A report on Rwanda’s wildlife economy indicates that Nyungwe National Park’s revenues are approximately US$4.8 billion per year. The ambition is to improve tourism revenues.
Nyungwe Park is the largest remaining forest area in Rwanda and one of the oldest rainforests in Africa. It covers 1,019 square kilometers of dense forest, bamboo-covered slopes, grasslands and wetlands.
The park is also a regional habitat for biodiversity, with 1,068 species of flora, 322 species of birds, 75 species of mammals and 13 species of primates.
At present, Nyungwe National Park’s revenue is approximately $4.8 billion. According to the Nyungwe National Park tourism development plan, nationals are increasing the most, as they are the majority (about 45-50%). International visitors are estimated at 35-40% (with an increase in length of stay and spending).
The ambition of the park manager, African Parks, is to turn conservation into a growth industry, according to Niyigaba Protais, director of Nyungwe National Park.
They want to attract other investors, thereby stimulating private sector investment in wildlife resources.
The aim is to highlight the importance of the wildlife economy and encourage investment in protected and conserved areas to enhance biodiversity and support national economic development.
African Parks, which is in charge of managing Nyungwe Park, like Akagera Park, aims to encourage the government to consider wildlife as profitable.
In this way, the conditions for an environment conducive to the wildlife economy would be created.
A long-term strategy is underway
A long-term sustainable strategy for the management and infrastructure of the park by 2023 includes supporting and enabling an environment for effective management of the protected area.
It aims to create employment opportunities by hiring competent, preferably local, staff to support the implementation of the business plan as outlined in the long-term sustainability strategy.
This includes completing the Munazi Lodge, initiating the construction of zip lines and a ropes course in the trees, and maintaining existing tourism facilities. All other tourism assets are to be maintained where needed.
Research and monitoring programs are planned to provide baseline data on wildlife populations. Grey parrots will be released into the wild in Nyungwe National Park.
A poaching problem
Although Nyungwe is a sanctuary for various biodiversity species, there is a danger posed by poaching. It was mentioned about one hundred and fifty (150) traps found by the staff in charge of the Nyungwe Park patrol, according to Niyigaba Protais, director of Nyungwe National Park.
He stressed that the park employs ninety-two (92) people to oversee the security of the park. He praised the fact that those who are caught in hunting operations are sensitized, others punished when they become repeat offenders.
Some have become forest guards. ”This is something to be proud of,” he insisted.
Nevertheless, there are other threats to Nyungwe National Park. These include illegal mining. Some people are farming in Nyungwe Park.
The protection of biodiversity is a responsibility of the people living within the park boundaries. They can contribute to improving the conditions for the development of biodiversity, thus maintaining the ecosystem in an optimal state.
As long as the former poachers become part of the park, the result is a boost to tourism revenues, one of the main sources of foreign exchange. These play a major role in improving the livelihoods of the citizens.
Gerard Rugambwa
