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Integrating Biodiversity Conservation, Entrepreneurship, and Community Development through Natural Ecosystems restoration and rehabilitation
Written by Ange
EXPLAIN YOUR IDEA
Rwanda is a country where about 86% of the people rely on agriculture for subsistence. Unlike other parts of the country, my district suffers from highly acidic soil. This means that only certain crops can be grown and the crop yields are very low. There isn’t even enough food to feed the livestock in this district, let alone the 280,000 people who live in my district. In contrast, this district is next to Nyungwe National Forest, an area that has the most biodiversity in the country, and fertile soil. As a result, many poor people from the district use the land in Nyungwe for illegal activities that destroy the ecosystem and threaten thousands of species of plants and animals. Nyungwe provides Rwanda with 70% of its water supply so preserving this area is vital to the future of the country. The overarching challenge is reducing poverty and improving access to food for the people of my district while protecting the biodiversity of Nyungwe. The specific challenge is improving soil quality of the district so that people can grow more food and sustain more livestock so that they don’t need to destroy the Forest. Invasive plant species constitute a serious threat to native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Nyungwe National Park; however, they are a potential source of income generation and livelihood enhancement for the local poor people living around the Park.WHO BENEFITS?
Youth, Women, Beekeepers, ex-poachers. With youth commitment in biodiversity conservation the original forest will be restored in both native tree abundance and species diversity in areas currently occupied by invasive tree species and in previously treated areas showing exotic tree species re-growth. It is expected at the full completion of this project, the area of degraded forest will be treated through eradication of invasive plants and 3200 community members will get jobs.TELL US MORE ABOUT YOU
WHERE WILL YOUR IDEA BE IMPLEMENTED?
- Rwanda
EXPERIENCE IN IMPLEMENTATION COUNTRY(IES)
- Yes, for more than one year.
EXPERTISE IN SECTOR
- I’ve worked in a sector related to my idea for over a year
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