Vegetation in Rwanda
Senior 2 · Geography and Environment
Vegetation in Rwanda
Lesson 3 of 3
20 min
In the 1930s Gishwati forest in the north-west was a large, continuous mountain forest. After decades of clearing for cattle ranches, tea and farms it had lost about 90% of its cover. The hills below then suffered erosion and landslides, and the streams turned muddy. Vegetation is not scenery: it holds soil, stores water, feeds families and earns foreign currency. This lesson sets out what vegetation does for Rwanda and how people damage it and restore it.
| Type of value | Examples |
|---|---|
| Protecting soil and water | Roots bind the soil on steep slopes and the canopy breaks the force of the rain. Mountain forests act as water catchments: they soak up rain and release it slowly to streams. Nyungwe feeds rivers flowing to both the Nile and the Congo basins. Swamp vegetation filters silt and waste from the water. |
| Climate | Forests release water vapour, keeping local air moist, and store carbon, which slows climate change. |
| Habitat for wildlife | Bamboo and Hagenia woodland feed mountain gorillas and golden monkeys; Nyungwe holds 13 primate species and more than 300 bird species; savanna supports Akagera's lions, rhinos and giraffes. |
| Tourism | Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and savanna game drives earn foreign exchange. Akagera's tourism revenue rose from about US$3.7 million in 2022 to US$4.8 million in 2023. |
| Raw materials | Timber, poles and firewood; papyrus and reeds for mats, baskets and roofing; grass for thatch; honey; medicinal plants. |
| Grazing | Savanna grasses and swamp margins feed cattle, especially in the east. |
| Research and education | Scientists have studied mountain gorillas at the Karisoke Research Centre in the Virungas since 1967. Nyungwe became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. |
Calculate the percentage increase in Akagera's tourism revenue from US$3.7 million (2022) to US$4.8 million (2023).
Tip
Exam technique. In an "assess" or "evaluate" question, give both sides and then a judgement. Weigh short-term gain (for example, farmland from a drained swamp) against long-term cost (for example, floods, dirtier water and lost wildlife). End with a clear verdict: "On balance, … because …".
Solution: it soaks up rain and releases it slowly to rivers, and its roots and leaf litter reduce erosion, keeping streams clear of silt.
Solution: papyrus for mats and crafts, and fishing and grazing on the swamp margins (also water filtering for supply).
Solution: animals remove the grass cover, so rain hits bare soil directly and runoff carries it away.
Solution: loss = 2,500 − 1,122 = 1,378 km²; 1,378 ÷ 2,500 × 100 = 55.1%.
Solution: improved (energy-saving) cookstoves and biogas or LPG for cooking, plus woodlots planted for fuel.
Summary
Sources and credits
The importance table, the worked example and the practice items are written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
