Gishwati Forest is considered a conservation success because of the achievements made by Forest of Hope with the support of the government of Rwanda and other partners. A forest that lost 98% of its land cover in the early 2000s has been significantly restored, its biodiversity is preserved, and it has local community support. Initially, the Gishwati Area Conservation Program (GACP) in 2008, and later Forest of Hope, worked in the restoration of the forest through assisted natural regeneration and the reduction of unsustainable use of its natural resources. In 2016, Gishwati Forest status was upgraded to National Park, and in 2020, it gained recognition as part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Gishwati-Mukura Landscape.

Forest of Hope established a Community Forest Protection Initiative that seeks to engage local communities in the conservation and restoration of Gishwati Forest and developing a sense of ownership for it. We work on community education and outreach around the National Park and support local people to improve livelihoods through income generation and capacity building. Moreover, Forest of Hope works with local farmers who own plots adjacent to the Gishwati Forest to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and reduce illegal activities within the forest.