The leaders of war-torn Rwanda plan on taking a bold step to rebuild their country by restoring its natural support systems.
For the first time, an entire country is committing to restoring its natural base as a step towards improved social and economic well-being. Rwanda’s country-wide restoration plan, titled the “Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative,” is to restore Rwanda’s land, soil, water, forests and unique biodiversity, to clearly and dramatically improve rural incomes, sustainable food productivity, water and energy supply, and low carbon economic development – all by 2035.
Planning and implementation will take place through the work of a partnership between the Rwandan government, the International Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Forum on Forests, and the Global Partnership for Forest Landscape Restoration. The planned projects combine a range of innovative elements such as ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change and public-private partnerships.
The project could provide an example to the world of how restoring and protecting forests, land and biodiversity lead to sustainable economic growth. According to IUCN Direct General Julia Marton-Lefèvre: “If other countries follow Rwanda’s leading example, we could be witnessing the beginning of the largest natural restoration initiative the world has ever seen, bringing us a step closer to realizing our vision of a greener world economy.”
Read IUCN’s project summary, a Statement from Rwanda Minister for Environment and Lands or watch the video below.
