The CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, Francis Gatare, announced that the inaugural phase of the Volcanoes National Park Expansion project is set to commence in 2024. Gatare revealed this information during his appearance at the plenary sitting of the lower chamber of Parliament, where he addressed concerns within the hospitality and tourism sector. These concerns encompassed challenges such as poaching in reserves and parks, damage to crops of local residents caused by animals exiting the parks, and ongoing disputes surrounding the expansion of the Volcanoes National Park, causing frustration among landowners in the affected region.

Data from the RDB indicates that the entire project is projected to incur a cost of $255 million (approximately 317 billion at the current exchange rates), with the primary objective of enhancing the habitat for mountain gorillas.

This endeavor aims to enlarge the park by around 23%, expanding its total area by 37.4 square kilometers (equivalent to 3,740 hectares).

Gatare has highlighted that a preliminary phase for implementing the project will be initiated to demonstrate the feasibility of the entire scheme. This initial phase will involve 500 households residing in more than 450 hectares. It is emphasized that these residents will not be displaced from their land until they receive the owed compensations.

The broader project implementation is anticipated to involve the expropriation and resettlement of 3,400 households, as per RDB.

The agency asserts that this conservation initiative will not only benefit the gorilla species but also enhance the lives of the communities around the park, making the experience of visiting the gorillas even more transformative.

Gatare, in agreement with lawmakers, expresses concern about the delay in compensating residents within the expansion boundaries. He emphasizes the importance of fair compensation to facilitate the timely expansion of the park.

While residents retain the right to conduct activities such as farming on their land, Gatare underscores the potential imprudence of allowing the construction of long-term buildings when expropriation is imminent. The ongoing study, expected to conclude in January 2024, will inform the implementation of the park expansion initiative.

Gatare highlights that various studies have been conducted to outline the park expansion area, assess socio-economic factors for the affected residents, and determine fair compensation based on property valuation.

Efforts are underway to mobilize the budget for compensations, paving the way for project execution.

Lawmakers raise concerns about the inconvenience faced by residents within the demarcated expansion area, emphasizing the need to expedite the project for the well-being of the affected people.

Notably, gorilla tourism, a major driver of high-end tourism in Rwanda, contributed $113 million to the country’s total tourism revenues of $445 million in 2022, according to RDB’s 2022 annual report.