Conservation and sustainable use of wetlands in south and central-eastern Rwanda

Serges Joram Nsengimana

The threats to the Nyabarongo and Akanyaru Wetlands are a result of a complex mixture of people's attitudes, a lack of alternatives and the fact that in Rwanda the wetlands are free lands. Current threats include drainage for agriculture, clay and sand extraction, and siltation caused by hillside mining. The proposed project will carry out a detailed survey of the biodiversity in these wetlands and the socio-economic characteristics of the people who depend on them. Based on the information gathered, specific recommendations for the management of these wetlands will be proposed and marketed to the local people and government for action.