Wetland Conservation and Avitourism Development in Rwanda. A Case of Rugezi Swamp- Northern Province

This study aimed to examine the role of wetland conservation in the development of avitourism in Rwanda, with Rugezi swamp as a study area. While the Rwandan Government is targeting to develop Avitourism at the same level as other forms of tourism, such as MICE and gorilla tourism, there is still a big problem of rapid loss and degradation of wetlands, the habitats of different aquatic animal species, including birds. Different wetland conservation strategies were undertaken, where, for example, all wetlands are under the management of the Rwandan Government through the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), but the problem still exists. The study specifically (1) examined the importance of wetland conservation in Rugezi Swamp, (2) the relationship between Avitourism and wetland conservation in Rwanda, (3) the main challenges facing wetland conservation to the development of Avitourism in Rugezi Swamp, and (4) the strategies to deal with those challenges. In addition to secondary data collected through literature review, primary data were gathered through surveying 50 RWCA marsh rangers and 6 executive secretaries of the six sectors adjacent to the swamp by means of questionnaires and interviews. The results indicated that the government’s wetland conservation strategies have played a big role in the development of Avitourism in Rugezi swamp, whereby there has been an increase in the amount of food for aquatic birds in that swamp, which hosts 43 bird species. Protected wetlands such as Rugezi swamp control floods and erosion, and they rejuvenate ecosystems, including bird species. Conservation of wetlands has resulted in the increase of different bird species, which attract more birders to Rugezi swamp. Furthermore, the development of Avi-tourism in Rwanda has influenced wetland conservation efforts and the improvement of the livelihood of the surrounding local communities. Concerning the challenges facing wetland conservation to the development of Avi-tourism in Rugezi swamp, human activities, natural disasters, lack of awareness on wetland conservation, topography, and communities’ lifestyles were highlighted as the major ones. The strategies to solve these challenges are: establishment of buffer zone areas, removing non-native and invasive species from the swamp, terracing, and preparing local communities for avitourism. It was concluded that wetland conservation has contributed more to the development of avitourism in Rugezi swamp. For maximum development of Avi-tourism and wetland conservation in Rwanda, REMA, RDB, RWCA, MINICOM, MINAGRI, PSF, and MINEDUC were recommended to cooperate in stimulating investments in the Avi-tourism sector and wetland projects, and also by educating all citizens about the Environmental Organic Law and the Land Law under which wetlands are managed.