Publications
Find here the publications by the research team, showcasing the results from the from the research unit.
Overview:
Ndagijimana et al. 2026. Mapping Social Cohesion in Restoration Landscapes: Evidence from Western Rwanda. Society & Natural Resources, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2026.2663273
Nyiramvuyekure et al. 2026b. Diverse discourses in ecological, ecosystem, and forest landscape restoration literature. Restor Ecol e70461. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70461
Sun et al. 2026. Home-garden connectivity rather than tree-cover connectivity facilitates biodiversity in fragmented tropical forest landscapes. Landscape Ecology, 41(5). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-026-02352-9
Nyiramvuyekure et al. 2026a. Woody vegetation diversity remains low after extensive forest landscape restoration efforts in a western Rwandan landscape. Biological Conservation, 317, 111812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111812.
Frietsch et al. 2026. Leveraging change in ecosystem restoration: from planting trees to regenerating people-nature systems. Trees Forests and People, 23, 101134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101134.
Baumann et al. 2025. Design principles for social-ecological research at the landscape scale applied to western Rwanda. PLoS ONE, 20(8), e0330704. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330704.
Ndayizeye et al. 2025. Participatory mapping of local people’s values in restoration landscapes in Western Rwanda. Restoration Ecology, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70217.
Duguma et al. 2025. Five Frontiers for science and practice of ecosystem restoration in East African forest landscapes. Integrative Conservation, 4(4), 534–545. https://doi.org/10.1002/inc3.70048.
Reckmann et al. 2025. A coffee corridor for biodiversity and livelihoods: climatic feasibility of shade coffee cultivation in western Rwanda. Trees Forests and People, 21, 100941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2025.100941.
University of Rwanda, Leuphana University and others. 2025. Ecosystem restoration in Rwanda – ways forward. Position Paper, April 2025, Leuphana University Lueneburg, Germany.
Frietsch et al. 2024b. The relevance of international restoration principles for ecosystem restoration practice in Rwanda. Restoration Ecology, 32(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14085.
Frietsch et al. 2024a. The social–ecological ladder of restoration ambition. AMBIO, 53(9), 1251–1261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-024-02021-8.
Mapping Social Cohesion in Restoration Landscapes: Evidence from Western Rwanda
Valery Ndagijimana, Barbara Schröter, Apollinaire William, Jacqueline Loos, Stefan Sieber, Joern Fischer and Katharina
Löhr
Highlights
“Restoration approaches strengthened trust, collaboration, and communication within communities, key drivers of knowledge exchange and collective action, offering scalable models for advancing broader restoration initiatives in Rwanda and similar contexts. We also found weak community–government relationships driven by top-down governance, underscoring the need for inclusive, equitable restoration policies. For such inclusion to be meaningful, communities must be empowered to actively influence restoration decisions, which would likely foster sustainable, long-term outcomes.”
Diverse discourses in ecological, ecosystem, and forest landscape restoration literature
Verene Nyiramvuyekure, Julian Simm, Vicky M. Temperton and Joern Fischer
Highlights
Two main branches of literature were identified: a social-institutional and a practical-ecological branch. Within these, the “social-institutional branch” included clusters focusing on “Forest Restoration and Policy” and “Integrative Restoration Concepts.” The “practical-ecological branch” included clusters on “Restoration Techniques and Practices,” “Farmland Restoration for Climate Action,” and “Classical Ecological Restoration.” The term “forest landscape restoration” was used most prominently within the “social-institutional branch”; “ecological restoration” was used especially in the “practical-ecological branch”; while “ecosystem restoration” was used in both branches.
Home-garden connectivity rather than tree-cover connectivity facilitates biodiversity in fragmented tropical forest landscapes
Ping Sun, Matthias Baumann, Beth A. Kaplin, Tobias Kuemmerle, Joern Fischer
We recommend that restoration efforts prioritize the protection of remaining natural forests, which are irreplaceable for sustaining native biodiversity. Complementary FLR strategies should promote the regeneration of secondary forests dominated by indigenous tree taxa and the expansion of biodiverse agroforestry systems, such as home gardens.
