Cabinet Approves New Parks Conservation Agency

It was a decision made in the Cabinet meeting on July 24, 2026, led by President Paul Kagame in Village Urugwiro.

The government of Rwanda explained that this new center will take care of wildlife through ecosystem conservation, research, innovation and building sustainability in environmental care.

He explained that improving the management of National Parks will continue to promote sustainable tourism, protect services based on environmental protection and improve the economy and well-being of the people who live in these parks.

In February 2016, the Gishwati-Mukura forest, located in the Congo-Nile mountain range, was recognized as Rwanda's fourth National Park.

This park is located in Rutsiro and Ngororero Districts in the Western Province of the country, with an area of 3,558 hectares, including the Gishwati area with an area of 1,570 hectares and the Mukura area with an area of 1,988 hectares.

It is home to more than 60 species of trees including table and bamboo.

This park is known for housing a variety of animals, including 20 species of chimpanzees, golden monkeys, birds and other small animals.

Volcanoes National Park is also a must-see in this center which is known to be home to the rarest volcanic geese in the world.

Some of them are found in East Africa, especially in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 2010, 480 geese were counted, but in 2019, they reached 604.

In the world that year, they reached 1,063.

It is located in the mountain range of Karisimbi, Muhabura, Bisoke and the lake above, Sabyinyo and Gahinga.

Apart from mountain geese, there are more than 200 species of birds and cattle.

Rwanda also has Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park, both of which have unique wildlife habitats and attract new tourists every year.

The 2025 activity report of the Rwanda Development Agency, RDB, shows that tourism revenue in 2025 is $685 million, from $647 million in 2024, which represents an increase of 6%.

The number of visitors to Rwanda also increased by 9% to 1.49 million people.

Many of these visit Volcanoes National Park, which is popular for its geese, as well as other parks.

Rwanda expects that in 2029, the tourism sector will earn the country $1.1 billion.

Currently, 10% of the revenue generated by each park is distributed to the people who live near the park through providing them with infrastructure and programs aimed at their development.

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