The Volcanoes Park expansion program will be significant in support of conservation with the park expected to increase by 25% resulting in a 15-20% increase in Gorilla population and a 50% reduction in infant Gorilla mortality.
The $255 million project (approx. RWF 260bn) will lead to a 15-20% increase in Gorilla viewing opportunities and a doubling of direct tourism revenues through increased visitation of 10% per year.
The quality of life for more than 18,000 Rwandans living in the area will also be improved through investment in modern housing, social infrastructure, and delivery of skills development and job creation.
Rwanda Development Board (RDB) indicated that the Volcanoes National Park is a fragile ecosystem, and is currently relatively small as it covers 160 square kilometers. That is why, the board said, it is set to be expanded by a quarter of its current size.
According to RDB, the mountain gorilla population increased by 26 percent in the Virunga Massif from 480 gorillas in 2010 to 604 gorillas [of some 1,000 mountain gorillas in the world] in 2016.
Janvier Kwizera, in charge of community relations at Volcanoes National Park, says the expansion of the park will not only benefit the mountain gorillas but also improve the lives of the communities living around the park and make visiting the gorillas an even more life-changing experience.
“The Volcanoes National Park is a fragile ecosystem and currently relatively small as it covers 160 square kilometers, that is why, it is set to be expanded by a quarter of its current size,” Kwizera says.
Kwizera says the park which is currently 160km squared, was previously 340sqkm “This is a very small space which sees gorilla families fighting for territory with some young ones are killed.”
The 10-year program to expand the park will begin with a pilot study in Kinigi sector and is expected to be expanded by about 25%. The project which is in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation will cost more than 260billion francs over 10 years.
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Speaking at the 18th Kwita Izina ceremony on 2nd September where 20 baby gorillas were named Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente said the Volcanoes National Park will be expanded to accommodate the growing number of gorillas and improving their resilience to threats, including climate change.
“Given the threats we face from biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, we are called on to expand our network of national parks and create new protected areas that restore our rural and urban wetlands,” Ngirente said.
He said that the park’s expansion will also benefit communities through new economic opportunities, increased tourism, and job creation.
“By investing in the communities that surround our national parks, we are building a strong constituency for conservation that will span generations,”
“Given the threats we face from biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, we are called on to expand our network of national parks and create new protected areas that restore our rural and urban wetlands,” Dr. Ngirente said.
Frank Muzungu, the Managing Director of Kigali Car Rentals says the project will come with opportunities hence increased investments in the tours and travel business.
“Once the park is expanded there will be an increase in Gorilla viewing opportunities hence an increase in the number of international and local tourists,” said Muzungu, MD Kigali Car Rentals.
Muzungu says as a result of these increased opportunities new products and offers that integrate both domestic and regional packages have been introduced by Kigali Car Rentals.
“We have added flexible offers such as the self-drive package where tourists or groups can rent cars, drive themselves and if they are exiting the country through another EAC country, they don’t have to drive back the car to Rwanda. They deposit it at our outlet in the country of exit and proceed with their journey,” Muzungiu explained.
Speaking before the plenary sitting of the lower chamber of Parliament the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO, Francis Gatare, said the expansion will not only benefit the species but also improve the lives of the communities living around the park and make visiting the gorillas an even more life-changing experience.
“The residents have the right to carry out activities on their land, such as farming. But he pointed out it would be recklessness if we allow that they set up long-term buildings while it is known that they will be expropriated shortly,” Gatera told parliament.
The park expansion will result in the acquisition of 450 ha, a green village to host relocated 560 households, and ensure livelihood improvement that will see 22 ha allocated to smart agriculture production and other income-generating activities for the community.
These will be complemented by the support of different off-farm business plans developed by the community.
A smart green village will be constructed and will have different components including land productivity whereby 1000 square meters per household will be used for agriculture production.
To manage space, it disclosed that houses in such villages will be constructed in a 4 in 1 design. This means that one house will accommodate four families.
Other components are infrastructure development consisting of a nursery school, health center, mini-market or selling point, village internal roads, supply of electricity and clean water, and financial service infrastructures.
End.