a model for future conservation initiatives, demonstrating that we can make a tangible difference with collaboration and dedication.”

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Rwanda plans to implement a project to expand the Volcanoes National Park that is expected to cost $255 million (approximately Rwf330 billion). It aims to ensure a better habitat for the mountain gorillas.

This initiative will expand the park by approximately 23 per cent, increasing its size by 37.4 square kilometres (or 3,740 hectares), and will see 3,400 households expropriated and resettled, according to RDB. Its pilot phase was expected to kick off in 2024.

Gorilla tourism, which drives high-end attraction visiting in Rwanda, generated revenues of $113 million, which represents a quarter of $445 million tourism revenues that Rwanda registered in 2022, according to data from RDB’s 2022 annual report.