LAFRECMagLandscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation

Issue No 001 October-December 2015 A Quarterly Online Newsletter

LAFRECMagLandscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation Project

lForest Conservation lClimate resilienCe llivelihoods improvement

Issue No 002 January-March 2016 A Quarterly Online Newsletter

REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

Restoration of Gishwati - Mukura landscape: How it is done

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Dear Readers,Dear Stakeholders,

It is our pleasure to bring to you the 2nd edition of LAFREC Magazine, a Quarterly Newsletter that discusses the latest about the activities of the Landscape Approach to Forest Res-toration and Conservation, a Project which works to rehabili-tate and restore the Gishwati-Mukura Landscape.

A few months ago, we unveiled the maiden issue of LAFREC Project Newsletter through which we discussed the project’s work and the progress of initial activities.

Through this 2nd Issue we look at the efforts currently being made for the rehabilitation of Gishwati-Mukura Forests-which form the newest National Park in Rwanda.

First, we discuss the restoration of illegal mining sites and re-moval of exotic species, among others. We also look at the ef-forts to introduce silvo-pastoral practices within the Gishwati rangelands as a way of boosting tree cover in the area and in-crease production from animal husbandry.

In addition we also explore the opportunities that come with the project investments for communities living in the Gishwa-ti area area. We look at social, economical and environmental benefits.

We hope that you will enjoy reading this issue and ultimately will learn about the initiatives to restore the highly degraded Gishwati-Mukura Landscape as stated in the project objective.

We also count on your feedback to keep making this publication interesting for you as well as your continued support to ensure that the project delivers expected results.

Feel free to send us your comments by emailing jpbucyensenge@rema.gov.rw or via our social media pages, both on Facebook (LAFREC Project) and Twitter (@LAFREC_Project).

Enjoy the read.

Foreword

@LAFREC_Project

LAFREC Project

LAFRECProject

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Patrick NSABIMANA LAFREC Project Coordinator

Understanding LAFREC Project: Interventions & expected results ...............................................P3-6

Gishwati-Mukura Restoration: How it is done and what to expect ...............................................P7

Gishwati-Mukura Mining Taskforce is estab-lished .........................................................................P11

Gishwati-Mukura: Rwanda’s newest National National Park. .....................................................P13

CONTENT

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LAFREC OBJECTIVE

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LAFREC project focuses on rehabilitating the Gish-

wati-Mukura forests and its biodiversity, improving sustainable land manage-

ment and agro-forestry, and introducing silvo-pas-

toral approaches. This will be complemented by

direct support to commu-nity livelihoods, improved flood forecasting and pre-

paredness, and invest-ments in terracing to pre-

vent land erosion.

The Project’s interventions 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.

LAFREC INTERVENTIONS

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Environmental benefits from im-provements in vegetation cover and soil conservation will come in the form of: (i) improved native biodiversity within a global prior-ity eco-region; (ii) carbon seques-tration; (iii) improved watershed function, reducing sedimentation and related costs to downstream water infrastructure and fish-eries; and (iv) higher productiv-ity and diversity of natural-re-source-based livelihoods.

Sustainable land management and watershed rehabilitation have intrinsic adaptation benefits.

Climate resilience benefits will additionally accrue from diversi-fication of livelihoods, targeting the most vulnerable, and im-provement in flood warning, and preparation systems for those faced with the most acute climate threats.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

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The Following table summarises the expected outcomes from the project interventions:

PROPOSED ACTIVITY MARKET NONMARKET

Protection of Mukura-Gishwati National Park

Development of Tourism Plant and animal biodiversity, endangered and threatened wildlife species protection

Forest plantation establishment on degraded lands

Carbon credits for new growth in established plantations, harvesting returnshigher productivity and diversity of natural-resource-based livelihoods

improved watershed function, reducing sedimentation and related costs to downstream water infrastructure and fisheries

Sylvo pastoralism Improve the overall productivity ofrangelands, fodder and forest products

Increase the forest cover and the biological connectivity

PROJECT IMPACT

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HOW COMMUNITIES WILL BENEFIT

The project beneficiaries are

rural residents of the Gishwa-

ti-Mukura landscape, who will

benefit directly from support

for sustainable intensifica-

tion of agricultural production

through improved land man-

agementol, livelihoods diver-

sification and improved flood

warning and response systems.

