In 2011, the Government of Rwanda pledged to bring 2 million hectares of deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020. Compared to Rwanda’s total geographic area, This goal represents the highest proportion committed to the Bonn Challenge to date. Rwanda lost over 65% of its forests between 1956 and 1996, due to a long period of civil war. By 2004, forest cover was 19.6%; as Rwanda now has about 28.8% forest cover, forests have grown by about 1% per year for more than a decade. Currently, about 37% of Rwanda’s forests consist of humid natural forests and savannahs. Rwanda’s experience is a useful case study on how a solid foundation of technical knowledge can ensure successful restoration.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
FLR

Region
Africa

Biome
Tropical

Forest Type
Degraded forest

Primary Designated Function
Multiple use