Publications
Find here the publications by the research team, showcasing the results from the from the research unit.
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.“
