Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Park: Restoring 122 Hectares in Kigali for Flood Control and Biodiversity

Between 2016 and 2020, Rwanda's Environment Management Authority (REMA) restored 121.7 hectares of a degraded urban wetland in eastern Kigali — about 70 hectares of wetland and 50 hectares of forest — using Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF/GEF) financing of roughly 6.3 billion Rwandan francs (~US$5-6 million). The project replanted 17,000 indigenous trees across 55 native species, restored an indigenous fig forest, five catchment ponds and three recreational ponds for flood alleviation, and built 8,574 metres of walkways and cycle paths.

A peer-reviewed case study covering 2016-2024 recorded strong statistical correlations between the restoration effort and ecological recovery (r=0.87–0.95), economic benefits (r=0.76–0.82) and social outcomes (r=0.72–0.79), all significant at p≤0.05, and documented recolonisation by over 100 bird species. Rwandan press (KT Press) reported the park drew more than 110,000 visitors in 2025 — about 300 a day — and that roughly 4,000 green jobs have been created since restoration began; these visitor and jobs figures come from park/REMA reporting rather than independent audit.

In 2025 Nyandungu received the Star Wetland Centre Award and recognition at the Ramsar Convention's COP14, and is promoted by REMA as a replicable model for climate-resilient African cities.

Read the full analysis: https://www.rema.gov.rw/our-work-1/projects/ldcf-iii-5