Residents living in the Gish-

wati-Mukura area, including

farmers who are highly vul-

nerable to natural disasters,

will benefit directly from in-

creased agricultural produc-

tion through improved land

management, livelihoods diver-

sification and improved flood

warning and response systems.

LAFREC will also provide

grants to small income gener-

ating activities to improve the

living conditions of local com-

munities

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Gishwati- Mukura :The restoration Process

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r How the restoration of Gishwati-Mukura Landscape is done

Gishwati-Mukura restoration

LAFREC is working to upgrade the remnant Gishwati-Mukura natural forests

The Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Con-servation (LAFREC) Project, is already working for the res-toration of Gishwati-Muku-ra National Park. Under the forest-friendly and cli-mate-resilient restoration of Gishwati-Mukura landscape component, LAFREC works for the improvement of ecosystem functions and services in the Gishwati-Mukura landscape

The project is working to up-grade the remnant Gishwa-ti-Mukura natural forests area.

Investments in this protected area are expected to strength-en management and acceler-ate ecological restoration of the Gishwati-Mukura National Park and to improve the pro-tection of two key biodiversity refugia within the NileCongo

crest.

Under the current activities, the restoration of degraded natural habitats have started with the removal of exotic spe-cies from within the Park.

In addition, physical demarca-tion of the Park and its buffer zones, according to coordi-nates of the Law establishing Gishwati-Mukura Nation-al Park, are also set to start soon. This will be followed by the planting of native species. Currently tree nurseries are under preparation

In areas where illegal mining has taken place and where trees and ecosystems have been seriously damaged, the backfilling and restoration of the sites are ongoing before the actual plantation.

Exotic species, such as Eucalyptus, are being removed from the core natural forests in a systematic way

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Gishwati Mukura Landscape Restoration

LAFREC works to promote sustainable land management in the Gishwati area. This photo show terraces under construction in Rusebeya Sector, Rutsiro District. Below is an indigenous tree nursery in the same dustrict where plants shall be grown for the restoration of the Forests and increase of tree cover within the Gishwati-Mukura Landscape

Beyond the core forests, the project is working on manage-ment of the broader Gishwa-ti-Mukura landscape to en-hance both production and watershed values, whilst cap-italizing on opportunities to increase the representation of native forest elements and therefore biodiversity connec-tivity in the landscape.

Investments focus on estab-lishment of radical terraces, protection of rivers within the Gishwati-Mukura Corridor and introduction of agro-for-estry systems-which also pro-mote indigenous tree species to boost tree cover in the land-scape.

LAFREC is also working to introduce silvo-pastoralism in the Gishwati rangelands. Cur-rently, activities to establish trees on ridge-tops, extreme slopes, riparian buffers, and as live fences, shelter belts and shade trees, are at initial phase.

P8

ABOUT SILVO-PASTORALISMSilvo-pastoralism is a form of agro-forestry system consisting of the trees (woody pe-rennials) and pasture and animal compo-nents whereby for-estry and grazing of domesticated animals is combined in a mutu-ally beneficial way.

It is specifically de-signed and managed for the production of

trees, tree products, forage, and livestock in one integrated pasture system.

Silvo-pastoralism is presently not prac-ticed in the rangelands in Gishwati-Mukura landscape but LAFREC project plans to pro-mote the practice in the region.

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Gishwati-Mukura Forests restoration

PROJECT ACTIVITIES UNIT TARGETS

RUTSIRO DISTRICT

Rehabilitation of Mukura Gishwati Reserve

Backfilling and Restoration of illegal mining sites Ha 14

Removal of exotic species and enrichment Ha 63

Reforestation of Mukura area Ha 45

Reforestation of Gishwati area Ha 439

Rehabilitation of Mukura Gishwati Corridor in Rutsiro District

Rehabilitation of Nyamakanda Riverbanks Km 8.2

Rehabilitation of Rutsiro Riverbanks Km 14.6

Rehabilitation of Satinsyi Riverbanks Km 18.2

Watershed rehabilitation by agroforestry system with 20% of indigenous species Ha 615

