The government has announced that it will increase the area of nationally-protected land in an effort to promote eco-tourism. The expansion will focus on islands in Rwanda. The move to gazette more areas is in line with Rwanda’s Vision 2020 that targets to increase the country’s bio-diversity. “Protection of islands is a contribution to the economy and livelihoods of the local communities through ecologically-sustainable income generation created by eco-tourism,” explained Clarisse Kawera, communications officer for Rwanda Environmental Management Authority. According to World Bank statistics, 10.55 per cent of the land in Rwanda falls under a protected area. This includes national parks, forest reserves, and marshlands. Yet some ecosystems are still not adequately represented in Rwanda’s protected land. Changing some islands into protected areas is part of this effort to represent Rwanda’s many different plants and environments. Islands on Lake Kivu are among the key targets. “A formal and well studied conservation and management plan for these islands on Kivu and Bulera-Ruhondo lakes is being finalised,” explained Rose Mukankomeje, the Director-General of the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority. “We hope that this plan will inform us better on how best to conserve these islands,” Mukankomeje said. These islands are prime targets because of their potential for eco-tourism. According to the Rwanda Development Board, the tourism sector generated $281.8m (Rwf178b) in 2012, much of which came from visits to parks and other natural areas. As part of the initiative, chosen islands that used to have forests on them will have their forests restored. Wetlands on certain islands will also be zoned into protected areas. The focus on Rwanda’s islands will last until the end of the year, and is in line with the United Nation’s spotlight on Island Biodiversity. Rwanda has already made significant progress in preserving biodiversity. It is one of the few countries in the world that has more than 10 per cent of its land protected, up from 8 per cent in 2010. Last year, a law protecting biodiversity which included planning, monitoring, awareness, and protection of more land was drafted. The increase of land reserves in Rwanda also puts the country on track to meet the Aichi Biodiversity target. This is an international target developed by the Convention on Biodiversity to have 17 per cent of land conserved by 2020. “It is important to remind the public that Rwanda does not conserve her natural resources and protected areas for the sake of conserving,” explained Mukankomeje, adding that resources are conserved for the better of all Rwandans.
