A mini-conference with stakeholders from research and practice in Kigali on 21 February 2025

Our DFG research unit on social-ecological restoration, in collaboration with the University of Rwanda and its Center of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management (CoEB), held a mini-conference on February 21, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda. The yearly event brought together stakeholders actively engaged in ecosystem restoration science and practice, providing a platform to share insights, discuss research findings, and explore key concepts in social-ecological restoration for the second time after the kick-off event one year ago. The discussions aimed to review the past, present, and future of restoration science and practice, with a particular emphasis on how ecosystem restoration in Western Rwanda can be shaped to enhance both human well-being and ecological integrity in the long term.

Over the past year, the research team has undertaken a range of activities, including stakeholder workshops, household interviews to collect data on livelihoods and food security, and woody species assessments. Additionally, the team has conducted numerous research initiatives in close collaboration with Rwandan colleagues. While many of the datasets are still undergoing processing and analysis, preliminary scientific outcomes were shared during the conference to provide participants with an overview of the team’s ongoing work.

During the conference, Verene Nyiramvuyekure, Ping Sun, Susanne Vögele and William Apollinaire presented their current subprojects’ research efforts in Western Rwanda, while stakeholders from various institutions showcased their restoration initiatives across Rwanda. Among the external speakers were representatives of CoEB, ICRAF, One Acre Fund and RWCA (Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association). The discussions covered three main themes: (1) Biodiversity and landscape connectivity for ecosystem restoration, (2) Food security, nutrition, and livelihoods in restoration landscapes, and (3) Community participation in ecosystem restoration.

Each set of presentations was followed by a panel discussion, where participants engaged in critical reflections and provided suggestions and recommendations. One of the key outcomes of the conference was the decision to draft a position paper summarizing the key points discussed and recommendations made. This document will synthesize the collective insights of the stakeholders who were present, and will be distributed to government ministries and other key actors across Rwanda.