KIGALI, Rwanda — Across Rwanda, a gradual change is taking place in the way some communities perceive biodiversity conservation. What was once largely viewed as the responsibility of government institutions, park authorities, or conservation organizations is increasingly being understood by some citizens as a shared responsibility closely connected to their livelihoods, health and future.
Rwanda is home to diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes and savannah landscapes. These ecosystems provide essential services such as water, soil protection and climate regulation, while also supporting agriculture, tourism and the livelihoods of millions of people.
For some communities living near forests, wetlands and protected areas, increased awareness of the importance of biodiversity is changing attitudes. Residents are increasingly recognizing that protecting these ecosystems is not simply about protecting plants and animals, but also about protecting resources that directly support their daily lives.
From seeing conservation as someone else’s responsibility
For years, some residents living near protected areas considered conservation mainly the responsibility of park rangers and government authorities. However, awareness campaigns and community conservation programmes are gradually changing this perception.
In communities surrounding Volcanoes National Park, for example, some residents have become directly involved in conservation activities. Community members who have received training on biodiversity conservation say that the experience has helped them understand their role in protecting the environment.
Beatrice Nyirabureteri, one of the community members involved in conservation efforts, said that before receiving training, she believed that environmental protection was mainly the responsibility of authorities and park rangers.
Her experience illustrates how access to knowledge can transform local communities from passive observers into active partners in conservation.
From seeing wildlife as a problem to understanding its value
Human-wildlife interaction remains one of the challenges facing biodiversity conservation. Communities living close to protected areas can sometimes experience conflicts when wild animals damage crops or threaten livestock.
However, conservation approaches that take community livelihoods into account are helping create greater understanding between people and nature.
In different parts of Rwanda, activities such as tree planting, wetland restoration, protection of riverbanks and sustainable agriculture are increasingly being promoted alongside efforts to improve community livelihoods.
The restoration of ecosystems is particularly important as Rwanda seeks to strengthen its resilience to climate change and protect natural resources for future generations.
When communities benefit, conservation becomes easier
One of the strongest ways to encourage communities to protect biodiversity is to ensure that conservation contributes to their livelihoods.
Across Rwanda, conservation programmes are increasingly linking environmental protection with opportunities for communities through sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism, sustainable livestock farming and other environmentally friendly activities.
In the Eastern Province, for example, community-based biodiversity conservation programmes are working to strengthen the capacity of local communities to protect biodiversity while also addressing climate change and livelihood challenges.
Such approaches demonstrate that biodiversity conservation does not have to be separated from economic development. When communities see tangible benefits from healthy ecosystems, they are more likely to become long-term partners in conservation.
Biodiversity is more than animals in national parks
For many people, the word biodiversity is immediately associated with gorillas, monkeys, elephants and other wildlife found in national parks.
But biodiversity is much broader.
It includes plants, animals, insects, fish, microorganisms and the ecosystems in which they live. A wetland, for example, is not simply unused land. It can be an important source of water and a natural system that helps regulate floods.
Similarly, protecting forests can help conserve water sources, protect soil and reduce the effects of climate change.
This broader understanding is important because it helps communities recognize that biodiversity conservation is directly connected to their everyday lives.
A change that starts with communities
The growing involvement of communities in biodiversity conservation is an indication that environmental protection is gradually becoming a shared responsibility in Rwanda.
However, sustaining this change will require continued public awareness, access to information and meaningful community participation in conservation decisions.
When citizens understand that forests, wetlands, wildlife and other natural resources are not simply the responsibility of authorities but part of a shared national heritage, attitudes can change.
Rwanda’s experience shows that biodiversity conservation is not only about protecting nature. It is also about empowering communities to understand the value of nature and giving them a role in protecting it.
The future of Rwanda’s biodiversity will therefore depend not only on laws, protected areas and conservation institutions, but also on how communities understand, value and participate in protecting the natural heritage around them.
Jean Elysee Byiringiro / Indatwa.rw
