The Africa’s Backbone is a Newsletter of the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS ) and it has been published since 1997. The Africa’s Backbone covers different news from ARCOS programmes/projects, ARCOS members and partners, across the Albertine Rift region, Africa Great Lakes, African Mountains and beyond. Don’t miss the opportunity if you are interested in sharing your conservation and development news with ARCOS.

Resilience to Climate Change News

East Africa Partners establish the East Africa Mountains Stakeholder Platform

On Wednesday, 30th March 2022, the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) convened the East Africa Mountains Regional Dialogue in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. The dialogue brought together 31 participants including representatives from the EAC Secretariat, the members of the Climate Change Technical Working Group (CCTWG) from the partner states and other key stakeholders from the region. During this meeting, the participants agreed to establish the East Africa Mountain Stakeholder Forum. Read more

Biodiversity Conservation & Ecosystem Restoration News

ARCOS notes leading efforts to manage African wetlands but calls for more actions: ARCOS Statement on the World Wetlands Day

On every 2nd February of each year, The Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Wetland Day. Celebrated since 1997, this occasion is all about raising awareness about wetlands as critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, livelihoods, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, economies, etc. The theme for 2022 was “Wetlands Action for People and Nature”. ARCOS notes leading efforts to manage African wetlands but calls for more actions. Read more

Policy Brief: Economic Valuation of the Rweru-Mugesera Wetlands Complex Ecosystem Services in Rwanda/Assessment of the Incremental Benefits and Costs of the Business-as-usual against Maintaining the Baseline

The main objective of this study was to carry out a total economic valuation of ecosystem services of the Rweru-Mugesera wetlands complex.

More than 48 thousand households or about 194 thousand individuals benefit from the wetland’s provisioning ecosystem services valued at just under $US 40 million which is worth an average of $US 206 a year per person; value that is equivalent to around one quarter of the $US 780.8 of Rwanda’s GDP per capita. The baseline value of regulating services is worth more than $US of 533 million. If the current rates of wetlands change are allowed to continue, then the total economic value will accumulate over $US 14 billion over the 30 years which is equivalent to a net present value of over $US 4billion. However, if the current (baseline) land use spatial extents are maintained then a total of around $US 17 billion shall be accumulated over the 30 years as the economic benefits of the ecosystem services which is equivalent to a net present value of over 4.4 billion. Read more

Policy Brief: Economics of Kigali City Wetlands Ecosystem Services: Evaluation of Policy Options

The main objective of this study was to carry out a total economic valuation of ecosystem services in the selected wetlands in Kigali City….

The baseline (2021) economic value of four provisioning (crop farming, papyrus products, grass harvesting, and bricks making) is US$ 22 million, while that for regulating services (climate change mitigation, habitat for biodiversity, sediment control, and water quality improvement) is valued at slightly more than US$ 51 million. If the status quo (business as usual scenario) is maintained, then the Kigali City wetland complex will accumulate net present value loss in terms of ecosystem services worth over $US 1.8 billion by 2050. While implementation of the Kigali City wetland master plan would outperform the status quo by generating a net present value benefit of more than $US 1.9 billion by 2050. The wetland master plan would generate around an extra $US 155 million annually more than the status quo. Read more

Sustainable Food System News

WEFE Nexus project beneficiaries thrilled to receive fruit and agroforestry trees, vegetable seeds and improved cookstoves in Rutsiro district

Wednesday, 30th March 2022, the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) through its WEFE Nexus project, provided 10042 fruit trees, vegetable seeds and 100 improved cookstoves to project beneficiaries in Rutsiro district. This initiative came in to facilitate project beneficiaries, among other things, promoting of vegetable farming, fruits production as well as to reduce biomass energy dependency and indoor pollution. Read more

Social Capital & Sustainable Community Livelihoods News

FONERWA&ARCOS hosted a workshop for Gicumbi local leaders to highlight the role and responsibilities of Sectors and District in the implementation of the Community Adaptation Fund

Wednesday, 6th April 2022, the Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) in partnership with the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS) hosted a one-day workshop with Gicumbi local leaders aiming to highlight the role and responsibilities of Sectors and Districts for a smooth and successful piloting of Community Adaptation Fund (CAF). In addition to this, the meeting provided a recap of the ongoing implementation of CAF. Read more

Education for Sustainable Development News

The Eco-Schools Programme organized ToT on IVAC approach and the operationalization of Turaco Fund

This training filled two needs with one deed as it provided a window to discuss the existing hindrances in implementing the IVAC approach and lining it up with the operationalization of Turaco Fund. Trainees went back home with an enhanced understanding of the establishment, operationalization, and guidelines of the turaco fund and improved micro projects proposals development, micro projects proposals development. Read more

Regional News

East Africa: ADF Provides $5 Million for Desert to Power Program in 4 Countries

The African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, is providing a technical assistance grant for the implementation of the Desert to Power program in four countries in the eastern Sahel. Read more

Green Climate Fund agrees to scale-up climate action in Africa

The programme, implemented by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will empower African national and local banks to direct funds to help farmers to cope with increasingly erratic climate effects while also reducing farming emissions. Read more

Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park to be Expanded by 23% with $255 Million Investment

Volcanoes National Park, located in north-western Rwanda, will be expanded by 23% of its current area. The conservation project, estimated at $255 million, focuses on improving the habitat of mountain gorillas, whose population has quadrupled in the past 40 years. Read More