Watershed rehabilitation by radical terraces Ha 64.1

Planting of primarily natural forest in micro-catchment protection strips Ha 355.7

Improved woodlot Ha 168.3

Rehabilitation of Gishwati Landscape by sylvo-pastoralism approach

Establishment of sylvopastoralism Ha 100

NGORORERO DISTRICT

Rehabilitation of Mukura Gishwati Corridor in Ngororero District

Rehabilitation of Satinsyi Riverbanks Km 22.69

Rehabilitation of Rucanzogera Riverbanks Km 2.68

Watershed rehabilitation by agroforestry system with 20% of indigenous species Ha 380.5

Watershed rehabilitation by radical terraces Ha 50.2

Planting of primarily natural forest in micro-catchment protection strips Ha 278.3

Improved woodlot Ha 131.7

Rehabilitation of Gishwati Landscape by sylvo- pastoralism

Establishment of Sylvo-pastoralism Ha 100

NYABIHU DISTRICT

Rehabilitation of Gishwati Landscape by sylvo-pastoralism approach Establishment of Sylvo-pastoralism Ha 150

RUBAVU DISTRICT

Rehabilitation of Gishwati Landscape by sylvo-pastoralism Approach

Establishment of Sylvo-pastoralism Ha 150

To rehabilitate the Gishwati Mukura Landscape, LAFREC is undertaking the following activities:

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With the aim of promoting sustain-able mining practices and curtail-ing the negative impacts of illegal mining within and around Gishwa-ti-Mukura National Park, a Mining Taskforce has been created to un-dertake a review of mining activi-ties in the Gishwati and Mukura landscape and harmonise them with conservation activities.

The taskforce will also develop strategies to ensure that legal min-ing activities are done sustainably and promote and emphasise en-vironment-friendly practices. The taskforce’s inaugural meeting was held at the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) on Thursday March 17, 2016.

The taskforce members are drawn from various ministries, govern-ment institutions, mining associ-ations, security organs and local government agencies. It was es-tablished based on recommenda-tions from the National Technical Advisory Committee meeting of the Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LA-FREC) project and will play an ad-visory role.

Mukura forest, in particular, will receive a lot of attention from the Taskforce members because is the most threatened by illegal mining, with trees being uprooted and the forest’s ecosystem damaged.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting

of the taskforce, Dr Michael Bary-abirema, Deputy Director Gener-al in charge of Geology and Mines at the Rwanda Natural Resourc-es Authority and a member of the Taskforce, noted that it provides an opportunity to ensure compli-ance and sustainable mining in the Gishwati-Mukura area.

“The establishment of the task-force is one step forward towards promoting best mining practices in this critical zone. We believe that its contribution to the good health of the park will be tremendous,” Dr Biryabarema said.

The first inspection exercise of the Taskforce is scheduled in the com-ing weeks.

WORKING TO STOP ILLEGAL MINING

Illegal mining has caused serious damages to Mukura Forest. LAFREC is undertaking the backfilling and restoration of the illegal mining sites before the actual plantation of indigenous species

The Taskforce will work to harmonise mining activities with conservation activities

r Mukura Gishwati Mining Taskforce is established

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rProject stakeholders train on forest management, land husbandry techniques

CAPACITY BUILDING

The Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LAFREC) project successful-ly conducted a 3-day training on forest manage-ment, land husbandry and agro-forestry.

The training is part of efforts to build the capaci-ty of our stakeholders as a way of ensuring their contribution to the implementation and monitor-ing of the project activities.

It was held between 17th-19th February 2016 in Karongi District and brought together 58 partic-ipants who included our staff, agronomists from all sectors where activities of land husbandry and watershed management are implemented, Dis-trict Forestry and Natural Resources Officers from Rutsiro and Ngororero Districts and field techni-cians.

The training sought to increase trainees' under-standing of the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities. It was also a great opportunity to share information, experi-ences and lessons learnt so that all of us can ben-efit from each other and achieve our respective goals in natural resources management.

