This was part of RDB’s park revenue sharing program and is a demonstration of the fruits of conservation being shared with the community - another reason Kwita Izina is so important.

As part of RDB’s community engagement during this year’s Kwita izina program,

RDB giving away 296 cattle to vulnerable residents of Nyabihu District.

The engagement is part of the RDB tourism revenue share program and in line with the Rwanda government Gira Inka program.

Belise Kariza, the RDB Chief

Tourism Officer said: “The tourism revenue share program not only helps

to cater for the needs of people surrounding the parks but also encouragesthem to own the conservation

initiative.”

“The benefits the recipients of the cows will get from them like milk will help improve their daily lives. We are also working on other projects such as building more classrooms and health centers and portable water systems for the people, we appreciate the people’s contribution towards conservation efforts and it’s a good model that will attract more investors to Rwanda’s tourism sector.”

While making his remarks, Alphonse Munyentwali thanked RDB for the program, noting, “When the revenue share program started,

the communities surrounding the parks received about Rwf 100

million. Today, the figure has grown

to Rwf 1.5 billion.”

“I appreciate the fact that today a person that used to set traps for animals in the parks is now able to get milk on a daily basis. Let’s continue protecting the parks so that our region can continue earning more from tourism which will improve people’s lives.”

#KwitaIzina19

This was up from Rwf 741 million in 2017. RDB has worked with communities living adjacent to the national parks to provide 647 different community projects since 2005. RDB has been able to build schools, clinics, and water systems.

In total, RDB is giving away 729 cattle this year to residents of Nyabihu District, Burera District, Rubavu District, Musanze District.

This year, using the 2018 park revenues, RDB distributed Rwf1.4 billion to the communities living around the national parks.

Rwanda Development Board seeks to fast track Rwanda's economic development by enabling private sector growth.

Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda’s stunning scenery and warm, friendly people offer unique experiences in one of the most remarkable countries in the world. It is blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, montane rainforest and sweeping plains.

“In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat,” wrote the eminent primatologist Dian Fossey, “are great, old volcanoes towering almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest – the Virungas.”

The Volcanoes National Park fall on one side of the Virunga Massif, home to mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and much more.

Rwanda is ranked as the second easiest place to do business in Africa by the World Bank and has been awarded for its leadership in tourism and economic competitiveness by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Economic Forum respectively.