LAFREC Newsletter issue 001

LAFRECMagLandscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation

Issue No 001 October-December 2015 A Quarterly Online Newsletter

LAFRECMagLandscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation Project

lForest Conservation lClimate resilienCe llivelihoods improvement

Issue No 001 October-December 2015 A Quarterly Online Newsletter

REPUBLIC OF RWANDA

LAFREC commended

early implementation progress

“I am pleased to support a project that people support and which shows early success -Rachel Kyte , World BAnk

w LAFREC PROJECT w Quarterly Newsletter w Issue 001 w October-December 20151

Dear Readers,Dear Stakeholders,

Welcome to the first edition of LAFREC Magazine.

Today, as we unveil the maiden issue of LAFREC Project Newsletter, we have started a journey that we hope to take with you.

We have chosen to name this newsletter 'LAFREC Mag' to highlight its focus: through this quarterly online publi-cation, we shall be bringing stories and pictures about the Project interventions, achievements and success stories.

This publication undertakes to be a one-stop centre for information about LAFREC Project and its work.

We shall also take into consideration the voice of all our stakeholders in order to share experiences, learn from each other and jointly spread the Project's best practices.

This Newsletter will be published every three months; we hope it will serve its purpose of informing you of the prog-ress made in the implementation of the Project activities, spreading best practices on forest and landscape resto-ration, building climate-resilient communities and im-proving the livelihoods of communities in targeted areas.

Through this initial issue of LAFREC Mag, we briefly introduce the project and its targets and bring stories of what has been achieved so far. We also share the percep-tions of some of our stakeholders and their impressions so far.

We hope to make this newsletter as diverse and interactive as possible and we rely up on you for feedback and sup-port.

As we keep working for the restoration of the highly de-graded Gishwati-Mukura landscape, we believe that your support will never cease.

We wish you a Happy New Year 2016.

Foreword

@LAFREC_Project

LAFREC Project

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Patrick NSABIMANA LAFREC Project Coordinator

LAFREC stakeholders commend Project early success................................................................P5

Community involvement key to LAFREC Project success................................................................P9

REMA signs agreements with Districts for implementation of LAFREC Project................P10

Gishwati-Mukura Forests Profile ..................P15

CONTENT


What is LAFREC?

The Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LAFREC) project is a five year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the World Bank and im-plemented by Rwanda Environment Manage-ment Authority.

The project is designed to use a landscape ap-proach to bring the forest ecosystems into bet-ter management and develop multiple benefits.

This project will restore and maintain critical landscapes that provide global environmental benefits and contribute to enhanced resilient economic development and livelihoods. This will be achieved through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, increased forest cover, and climate change adaptation efforts together with combating land degradation.

The project development and the global envi-ronmental objective is to demonstrate land-scape management for enhanced environ-mental services and climate resilience in one priority landscape.

The project will result in a major advance in the restoration of the highly degraded Gishwa-ti-Mukura landscape, enhancing both produc-tive and environmental values.

nProject Development Objective: to demon-strate landscape management for enhanced environ-mental services and climate resilient livelihoods.

nProject Environmental Objective: to restore the degraded Gistwati-Mukura landscape, increasing tree cover in the production landscape, restoring indig-enous woodland in deforested areas and enhancing the biodiversity of the remaining degraded forest reserves, providing global environmental benefits

The project will work concurrently in the three ma-jor elements of the landscape:

nRehabilitating forests and biodiversity within the Gishwati and Mukura Forest Reserves, nEnhancing sustainable land management in the agricultural lands between them, andnIntroducing silvo-pastoral approaches in the rangelands of the central former Gishwati Reserve.

Project Budget: USD 9.53 Million Project Timeframe: 2015-2019 (5 years)


LAFREC Components

COMPONENT 1: Forest-friendly and cli-mate-resilient restoration of Gishwati-Muku-ra landscape

This component will support the application of the landscape approach to forest restoration and conser-vation for the improvement of ecosystem functions and services in the Gishwati-Mukura landscape. It aims to arrest and eventually reverse the ongoing land conversion in the area through forest restoration and agro-forestry approaches.

Under this component, LAFREC executes activities related to the physical demarcation of the reserves, restoration of degraded natural habitats, develop-ments of the reserves management plans, training and equipping of local eco-guards, installation of ba-sic infrastructure as well as environmental education.

