COMBIO- Biodiversity in the Eastern Province

High-level results &/ impact - A total of 6,857 green jobs have been created by the programme in the past 12 months. Out of these jobs, 120 are permanent jobs while 1,219 are temporary and 5,518 are casual jobs. - 114,770 hectares of landscapes have been restored in Eastern Province. This includes, 50.5ha covered by seven (7) biodiversity sanctas, 1,792ha of croplands, 528km of roadsides & 200ha of riverbanks and lakeshores. - It is estimated that the project interventions have reached 19,419 direct beneficiaries and 77,676 indirect beneficiaries. Specific results per each outcome are discussed below Outcome I Restored, enhanced, and protected biodiversity for increased climate resilience in productive and protective landscapes. - A preliminary assessment of the 7 forests has been conducted to assess their status, concept notes for their management developed. The selected and mapped forests have a total coverage of 1,845 hectares spanning 3 districts. - A total of 21 suitable sites have been identified by Enabel in collaboration with Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) and the Districts of Eastern Province. Among the 21 identified, 7 sites have been mapped and validated for Community biodiversity sancta establishment and development in 2023. Awareness raising events have also been conducted which has increased community understanding and eminent ownership of the established sanctas. - 42 community groups have been identified and formed. Most of the community members are landowners in proximity with the landscapes under restoration. 493 farmers neighboring the validated sites were mobilized to be part of the Community Biodiversity Sanctuaries (CBS) management groups. Those groups were created to fully own and manage the sites to be restored as CBS on a daily basis. 7 MoUs have now been signed with the communities regarding management of the sanctas. - 5 native tree seeds collection campaigns have been organized in Ndego, RwimiyagaRwimbogo, NyungweCyamudongo National Park, Akagera National Park and Mpanga/Ibanda Makera respectively. The team managed to collect seeds from 45 different native tree species. For every native tree seeds harvested, a seed passport has been developed to help in the traceability for species used in landscape restoration. Collected native tree seeds have been dispatched into 7 sancta nursery sites for extraction, weighting, pretreatment, and sowing. - 7 tree nurseries corresponding to 7 Community Biodiversity Sancta (CBS) have been established and made operational. The project has also established an excel based database that captures the nurseries information including seeds extraction, seeds treatment and growth conditions. The database documents all the species grown in the nursery beds, the germination and growth conditions of the species as well also the main lessons learnt for ease of knowledge sharing and research related needs. - 6 value chains have been developed and validated (proposed) for implementation in the sanctas. bee keeping, essential oils, pharmacopeia products, fruit products, aroma and flavors, ecotourism activities and native tree seeds and seedling production. In total 7 preliminary maps have been developed to guide in tree planting and to inform the future value chain development. - In consultation with partners the project has started the activities of early mapping, sancta design and development of the sancta management plan that provide the long-term guidance and detailed prescriptions for the establishment and sustainable management of the different components (nursery, botanical garden, education circuit, tree seed stand, fruit orchard, etc..) of Community Biodiversity Sancta - One study tour has been successfully organized at Gatsibo for knowledge and experience sharing among community members of the 7 CBSs. The community members who participated were those in leadership positions. - An inventory mapping of native tree species was completed in order to further localize them to establish their conservation and protection measures. At least 66 species were identified in the sampled project area. Interestingly, one tree species Diospyros abyssinica was discovered in Karushuga a tree specie that has never been recorded in Rwandan flora list before. - Seeds collection and phonological inspection of remnant forests for Tree Reproductive Materials (TRMs) collection was conducted in Kayonza, Kirehe, Gatsibo and Nyagatare Districts. The inspection team included RFA Forest Research Division (FRD) and the Tree Seed Unit (TSU) and during the inspection, the team collected data on availability of TRMs of 32 native species in the visited sites. - Tree Planting in the sanctas - In total 69,360 tree seedlings have been planted covering a total of 50,5 hectares in all the 7 sanctas. - Agroecological landscapes - The project introduced and planted native tree species in over 1792 hectares of the agroecosystems in Eastern Province. 260,377 tree species that have been planted are mainly Markhamia Lutea & Vernonia Amygdarina. This supplements over 11,200 hectares that have been restored by TREPA project. - Restoring roadsides During 2022/23 tree planting season, the project planted 583,046 native trees across 20 roads, covering a total distance of 528.4km of road network in all the seven districts of Eastern Province. - Restoration of aquatic ecosystems In total, 201.58 hectares along rivers, dams and lakeshores have been protected by 3,612 Croton Megalocarpus, 1,800 Podocalpus Falcatus, and 321,968 Acacia Polyacantha. Outcome II Improved livelihood of community through biodiversity based enterprises and developed value chains. - Preliminary work on the Payment for Ecosystems Services (PES) including stakeholder consultations and development of different nonmarket scenarios to interest the private sector and other potential investors in the EP have been undertaken. - The biodiversity and threats baseline assessment was successfully conducted in all the designated sanctas, private forests management units (PMUs), silvoagropastoral lands, rivers and lake buffers and roadsides where COMBIO project plantings and interventions are planned (44 sites in total were sampled). During the assessment, several taxon groups were sampled, and these are plants, flying insects, leaf litter and soil arthropods, birds, mammals, and herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles). Additionally, the team also documented human disturbances in all sites. Outcome III Strengthened and coordinated community based knowledge and national monitoring systems for biodiversity conservation. - Several workshops have been conducted with the MoE in the lead regarding the mainstreaming of biodiversity in the national and subnational strategies involving the 7 districts in the Eastern province. - A collaborative framework has been developed for institutions and local agencies contributions to participatory biodiversity monitoring. The framework was developed based on annual work plan of each implementing entity, to include the required contribution from local agencies, NGOs and other existing stakeholders. A list of 83 relevant CBOs, cooperatives, environmental associations, and NGOs were identified for all 7 Districts. Different measures for monitoring biodiversity were identified namely: Red List, Biotic Indices, Data inputs, Edge effect, FMIS, RBIS, and lITER. - A systems review has been undertaken to synthesize the work that has been done in the Eastern Province on biodiversity conservation and restoration efforts. About 60 documents, including reports and peer review articles, have been found and reviewed. An annotated bibliography and literature review has been produced.

The main objective of the contribution is to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation of ecosystems and population in the Eastern Province of Rwanda through enhanced community based biodiversity restoration and conservation over the protected and productive landscapes, while contributing to the green economy development. The key outcome objectives are Outcome 1: Restored, enhanced, and protected biodiversity for increased climate resilience in productive and protective landscapes Through the outcome, the project will restore and enhance biodiversity with the integration of 20 tree/shrubs species over 12.700 ha of productive and protective landscapes distributed across the Eastern Province, extending the geographic distribution of biodiversity supportive areas and enhancing biodiversity connectivity over the different productive and protected ecosystems. Outcome 2: Improved livelihood of community through biodiversity-based enterprises and developed value chains This outcome focuses on enhancing the role of biodiversity conservation in improving the livelihoods of communities in the project area by developing biodiversity-based enterprises and value chains that build on restored ecosystems and developed community biodiversity sancta from outcome 1 Outcome 3: Strengthened and coordinated community-based knowledge and National monitoring systems for biodiversity conservation under this outcome, the project aims to develop community-based management and monitoring frameworks by supporting mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in institutional and community development strategies, programs and action plans