Posted on February 3, 2010 - by Andrew

Rwanda’s Forest of Hope: Gishwati National Conservation Park

Officials in Rwanda have announced they will increase the size of Gishwati National Conversation Park from 3,018 acres to 3,665 acres. That’s an increase of about 21%.

This is good news as it’ll reclaim land lost to small-scale agriculture that once connected the forst from the banks of the Sebeya River. The newly extended park is being called the Forest of Hope.

Dr Beck, director of the Conservation Program at Gishwait, said;

The water quality of the Sebeya River is linked to the health of local people and the national economy…the Sebeya is not only an important source of drinking water for local residents but it also provides hydroelectric power and water for beverage production downstream.

Notable beneficiaries of the project will be a group of endangered chimpanzees. It’s expected that growing Gishwati will be a challenge but a worthwhile one. Beck added;

The reforestation of Kinyenkanda is a perfect example of win-win-win sustainable conservation. There are local and national economic benefits, the chimpanzees and other fauna will enjoy expanded habitat, and the environmental quality of the river and the atmosphere will be enhanced.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Is this really a win-win-win scenario or does have Rwanda have countless other things it should be doing first?

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