![\"Claver,](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/144_1_.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nIn the early 1990s, one of his older brothers was recruited to work with WCS, further fueling Claver\u2019s ambition to be part of a team that mitigated threats to the forest and promoted its conservation.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy brother used to educate the whole family on why we have to conserve the forest. So, I was really interested,\u201d Claver recalls with nostalgia.<\/p>\n
As he grew older, his passion for conservation deepened. He got his first opportunity to work in the park while in secondary school, where he assisted researchers and cleaners during school holidays. He also founded and led his school\u2019s environmental club, collaborating with PCFN leaders who often took students into the forest to learn about conservation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked closely with the PCFN leaders and managers. They would bring their cars to the school, take us to the forest, explain everything, and then bring us back,\u201d he remembers.<\/p>\n
After completing secondary school, Claver trained as a teacher and worked as a primary school teacher for one and a half years. However, his passion for conservation led him to transition first to a multilingual receptionist role at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and later, in 2000, to the position of park ranger and tourist guide.<\/p>\n
Twenty-four years later, his steadfast commitment to preserving the natural world has earned him international recognition. He was recently selected as the sole global winner of the prestigious Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award for his work on bird and primate conservation in Nyungwe National Park.<\/p>\n The 51-year-old father of four will be honoured on November 27, 2024, in London at a ceremony addressed by Prince William and attended by other category winners from across Africa.<\/p>\n Over the past decade, the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Awards have celebrated African conservation heroes, recognizing the dedication and risks rangers face daily to protect wildlife and fragile ecosystems.<\/p>\n Previous winners include Jealous Mpofu from Zimbabwe (2023), Neddy Mulimo from Zambia (2022), Suleiman Saidu from Nigeria (2021), and Amos Gwema from Zimbabwe (2020). This year, the award celebrates Claver\u2019s contributions to Nyungwe National Park, where he has risen through the ranks to become a Senior Ranger and Guide.<\/p>\n Throughout his career, Claver\u2019s diligence, hard work, and honesty have earned him the respect of colleagues and the community. Some of his notable achievements include habituating colobus monkeys and chimpanzees and launching birdwatching clubs at schools surrounding the park, such as GS Gisakura. Through these clubs, he mentors students to develop a deeper understanding of and commitment to protecting Nyungwe\u2019s ecosystem which includes over 300 bird species.<\/p>\n \u201cSome students from the birdwatching clubs have gone on to become park rangers and guides,\u201d notes Protais Niyigaba, the park manager.<\/p>\n Niyigaba describes Claver as a selfless conservationist whose initiatives have reduced poaching and overdependence on park resources.<\/p>\n \u201cClaver is a naturalist. Born near the park, even his name, Ntoyinkima, reflects his connection to wildlife\u2014it means \u2018I\u2019ve luckily found a monkey.\u2019 His work bridges the needs of the community and the park, promoting coexistence,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Claver has accomplished this through initiatives such as providing goats to local communities in Nyamasheke and promoting goat farming as an alternative to poaching. He also supported the establishment of a cooperative for former poachers, now trained as freelance guides, enabling them to earn livelihoods connected to conservation.<\/p>\n With more than two decades of experience, Claver is known for his expertise, kindness, and mentorship. He collaborates with researchers and shares his extensive knowledge, particularly on bird conservation, contributing to research projects across Rwanda, including those in Volcanoes and Akagera National Parks.<\/p>\n \u201cThese initiatives improve livelihoods while protecting nature. Claver doesn\u2019t just do his job for a salary\u2014he goes beyond, creating opportunities for his community,\u201d Niyigaba adds.<\/p>\n Additionally, local communities benefit from government projects funded through tourism revenue-sharing programs, such as constructing classrooms and water infrastructure. These efforts have promoted a sense of ownership and responsibility for conserving the park.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, the communities see the park as a source of support. Some even help control poaching by others who don\u2019t yet understand,\u201d Claver explains.<\/p>\n Claver\u2019s award includes 30,000 pounds (approximately Frw51 million) prize, which he plans to reinvest in community projects.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are projects I couldn\u2019t achieve due to limited resources. This award will allow me to take those projects forward and encourage more community involvement in conservation,\u201d he says with optimism.<\/p>\n This is Claver\u2019s first international award and his second overall. In 2007, he received the Rhinoceros Recognition for his conservation efforts.<\/p>\n![\"Claver](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/birding_nyungwe_rwanda_4.jpg\")
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