Gishwati-Mukura National Park

In the late 1970s Gishwati was still a large, largely intact forest, but over the following decades cattle ranching, agriculture, resettlement and illegal mining cleared most of it. By the early 2000s only a small patch of native forest remained, and the area suffered from erosion, landslides and declining soil fertility.

Rwanda formalised Gishwati-Mukura's national park status in 2015, with the aim of restoring tree cover, stabilising slopes and regulating streams while improving the livelihoods of surrounding communities. Visitor activities began in 2019. Conservation partners have since established a nursery of native seedlings and a chimpanzee monitoring and habituation programme with local trackers.

The hills around Gishwati and Mukura are densely farmed, and many families grow tea, potatoes and vegetables on steep terraces. The park's restoration depends on these communities, and local people work as trackers, guides and nursery staff. Visiting supports that partnership and shows that protecting the forest can bring real benefits to the people living around it.