Some of the participants during a session on agro-forestry led by Prof. Jean Nduwamungu from the University of Rwanda

TOPICS COVERED

The training covered the following topics:

Forest management,Land husbandry, and agro-Forestry.

vu

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r Law creating Gishwati-Mukura National Park Gazetted

Rwanda officially has four parks.

The newest is Gishwati -Muku-ra National Park after Nyun-gwe, Akagera and the Volcanoes National Parks. The law estab-lishing the Gishwati-Mukura National Park was gazetted on February 1st, 2016.This law also determines its boundaries, surface and buffer zone. According to the law, Gishwa-ti-Mukura National Park is com-posed of the Gishwati Forest with an area of 1,439.72 hect-ares and Mukura Forest with a total surface of 1,987.74 hect-ares. The park’s buffer zone has a total surface of 992.48 hect-ares.

Initially, the Gishwati-Mukura reserve was estimated to cover 250,000 ha before it reduced to

28,000 ha in 1980s due mainly to uncontrolled human activities such as illegal mining, animal grazing and tree cutting, among other threats. Over the past decades, the Gishwati-Mukura area was nearly depleted due largely to resettlement, livestock farming and small farming in the aftermath of the 1994 Geno-cide against the Tutsi.

Today, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) through its project called “Land-scape Approach to Forest Res-toration and Conservation (LA-FREC) project” is working to restore the highly degraded Gishwati-Mukura landscape to enhance both environmental & economic benefits from both forests.

Upgrading Gishwati-Mukura

forests to the status of a Nation-al Park will ensure that the re-maining part of the natural for-ests is fully protected. The move will also contribute to improving the livelihoods of population liv-ing in the surrounding areas as they will get off-farm jobs such as working in hotels and restau-rants to be established near the park, becoming guides for tour-ists and many will start busi-nesses in the making and sell-ing of craft products to tourists.

LAFREC project is already benefiting local communities through job creation. Support to community income generating projects is also being initiated.

You can read the law establish-ing the Gishwati -Mukura Na-tional Park by visiting www.rema.gov.rw

RWANDA’S NEWEST PARK IS CREATED

The Gishwati Forest Reserve is a secondary montane rainforest fragment located just south of Volcanoes National Park in western Rwanda. It is part of the Congo-Nile Divide forest complex that includes Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and the contiguous Kibira National Park in Burundi.

Gishwati natural forest is situated in the Western Province, Rut-siro District and is located in the Sectors of Kigeyo, Nyabirasi and Ruhango. Mukura Forest is a reserve in the North-West part of Rwanda. Once part of a swath of sweeping mountain forest that extended all the way from Nyungwe National Park to the Volcanoes, the Mukura is now a small chunk of forest.

Mukura, on the other hand, is located in the Districts of Rutsiro and Ngororero, stretching to three Sectors: Mukura, Rusebeya and Ndaro.Initially, Gishwati-Mukura reserve was estimated to cover 250,000ha before it reduced to 28,000ha in 1980s due mainly to human activities. Also, over the past two decades, the Gishwa-ti-Mukura area was nearly depleted due largely to resettlement, livestock farming and small farming in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Natural forests currently form the newest and fourth National Park: The Gishwati Mukura National Park. A law creating the Park was published in the Official Gazette last February, strengthening its status as a haven of biodiversity and another site for tourism. Gishwati-Mukura National Park is composed of the Gishwati Forest with an area of 1,439.72 hectares and Mukura Forest with a total sur-face of 1,987.74 hectares. The park’s buffer zone has a total surface of 992.48 hectares

In 2013, the Abertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS), a region-al organisation working for biodiversity conservation, found that Mukura Forest resources and its ecosystem services are worth more than $1,000,000 per year. Another research by scientists from Drake University/USA had earlier estimated the value of ecosystem services provided by Gishwati forest to be $3,000,000 a year.

Gishwati-Mukura Forest Reserve is known for a wide range of flora and fauna, including four species of primates: the eastern chim-panzee, the golden monkey, the blue monkey, and the mountain monkey; more than a dozen species of East African chimpanzees; mammals such as red river hog, the black-fronted duiker, the southern tree hyrax, among others. The forest reserve also boasts dozens of tree species , including indigenous hardwoods and bam-boo.

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GISHWATI-MUKURA FORESTS PROFILE

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