The government of Rwanda has officially designated the Sanza and Ibanda-Makera forests and their buffer areas for beekeeping in order to increase honey production. This decision comes after the successful restoration of these ecosystems.
Rwanda’s annual honey production has already reached 7,000 tonnes by the end of the 2023/2024 fiscal year, with a target of reaching 10,000 tonnes by 2029. Allocating these state forests to beekeeping projects is part of the government’s strategy to boost honey production in the country.
Ibanda-Makera forest, located in Kirehe District in Eastern Province, covers 169 hectares and is a natural gallery forest with savanna trees, swamps, and large trees watered by the Makera stream. Sanza forest, located in Ngororero District in Western Province, was classified as “collapsed” before its restoration along with Ndoha forest and Mashyuza forest.
The rehabilitation of Sanza and Ibanda-Makera forests serves as an example of how ecosystem restoration can benefit local communities, according to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).
