Rwanda is one of the leading African countries in environmental sustainability and its impressive conservation work has made global headlines.
“For more than a decade, Rwanda has taken a proactive approach and put environment and climate change at the heart of all the country’s policies, programmes and plans” World Economic Forum
The country is renowned for its mountain gorilla population. Thanks to Rwanda’s leading role in the international gorilla conservation programme, the numbers of gorillas have grown in recent years. Today, one third of the worldwide mountain gorilla population live in Rwanda.
As a large proportion of tourists coming to Rwanda go on primate tracking tours, the government is particularly committed to supporting responsible and sustainable practices that safeguard the environment. The setting up of multiple wildlife associations, such as the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, help to support this nature conservation work.
To raise awareness for the ongoing protection of the country’s mountain gorillas and their natural habitat, Rwanda holds an annual gorilla naming ceremony. The ceremony, Kwita Izina (Kinyarwanda for “to give a name”), is a popular event and hosts keynote speakers such as President Paul Kagame and international celebrities.
Rwanda also follows an ambitious reforestation agenda and has already exceeded its 30% forest cover target by 2020. Led by the Ministry of environment, the country restored forests such as Nyungwe and Giswati in National Parks. In parallel, the promotion of the National Parks have contributed to the growth of the tourist industry in Rwanda.
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