Rwanda Agricultural Cooperative Initiative

The Rwanda initiative began not just with an idea, but with an observation — that even the most iconic conservation successes are fragile without resilient human systems to support them. In August 2024, I traveled to the Volcanoes National Park region, where I witnessed a powerful but delicate recovery in action. Decades of dedicated conservation have seen mountain gorilla populations rebound, but this success brings its own challenges. As gorilla numbers increase, the need for buffer zones, local support, and resilient food systems becomes more pressing.

Conservation cannot stop at the park boundary. As the gorillas push against their habitat limits, human communities at the park’s edge face increasing economic pressures. Stone walls and paper borders are not enough to protect this landscape without deeper, systemic solutions.

This initiative was born from conversations with Daniel Ntakirutimana, a Rwandan conservationist and university student whose work focuses on improving local agricultural systems. Daniel has built a network of cooperatives in the Nyamasheke District, where smallholder farmers grow avocados and produce some of the purest honey in the region. His vision is simple but powerful: to align local livelihoods with conservation goals, reducing pressure on protected forests and creating resilient, self-sustaining economies.

Our work in Rwanda focuses on:

• Regenerative Agriculture Training – Equipping local farmers with the skills to restore degraded soils, improve yields, and reduce deforestation.

• Cooperative Development – Supporting local cooperatives in governance, infrastructure, and market access.

• Honey Production and Export – Enhancing the quality, packaging, and distribution of local honey, creating new income streams for rural communities.

• Buffer Zone Reinforcement – Establishing agricultural systems that provide viable livelihoods without encroaching on protected areas.

The goal is not just to provide an alternative to destructive land use, but to redefine the relationship between people and place — to build a culture of stewardship that extends far beyond park borders.

This is a project about continuity. It’s about building systems that regenerate not just soil, but entire communities, ensuring that conservation success stories have deep, lasting roots.