The project also promotes sustainable land manage-ment practices within the corridor, silvo-pastoralism in Gishwati rangelands, agro-forestry and supports demand-driven income-generating activities to im-prove the livelihoods of local communities.

Flood forecasting and preparedness activities are also under this component.

COMPONENT 2: Research, monitoring and man-agement

Under this component, LAFREC aims to demonstrate the potential and inform future implementation of forest-friendly land rehabilitation approaches to leverage the much larger land husbandry investment programs being led by the agriculture sector, as well as any potential future investment programs in the water resources or forestry sectors that may also be interested in adopting the approach.

Applied research supports the establishment of partnerships with key research and knowledge in-stitutions to improve management knowledge of the Gishwati-Mukura landscape, and to improve resto-ration techniques, particularly in relation to scope for incorporation of native species.


1) Environmental benefits from improvements in vegeta-tion cover and soil conserva-tion will come in the form of: nImproved native biodiver-sity within a global priority eco-region;

nCarbon sequestration;

nImproved watershed func-tion, reducing sedimentation and related costs to down-stream water infrastructure and fisheries; and

nHigher productivity and diversity of natural-re-source-based livelihoods. Sustainable land manage-ment and watershed rehabil-itation have intrinsic adapta-tion benefits.

nAdditional climate resilience benefits will accrue from diversification of livelihoods, targeting the most vulnera-ble, and improvement in flood warning and preparation sys-tems for those faced with the most acute climate threats.

2)Improvement of the liveli-hoods of communities in tar-geted areas, through job cre-ation and support to income generating activities. LAFREC plans to fund at least 125 Community Driven Develop-ment Subprojects (CDDs)

Expected results


Rwanda’s Landscape Ap-proach to Forest Resto-ration and Conservation project is pioneering inte-grated environmental con-servation and development. The GEF is very proud of our support to the project. We are now promoting it as an example of what’s pos-sible in other places where we work

Dr Naoko IshiiCEO

Global Environment Facility (GEF)


The delegation, led by the Minister of Natural Re-sources, Dr Vincent Biruta, and including Rwan-da Environment Management Authority Director General Dr Rose Mukankomeje, first met with the CEO of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Dr Naoko Ishii, and then the World Bank. Both or-ganisations are providing support to the project.

The objective of the meeting with the GEF was to discuss the strong partnership between Rwanda and the Global Environment Facility and ongoing projects such as the LAFREC, which is rehabili-tating the Gishwati and Mukura natural forests and their surrounding areas.

During the meeting, Dr Naoko Ishii appreciated Rwanda's conservation efforts and success in

implementing projects, especially those like LA-FREC that are integrated and have brought the community to the centre of their work.

"Rwanda's Landscape Approach to Forest Resto-ration and Conservation project is pioneering in-tegrated environmental conservation and devel-opment. The GEF is very proud of our support to the project. We are now promoting it as an exam-ple of what's possible in other places where we work," Dr Ishii said.

Rwanda's delegation thanked the GEF for its con-tinued support and investment in the country's efforts to protect its environment and natural re-sources.

LAFREC Project commended

Dr Vincent BIRUTA , Minister for Natural Resources, (C) and Director General of REMA Dr. Rose MUKANKOJE (R) after a meeting with the GEF CEO Dr Naoko ISHII (L) on the sidelines of the COP 21 Meeting in Paris, France

r Rwanda meets LAFREC stakeholders and shares project's early success

Rwanda's delegation to the recently concluded Conference of Parties, known as COP21, in Paris France, met with stakeholders of the Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conser-vation (LAFREC) Project to discuss its implementation and share the project's progress and achievements.

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The delegation also met with a team from the World Bank, led by the Bank's Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, Rachel Kyte.

The discussion also focused on the World Bank’s support to the LAFREC Project and the readiness of Rwanda to respond to extreme natural events.

Rachel Kyte commended Rwanda, saying the country clearly shows the benefits of investing in

conservation and the environment. “Rwanda has worked very hard to have the right policies and institutions in place to access finance and is doing everything the international commu-nity is asking and more,” she said.

