At the same time, citizens have been urged to avoid activities that could trigger fires in the protected area, warning that such incidents consume large sums of money that could otherwise support other development priorities.
This was announced in Karongi District on June 11, 2026, during a meeting that brought together park management, representatives of security organs, and local government authorities.
The Chief Executive Officer of Nyungwe Management Company (NMC), Protais Niyigaba, said that after poaching, wildfires rank as the second most destructive threat to biodiversity in the park. He noted that it can take more than 100 years for ecosystems affected by fire to fully recover.
He explained that once fire affects an area, fast-growing invasive grasses quickly take over, replacing the original vegetation. Restoring such areas requires removing these invasive species and replanting indigenous trees and plants to rebuild the natural forest ecosystem.
This restoration work will cover more than 4,500 hectares affected by different fire incidents in Nyungwe over the years.
Niyigaba emphasized that the impact of wildfires should not only be measured in ecological damage but also in the high financial cost required to restore the ecosystem.
The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund and coordinated by the Rwanda Forest Authority (RFA), while implementation in Nyungwe National Park will be handled by NMC.
He said: “This project will restore 4,500 hectares over five years at a cost of 6.706 million US dollars, which is close to 10 billion Rwandan francs. We will work closely with districts surrounding Nyungwe so that 80 percent of this funding goes directly to local residents, since the activities are labour-intensive. We also urge citizens to avoid setting fires in the park, as the funds being used for restoration could have supported other development initiatives.”
The Vice Mayor of Karongi District in charge of economic development, Ntakirutimana Julienne, said the project will create employment opportunities and encouraged residents to apply for available jobs. She also urged them to save through cooperatives so their earnings can be more beneficial.
Workers recruited for the project will be provided with temporary accommodation inside Nyungwe National Park, along with food and water, and will return home once every two weeks. The project is expected to employ about 1,500 workers, each earning 3,000 Rwandan francs per day.
Nyungwe National Park covers an area of 1,020 square kilometres. It is known for its ancient montane forest that protects important water catchments.
The park hosts rich biodiversity, including 13 species of primates, 85 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 40 species of reptiles, and 38 species of amphibians.
Located in south-western Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park spans 23 sectors across Karongi, Nyamasheke, and Rusizi districts in the Western Province, as well as Nyaruguru and Nyamagabe districts in the Southern Province.
