ADDRESSING HABITAT LOSS—THE GREATEST THREAT TO RWANDA’S MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

While decades of dedicated anti-poaching patrols and veterinary care have helped mountain gorillas recover, these gentle giants face a new bottleneck: a shortage of space.

Surrounded by one of the most densely populated rural landscapes in Africa, Rwanda’s Volcanoes

National Park spans just 160 square kilometers. As gorilla family groups grow, habitat fragmentation, agricultural encroachment, and limited range have emerged as the primary long-term threats to their survival.

INSIDE RWANDA’S AMBITIOUS PARK EXPANSION BLUEPRINT:

• Expanding Range by 23%: To accommodate growing gorilla families, Rwanda is implementing a major project to expand Volcanoes National Park by 3,740 hectares (37.4 sq km), along with a 6,620-hectare buffer zone.

• Reducing Human-Wildlife Conflict: The project aims to cut crop raiding and territorial clashes along park borders by up to 80% while establishing clearer ecological corridors.

• Community-Centered Resettlement: Over 3,400 local families living along the park perimeter are being relocated into sustainable, green neighborhoods with improved infrastructure, housing, and agriculture.

• Fueling Local Economies: Supported by partners like the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), the $300 million initiative is projected to create over 17,000 local jobs and boost community income around the park by 30%.

• Scaling Population Growth: Conservationists estimate the habitat restoration will allow the local mountain gorilla population to increase by another 15% to 20% while reducing infant mortality.

HABITAT PROTECTION IS THE KEY TO SPECIES SURVIVAL

Saving endangered species goes beyond stopping poachers—it requires securing the physical spaces wildlife need to feed, roam, and raise their young safely. By pairing park expansion with local economic development, Rwanda is demonstrating how habitat restoration can uplift communities while securing a future for wildlife.