"[I am] pleased to support a project that people support and which shows early success," Kyte tweeted shortly after the meeting, in reference to LAFREC Project.

r Rwanda meets LAFREC stakeholders and shares project's early success

LAFREC Project commended

World Bank’s Rachel KYTE (L) and her team after meeting with Rwanda’s delegation at the COP21 . Kyte expressed her appre-ciation to the progress made and pledged continued support to LAFREC Project

Dr ISHII, CEO /GEF (2nd Left) and her team after meeting with Rwanda’s delegation at the COP21 Meeting

P6


#COP21: Role of landscape restoration highlighted

Restoring our landscapes brings prosperity, security and opportunity. With forest landscape restoration we’ve seen agricultural yields rise and farmers in our rural communities diversify their livelihoods and improve their well-being. Forest landscape restoration is not just an en-vironmental strategy, it is an economic and social devel-opment strategy as well.

Dr Vincent Biruta, Rwanda's Minister for Natural Resources speaking at the #COP21 climate talks in Paris, France


Community involvement key to LAFREC Project success

Communities living around Mukura and Gish-wati Natural Forests have been urged to actively par-ticipate in the implemen-tation of the Landscape Approach to Forest Res-toration and Conservation (LAFREC) Project in order to ensure its success.

The call was made on Monday November 30, 2015 at the opening of a training on silvo-pastoral-ism and the development of indigenous tree nurs-eries. Sixty (60) individu-als, drawn from the Districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro, Ngororero and Nyabihu, attended the training.

The training adopted a learn-by-doing approach in order to help participant acquire prac-tical skills on the subjects. It is expected that participants will also transfer the acquired knowledge to other members of their communities.

Speaking at the training, officials called for citizen participation in the implementation of LAFREC Project in order to ensure that it delivers expected results within the expected timeframe.

"We want you to be partners in the implementation of this proj-ect. We believe that your com-mitment and active involve-ment will never cease, so that we make this Project a success," observed Alphonsine Ntabana, the Coordinator of the Single Project Implementation Unit at REMA.

Mr. Stephen Ling, the World Bank Task Team Leader for LA-FREC, also noted that commu-nity involvement is key to the success of the project.

"This project has got a lot of po-tential. It will not only help to re-store and preserve the environ-ment and natural resources in this area but will also contribute to building sustainable lives for communities," Mr Ling said.

"We rely up on you for the suc-cess of this project and we would be interested in return-ing here over the next couple of years to celebrate the project achievements with you," he told the participants.

Mr. Ling is leading a World Bank Team which is in the country to conduct the first Implemen-tation Support Mission for LA-FREC.

With a budget of US$9.53 mil-lion LAFREC targets to boost

land management of the Gish-wati and Mukura forests and improve the environment, local livelihoods, and climate resil-ience in the area.

LAFREC Project is designed in a way that focuses on adopt-ing participatory approaches to catalyse communities to better plan their land use to restore ecosystem functioning, based on planning crop and pasture-land use and increasing tree cover in production landscapes at the micro-catchment level

The project focuses on rehabili-tating the forests and its biodi-versity, improving sustainable land management and agrofor-estry, and introducing silvo-pas-toral approaches. This will be complemented by direct sup-port to community livelihoods, improved flood forecasting and preparedness, and investments in terracing to prevent land ero-sion.

Some of the participants in the training on Silvo-pastoralism


Rwanda Environment Man-agement Authority (REMA) on Wednesday October 21st, 2015 signed Memorandums of Under-standing (MoUs) with four Dis-tricts in the Western Province for the implementation of the Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LAFREC) Project.

Through the MoUs, REMA estab-lished a partnership framework with the Districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu and Ngororero where the Project will intervene. The Agreements set roles and responsibilities of each institu-tion in order to achieve expected results.

REMA also has established stra-tegic partnership with other key institutions, including the Min-istry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), the Rwanda Natural Resourc-es Authority (RNRA), Rwanda

Development Board (RDB) and Rwanda Meteorological Agency (RMA).

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director General of REMA Dr. Rose MUKANKOMEJE noted that establishing relations and partnership with other institu-tions is a way of ensuring own-ership and sustainability of the Project .

"The Project will intervene in a key area and will work to re-store a highly-degraded land-scape. It is thus imperative that we establish relations with oth-er institutions to ensure joint interventions and support so as we make this project a success," Dr. MUKANKOMEJE said.

"This project can only be suc-cessful if we work closely and establish strong relations with other institutions."

The Governor of the Western Province Caritas MUKANDA-SIRA observed that the resto-ration of Mukura and Gishwati Forests and the local landscape was long overdue.

"This Project carries both eco-nomic and environmental ben-efits for the local communities, the country and the globe," she said.

"We will ensure that all actors at all levels of the community, from village to the Provincial level, are aware of the project activities and contribute to its success," the Governor pledged.

