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43

Lessons learned

The challenges to sustainable mountain development

can sometimes affect a whole country, as is the case in

Rwanda. There is a therefore a need for national level

response rather than mountain-specific approaches.

The green growth and climate resilience strategy

could focus more on the most vulnerable areas, but it

concerns the country as a whole. Mountains provide

indispensable services including water for irrigation

and hydropower energy and can contribute significantly

to green growth. When mountain ecosystems are well

managed, they contribute to climate change mitigation.

Recommendations

It is clear that Rwanda, as a low income and densely

populated country, faces many challenges in achieving

green growth and full climate change resilience.

However, notable steps have been taken, ranging

from policy responses to the implementation of good

practices on the ground. For a significant impact,

more good practices should be promoted, such as

investing more in watershed management to sustain

agriculture in mountainous areas. In addition, given

the rapid population growth and the high demand for

agricultural land, agroecosystem practices should be

adopted to simultaneously improve food security and

enhance environmental conservation.

Hilltop village overlooking Lake Ruhondo, Rwanda