Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) has divulged its commune development projects anticipated at Rwf146million (US$270,370) near Nyungwe National Park.
Located in south-western Rwanda , Nyungwe Forest is a high-altitude, mountainous rainforest established as a forest reserve in 1933. The conservation area comprises of approximately 378 square miles (970 square kilometers). The forest is located in the Albertine Rift, a series of mountain ranges beginning at the Rwenzori mountains in western Uganda and Congo, continuing south into the Lendu Plateau in eastern Congo. Contiguous with Kibira National Park in Burundi, Nyungwe is one of the largest mountainous rainforests remaining in Africa. Just recently the Nyungwe forest received National Park status, making it East Africa’s largest protected high-altitude rainforest.
Nyungwe’s biodiversity is stunning by African standards and is one of the most endemic species-rich areas in all of Africa. Along with its biodiversity, Nyungwe is an important water catchment for Rwanda and contains many natural resources integral to Rwanda’s human populations. Rwanda being one of the most heavily populated areas of Africa with over 8 million inhabitants in a country the size of the state of Vermont in the United States,the 15 unveiled community projects were realized by ORTPN under the revenue sharing policy whereby five per cent of the total revenues from tourism are allocated to community development projects surrounding the national parks.
The revenue sharing policy is in line with Rwanda’s strategy of promoting tourism for the benefit of all the Rwandan people. Tourism is a tool for poverty eradication and a strategy to sensitize people to conserve wildlife and their habitat,” executive director of ORTPN.
The projects were also unveiled prior to the grand’launch of Nyungwe National Park scheduled December this year.
The tourism sector intends to increase the commitment to working with the communities and fund more community projects worth Rwf308million (US$570,370) by the end of the year.
Nyungwe National Park which was first launched in 2005 has recorded 9,455 visitors generating US$387,671 since.
The former forest, currently boasts of 13 types of rare primates and the largest recorded troop of black and white Columbus monkeys.
Home to 100 types of orchid, 120 species of butterflies and reptiles and 283 species of birds, Nyungwe is a hot spot for bird lovers.
By S~tember, Rwanda registered 778,344 visitor arrivals generating US$138million while by the end of this year; visitor arrivals are estimated to reach 884,220 with tourism revenues