Rutsiro District Mayor Gaspard BYUKUSENGE said: "This is an opportunity for our District and residents and we shall do every-thing in our capacity to maxi-mize benefits from this projects in the interest of both our resi-dents and the country."

The Mayor of Rutsiro District Gaspard BYUKUSENGE speaks to media shortly after the MoUs signing ceremony in Rubavu District. Nearly 90 per cent of Mukura and Gishwati Forests are located within the boundaries of Rutsiro District

REMA signs agreements with Districts for implementation of LAFREC Project


The Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conser-vation (LAFREC) Project held a study tour on silvo-pastoralism for livestock farmers in Gishwa-ti area.

The study visit, held in mid-Oc-tober 2015, brought together 30 individuals who included rep-resentatives of cattle keepers and officials from sector and district level from the Districts of Rubavu, Nyabihu, Ngororero and Rutsiro where the practice of silvo-pastoralism will be in-troduced.

LAFREC plans to introduce sil-

vo-pastoralism practice in Gish-wati rangelands to help increase the forest cover, increase live-stock production and enhance soil protection in the area.

Silvo-pastoralism is a form of agro-forestry system consist-ing of trees (woody perennials) , pasture and animal compo-nents whereby forestry and grazing of domesticated animals is combined in a mutually ben-eficial way.

Under silvo-pastoralism, trees are managed for high-value saw logs and, at the same time, provide shade and shelter for

livestock and forage, reducing stress and sometimes increas-ing forage production.

Silvo-pastoral systems have been shown to increase num-bers of species of ground insects and numbers of species of birds compared to conventionally grazed pastures. Increased en-vironmental diversity can there-fore be expected.

During the tour, Rutinywa Ru-geyo, a well-established sil-vo-pastoralist, explained to the participants the benefits that accompanies the practice.

Introducing silvopastoralism in Gishwati rangelands

r Dairy farmers go on study tour, commit to adobt the practice

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Livestock Farmers during the study tour in Gicumbi District. The Farmers were excited to see how combining trees and animal hus-bandry boosts production


r Dairy farmers go on study tour, commit to adobt the practice

Rugeyo noted that "without a well-maintained environment, livestock farming would then be impossible and unproductive" and encouraged other farmers to embrace the practice.

He told participants that under silvo-pastoral systems, trees act as wind barriers, provide for-age and shelter for cows and serve as fire-woods, pole bean supports, or be harvested once they mature for other commer-cial use.

"This is a very beneficial prac-tice, both in terms of economic

and environmental benefits," Rugeyo said.

Speaking at the tour, the Direc-tor General of REMA Dr Rose MUKANKOMEJE said that in-troducing silvo-pastoralism in Gishwati will enhance soil pro-tection and increase long-term income due to the simultaneous production of trees and grazing of animals.

"This is a practice that we hope will contribute to both the transformation of the socio-eco-nomic welfare of communities in the Gishwati area and the envi-

ronment conservation," Mukan-komeje said.

Gad Tegeri, one of the partici-pants, commended the initiative and noted that it will help im-prove their productivity and in-crease their income.

"What we have seen is very impressive and we are more than ready to implement it. It is clear that silvo-pastoralism is a demonstration that envi-ronment and cattle keeping are complementary," Tegeri said.

Introducing silvopastoralism in Gishwati rangelands

P11


l IN BRIEF

World Bank conducts first Implementation Support Mission for LAFREC

From November 29, 2015 to December 2015, the World Bank conducted the first Imple-mentation Support Mission for the Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Con-servation (LAFREC) Project. The WB team, led by the Task Team Leader Mr Stephen Ling, met with the project stakeholders, beneficiaries and visited the project implementation areas in the Districts of Rutsiro, Rubavu, Nyabihu and Ngororero .

The World Bank Team touring LAFREC Project intervention zones

LAFREC Project was officially launched on June 5th, 2015 during the celebrations of the Annual World Environment Day (WED).The Ceremony took place in Rutsiro District.

At the events, leaders joined residents in a community work “Umuganda” to rehabili-tate degraded mining sites and remove ex-otic trees from Mukura Forest.

While officiating at the launch of LAFREC Project, the Minister of State in charge of Mining, Hon. Evode IMENA urged Rutsiro residents to protect Gishwati-Mukura for-ests and be actively involved in the imple-mentation of LAFREC Activities.

