Citizens at the Forefront of Environmental Restoration as CIAC Rwanda Launches Major Landscape Restoration Project in Rutsiro
RUTSIRO, Rwanda – Communities living along the shores of Lake Kivu are set to play a leading role in restoring degraded landscapes following the launch of a six-year environmental restoration project by the Centre d’Intervention et d’Action Communautaire (CIAC Rwanda) that will plant more than 105,000 indigenous and fruit trees while creating hundreds of green jobs.
The project, titled “Agroforestry and Farmers’ Planning for Livelihood Improvement and Landscape Restoration,” was officially launched on July 28, 2026, in Kivumu Sector, Rutsiro District.
Funded by TerraFund AFR100 through the Restore Local initiative, the project will be implemented in partnership with Rutsiro District and other stakeholders to restore degraded land, strengthen climate resilience, promote agroforestry, and improve community livelihoods.
Over the next six years, the initiative will restore 260 hectares of degraded land, including 40 hectares along the shores of Lake Kivu.
It is expected to create more than 331 green jobs, directly support 747 residents, and positively impact more than 4,200 people through activities that promote sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, and landscape restoration.
The launch also served as a public awareness campaign ahead of the tree-planting season scheduled to begin in October 2026.
Residents used poems, songs, and drama performances under the theme “No Tree, No Life” to mobilize communities to actively participate in restoring their environment.
The project contributes to the AFR100 initiative, an African-led movement aiming to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Communities at the Heart of Restoration
CIAC Rwanda emphasized that local communities will be the driving force behind the project’s success by planting, protecting, and managing trees throughout the implementation period.
The organization will introduce Agroforestry Family Plans, establish Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) led by women, and implement incentive schemes that reward environmental stewardship while strengthening household incomes.
Beyond environmental restoration, the project will promote inclusive green employment opportunities for both women and men. Through the establishment and management of community tree nurseries, local residents will acquire practical skills, generate income, and actively contribute to restoring degraded landscapes.
CIAC Rwanda places particular emphasis on empowering women by increasing their participation in nursery management, agroforestry, and other environmentally sustainable enterprises, while ensuring that men also benefit equally from employment opportunities created under the project.
Representing the Executive Secretary of Kivumu Sector, Feline Niyonasenze described the initiative as a community-owned project that will transform residents into guardians of the environment.
“This is a project for the people. We encourage everyone who will benefit from it to protect these trees so that together we can preserve a healthy and sustainable environment around Lake Kivu,” she said.
She noted that the planting and maintenance of more than 105,000 trees over the next six years will significantly increase the participation of women and young people in environmental conservation while strengthening community resilience against climate change.
Project Coordinator Drocelle Musabyimana said the initiative will prioritize indigenous and fruit tree species that are well adapted to the ecological conditions of Rutsiro District.
She explained that restoring native vegetation along the shores of Lake Kivu will help reduce the impacts of climate change, conserve biodiversity, improve soil fertility, and promote sustainable agricultural production.
Residents Welcome the Initiative
Residents who attended the launch expressed optimism that the project will not only restore degraded landscapes but also improve household incomes through agroforestry, green jobs, and increased agricultural productivity.
Many welcomed the planned establishment of tree nurseries, describing them as an opportunity to gain employment, develop new skills, and contribute to protecting the environment for future generations.
Restore Local Has Planted More Than 21.6 Million Trees Across Africa
The project is funded through Restore Local, an initiative under the World Resources Institute (WRI) that supports locally led landscape restoration across Africa.
Since its inception, Restore Local has facilitated the planting of more than 21.6 million trees and restored over 50,000 hectares of degraded land in several African countries. Its restoration efforts are currently focused in Kenya, Ghana, and the Lake Kivu–Rusizi River landscape shared by Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Representing Restore Local, Tuyizere Mucyo Ndera said the campaign theme, “No Tree, No Life,” reflects the indispensable role that trees play in sustaining human life.
“Trees are essential in every aspect of our lives. They provide the conditions for water, rainfall, and healthy ecosystems. It is the responsibility of every citizen to protect them so that we can secure a better future for generations to come,” he said.
Energy-Saving Cookstoves to Reduce Deforestation
One of the co-founders of CIAC Rwanda, Leon Nduwayezu, said the project goes beyond tree planting by promoting practical solutions that reduce pressure on forests.
He revealed that the organization will distribute energy-saving cookstoves to reduce firewood consumption and encourage the adoption of clean cooking technologies. The project will also continue empowering young people through savings groups and expand adult literacy programmes within the target communities.
The Vice Mayor of Rutsiro District in charge of Economic Development, Emmanuel Uwizeyimana, praised the initiative for integrating environmental conservation with economic development.
He urged residents to prepare tree nurseries, actively participate in the tree-planting campaign beginning in October, and ensure that every seedling planted is carefully nurtured.
“If we succeed in restoring degraded land, growing healthy forests, and improving the livelihoods of our communities, we will have made a significant contribution to sustainable development,” he said.
The launch concluded with poems, songs, and drama performances encouraging residents to plant, nurture, and protect trees ahead of the October 2026 planting season, reinforcing the message that restoring nature begins with community action.
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