Gishwati-Mukura National Park was established in 2015 to address the negative impacts of illegal mining and encroachment. The goal was to restore the environment by planting trees to improve soil fertility, stabilize slopes, and regulate stream flow. As Rwanda’s fourth national park, it consists of two forests: the larger Gishwati and the smaller Mukura, covering a total of 34 square kilometres, excluding the buffer zone. These forests lie in Rwanda’s western region along the Albertine Rift, which separates the Congo Nile water catchment basins. The park is home to chimpanzees, golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and blue monkeys. Gishwati has 232 bird species, while Mukura hosts 163, including rare and endemic species of the Albertine Rift.

Rwanda’s newest national park serves as a conservation model for great apes. In 2008, only 13 chimpanzees remained, but conservation efforts increased their number by 46 per cent to 19 in 2011. Today, about 30 chimpanzees live in the forest. These efforts could help great apes worldwide. The Gishwati forest supports thousands of Rwandans by maintaining soil fertility and biodiversity. Its rich ecosystem has the potential to attract eco-tourists, which could benefit Rwanda’s economy in the long term.