"You stand to benefit a lot from the resto-ration and protection of these forests," Ime-na told the crowd of cheering residents who attended the event. " Therefore, you must be at the forefront of all efforts meant to pro-tect these forests."

LAFREC Project official launch

Gishwati-Mukura becomes 4th National Park

On 2nd September 2015, Rwanda's Chamber of Deputies passed a draft Law establishing the Gishwati-Mukura National Park. The law also determines its boundaries, surface and buffer zone.

According to the law, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is com-posed of the Gishwati Forest with an area of 1,439.72 hectares and Mukura Forest with a total surface of 1,987.74 hectares. The park's buffer zone has a total surface of 992.48 ha.

The law is awaiting to be gazetted before it comes into force.

Once gazetted, the Gishwati - Mukura National Park will become Rwanda's fourth park after Nyungwe, Akagera and the Volca-noes National Parks.

w LAFREC PROJECT w Quarterly Newsletter w Issue 001w October-December 201514

Gishwati-Mukura Forests Restoration Plan developed

The Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LAFREC) Project has completed the develop-ment of the Mukura-Gishwati Forests restoration Plan.

The document highlights a set of activities that will be implemented during the restoration of Gishwati-Muku-ra Forests Reserves.

The Plan was developed through consultation of the Project stakeholders in order to make it more comprehen-sive.

It lists, in a detailed manner, the identified restoration activities, their sites and the quantity/targets to be reached.

The following table summarises the activities that will be carried out and the targets that the Project is set to reach:

Activity Target (Ha)

Rehabilitation of natural forest in Gishwati-Mukura National Park 653

Restoration buffer zone plantations around Gishwati-Mukura National Park 500

Planting of primarily natural forest in micro-catchment protection strips 700

Introducing silvo-pastoralism in rangelands 500

Sustainable land management 1406

TOTAL 3759

LAFREC project works to restore the

highly degraded Gish-wati - Mukura landscape with the aim of enhanc-

ing both productive and environmental

values


The Gishwati Forest Reserve is a secondary montane rainforest fragment located just south of Volcanoes National Park in western

Rwanda. It is part of the Congo-Nile Divide forest complex that includes Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and the contiguous

Kibira National Park in Burundi.

Gishwati natural forest is situated in the Western Province, Rut-siro District and is located in the Sectors of Kigeyo, Nyabirasi and

Ruhango. Mukura Forest is a protected reserve in the North-West part of

Rwanda. Once part of a swath of sweeping mountain forest that extended all the way from Nyungwe National Park to the Volca-

noes, the Mukura is now a small chunk of forest.

Mukura, on the other hand, is located in the Districts of Rutsiro and Ngororero, stretching to three Sectors: Mukura, Rusebeya

and Ndaro.Initially, Gishwati-Mukura reserve was estimated to cover

250,000ha before it reduced to 28,000ha in 1980s due mainly to human activities.

Over the past decades, the Gishwati-Mukura area was nearly depleted due largely to resettlement, livestock farming and small farming in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Today, Gishwati-Mukura cover a total area of 3,558 hectares- Gishwati natural forest 1,570 ha and Mukura 1,988 ha.

Presently, Gishwati-Mukura Forest Reserve is known for a wide range of flora and fauna, including primates, chimpanzees and

mammals among others. The forest reserve also boasts of about 60 species of trees, including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo.

In 2013, the Abertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS), a region-al organisation working for biodiversity conservation, found that

Mukura Forest resources and its ecosystem services are worth more than $1,000,000 per year. Another research by scientists

from Drake University/USA had earlier estimated the value of ecosystem services provided by Gishwati forest to be $3,000,000

a year.

Gishwati-Mukura Forest Reserve is known for a wide range of flo-ra and fauna, including four species of primates: the eastern chim-

panzee, the golden monkey, the blue monkey, and the mountain monkey; more than a dozen species of East African chimpanzees;

mammals such as red river hog, the black-fronted duiker, the southern tree hyrax, among others. The forest reserve also boasts

about 60 species of trees, including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo.

Gishwati-Mukura Forests Profile

The long-term vision is that protecting the Gish-wati-Mukura area’s soil, water, forest and sce-nic riches will support a diverse and profitable economy, and ultimately boost tourism along the Lake Kivu shore. Project activities and coordinat-ed planning across gov-ernment agencies will play a major role in meet-ing this goal

Stephen LingWorld Bank Task Team Leader for LAFREC Project


MAP: LAFREC Intervention zones

Documents

LAFREC Newsletter issue 001