“Visit Rwanda”, from a soft power strategy to a profitable business for forest and wildlife conservation

In 2011, Rwanda joined the Bonn Challenge, a global initiative led by IUCN, and pledged to bring 2 million ha under forest landscape restoration (FLR) by 2030. Amounting to 82% of its territory, this target is the highest national proportion committed under the Challenge. In the early 2010s, the Government of Rwanda also included a 30% national forest cover target by 2020 in multiple economic and development policies. In 2019, the country was estimated to have 708,629 ha under restoration, meaning 29% of its target is achieved. Efforts are estimated to have led to the sequestration of more than 100 MtCO2, according to IUCN calculations. $531 million were invested, including 51% from domestic public expenditure ($275 million) and 36% from co-financing of public funds and international grants. Private sector investment remains below 1%, but new tourism policies might be a game-changer.