Woody vegetation diversity remains low after extensive forest landscape restoration efforts in western Rwanda landscape
Verene Nyiramvuyekure, Joern Fischer, Beth A. Kaplin, Athanase Mukuralinda, Vicky M. Temperton
Highlights
Woody species richness and diversity remained lower in restored sites
The highest diversity of native species was found in homegardens
Restoration favors the use of exotic species at the expense of ecological integrity
Further research on drivers of species selection in forest landscape restoration
Balancing biodiversity with the socioeconomic needs of community remains a challenge
Leveraging change in ecosystem restoration: from planting trees to regenerating people-nature systems
Marina Frietsch, Beth A. Kaplin, Athanase Mukuralinda, Donath Nkurikiyimana, Appollinaire William, Jean Damascene Bariyanga, Dula Wakassa Duguma, Cecile Kayitanirwa, Myriam Mujawamariya, Venuste Nsengimana, Pierre Nshimyumuremyi, Verene Nyiramvuyekure, Jean Nduwamungu, Shema Serge, Ezechiel Turikunkiko, Diogene Tuyizere, Joern Fischer
Over the past decades, Rwanda has successfully implemented ecosystem restoration all over the country. To secure human well-being and ecological integrity in the future, a shift in mindsets is required to move towards a culture of collectively growing ecosystems that benefit people and biodiversity.
Design principles for social-ecological research at the landscape scale applied to western Rwanda
Matthias Baumann, Dula Wakassa Duguma, Susanne Vögele, Meike Wollni, Ping Sun, Gaelle Ndayizeye, Joern Fischer
Highlights
We identify “social-ecological units” as common ground for different researchers to collect data in the same places, and follow four general rules: choosing the right scale, mapping key environmental and social gradients, using high-quality data, and staying flexible.
A hierarchical clustering approach results in five types of regions, ranging from “Mountain Pastures” to “Remote Regions”, considering all types of environments in the study area of western Rwanda.
The clustering was the bases to selected 152 villages to be the main locations for interviews and ecological surveys.
We hope that this can serve other interdisciplinary teams to guide their work for holistic understanding of social-ecological units anywhere in the world.
Participatory mapping of local people’s values in restoration landscapes in Western Rwanda
Gaelle Ndayizeye , Laura Kmoch , Matthias Baumann , Venuste Nsengimana , Joern Fischer , Tobias Plieninger
Five Frontiers for Science and Practice of Ecosystem Restoration in East African Forest Landscapes
Dula W. Duguma , Katharina Löhr, Vicky M. Temperton, William Apollinaire, Matthias Baumann, Beth A. Kaplin, Verene Nyiramvuyekure, Susanne Vögele, Laura Kmoch, Tobias Plieninger, Jacqueline Loos, Tsinda Aime, Nzamukosha Beatrice, Sophia Bohn, Uwayezu Ernest, Marina Frietsch, Callixte Gatali, Ndahiriwe Innocent, Angelique Kangondo, Bulonvu Franklin, Leonidas Maniraho, Berta Martín‐López, Drocelle Mukaneza, Valery Ndagijimana, Gaelle Ndayizeye, Martin Nizeyimana, Elias Nyandwi, Venant Nzibaza, Stefan Sieber, Ping Sun, Jeffrey L. Ullman, Gloriose Umuziranenge, Meike Wollni, Joern Fischer
Note: NCP = Nature’s Contribution to People
A coffee corridor for biodiversity and livelihoods: climatic feasibility of shade coffee cultivation in western Rwanda
Tom Reckmann, Marina Frietsch, Christoph Schwenck, Athanase Mukuralinda, Dula Wakassa Duguma, Joern Fischer
University of Rwanda, Leuphana University and others (2025). Ecosystem restoration in Rwanda – ways forward. Position paper, April 2025, Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Germany
Key message
Rwanda’s track record of ecosystem restoration is impressive, but there is room for further improvement. Further improvement, in turn, will lead to more effective and more efficient achievement of the government’s goals articulated in the green economy strategy – ultimately boosting livelihoods, the economy and the state of the Rwandan environment.“
The relevance of international restoration principles for ecosystem restoration practice in Rwanda
Key message
“The “Principles to guide the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030” can be a basis for reflection and exchange among stakeholders on restoration approaches and priorities. In Rwanda, approaches to restoration differ among key restoration stakeholders with respect to (1) the envisioned goal of restoration, (2) the motivation for involving stakeholders, and (3) the spatial scale at which restoration interventions are carried out. Sound knowledge on ecological conditions, communities' sense of ownership of restored sites, and a long-term vision for restoration activities are key for successful restoration in the study area and most likely beyond.“
