Gishwati Forest is presently a conservation success as a result of achievements made by the government of Rwanda, Forest of Hope and its partners. It has gone from a 98% of forest reduction to significant restoration, has preserved biodiversity, increased community support and upgraded from forest reserve to National Park and gained important recognition as part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Gishwati-Mukura Landscape.

Although it is rich in biodiversity, Gishwati Forest is mostly known for having experienced the highest rate of deforestation in Rwanda, losing more than 98% in only 30 years, leading to severe land degradation including deadly mud slides. In 1970, Gishwati Forest covered an area of 28,000 hectares which was reduced to 8,800 hectares in 1990 and to a meager 600 hectares in 2001 (Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture, 2010). Thanks to Rwandan government, the Great Ape Trust/Gishwati Area Conservation Program (GACP) and FHA the history is reversed. From 2005 through 2007, Projet d’Appui à la Réforestation au Rwanda (PAFOR) increased the reserve from 600 hectares to 886 hectares. GACP undertook intensive restoration and conservation efforts from 2008 to 2011. In 2012, former GACP Rwandan staff created FHA to carry on its work. From then to present, FHA restores the forest through assisted natural regeneration and reduces unsustainable use of its resources including minerals, wild meat, wild honey, firewood, bean poles, charcoal, timber and grass for livestock. The most significant results achieved by the work of these two organizations include: the Increase in forested area from the 886hectares in 2008 to 1570 hectares presently, reduction of illegal activities and the establishment of the Community Forest Protection Initiative, a community-based conservation approach to reduce local pressure on the forest resources.

As the results of the achievement made, in 2015, the government of Rwanda decided to upgrade the status of Gishwati and the close Mukura Forest reserve from Forest Reserve to National Park status. This new status is currently ensuring the long term protection of the Gishwati natural forest, the survival of the biodiversity that it shelters and increase of other ecosystem services that it provides, including water and microclimate regulation. It does also help to increase the country economic growth through tourism revenues with the proceeds of every visit contributing to the reforestation, protection and conservation of both the park’s diverse flora and fauna and the upliftment of its surrounding communities.
Also as mentioned above, in 2020 Gishwati-Mukura Landscape was officially designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is a big achievement that will ensure sustainable use and conservation of natural resources within this landscape and the improvement of relationship between people and their environment.
This park have has a long history of deforestation. Our hopes are that:

• The park regenerates to produce enough food for endangered primates and other animal sheltered
• The communities around Gishwati feel ownership of the park protection and continue receiving benefit from its conservation actions.

Based on this we plan to:

• Strengthen the conservation education and community outreach
• Improve local livelihood through direct support, income generation and capacity building
• Establishing relationships that strengthen the management of the GMNP and benefit local people

FHA has been working with local community in the management of the park through the community based protection approach that is also assisting the current protection structure. Currently, we are prioritizing to continue working with local community through:

• The conservation education, targeting young people and community as a whole to generate positive attitudes toward this park conservation.
• The Community development/eco-tourism, targeting existing community groups to develop and run alternative economic activities with the aim of improving livelihood through income generating activities and thus reduce human pressure on the park.