WB, Rwanda sign US$ 9.5 to restore Gishwati and Mukura forests

{ Rwanda and the World Bank today signed US$ 9.5 million to help boost land management of Gishwati and Mukura forests, improve the environment, local livelihoods, and climate resilience.}

Gishwati and Mukura area lost most of its natural forest in recent decades, and has suffered from severe soil erosion, landslides and floods. But some patches of native forest remain, alongside important biodiversity, including a small population of chimpanzees.

The objective of the Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation Project is to restore the degraded Gistwati-Mukura landscape, increasing tree cover, restoring indigenous woodland in deforested areas enhancing the biodiversity of the remaining degraded forest reserves and providing global environmental benefits.

The financing in the form of grants from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) will increase the number and diversity of trees to help improve soil fertility, stabilize slopes, regulate stream flow and expand the resource base for local livelihoods.

Overall, the project is expected to cost US$ 12 million with Government of Rwanda counter fund of US$ 2.6 million.

Speaking after the signing event the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Claver Gatete said the project will help to promote direct and indirect economic values to landscape management that go beyond local agricultural output, and include tourism and protection of water resources for energy and water supply.

“We cannot achieve sustainable development at the expense of the environment,” Minister Gatete said.

The project will be implemented by Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) within a period of 5 years.

World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda Carolyn Turk said, “The World Bank is delighted to be contributing to the sustainable development of Rwanda through this new operation. Rwandese people living fragile physical environments, such as the area around Gishwati and Mukura, struggle with interlinked problems of water management, declining soil fertility and issues associated with diminishing biodiversity. The project will provide integrated solutions to these challenges and help to boost the livelihoods of some of the poorest households in Rwanda.”

ARI