Rwanda is not just talking about change; it is making it happen. One of the strongest examples is how Rwanda uses trees to restore life to empty and damaged farmlands. This is called agroforestry, and even if it sounds like a big word, the idea is straightforward: farmers grow trees together with crops or animals.
Agroforestry is not new. Our grandparents did it, and some still do. But what makes Rwanda special is that the country has made it a national goal. Rwanda was the first country in Africa to make a major pledge to the Bonn Challenge in 2011, committing to restore an ambitious 2 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, covering approximately 80% of its land area.
By 2018, Rwanda had already achieved significant restoration, contributing to its forest cover now standing at over 30% of the country's landmass â€" a tangible testament to its efforts.
This commitment, alongside its active role in the AFR100 initiative and robust national policies, positions Rwanda as a true pioneer. Leaders, farmers, researchers, media, and local people work together to bring trees back to the land. And the results are excellent.
In many parts of the country, you will now see bananas growing next to trees, goats feeding under shaded areas, and fruit trees standing proudly in school gardens. This is not just beautiful; it's powerful. Trees help the soil stay healthy, stop water from washing away, give shade to crops, and even provide food and firewood.
The world is now watching Rwanda. From October 20 to 24, 2025, Rwanda will host the 6th edition of the World Congress on Agroforestry. This major international gathering will bring together diverse agroforestry stakeholders to exchange ideas on advancing research and practices in agroforestry systems, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation and mitigation for sustainable and resilient agro-ecosystems.
Rwanda will not only welcome delegates; it will also teach them. What is happening in Rwanda stands as proof that tree-based solutions work. For example, in the Sebeya catchment area in the Western Province, trees have been planted to restore life to degraded landscapes.
The government and its partners are also working in the Eastern Province, Amayaga, the Volcanoes region, and Gicumbi, using trees to prevent soil erosion, halt biodiversity loss, protect water sources, create jobs, and transform livelihoods in support of sustainable development.
These are not small ideas. They are tangible actions already improving lives.
What makes trees so valuable in farming goes beyond their beauty. Trees provide multiple benefits at the same time. A mango tree, for example, produces fruit, offers shade, enriches the soil, and can eventually be used for firewood. This means a farmer does not have to choose between food and fuel; they can have both.
Trees also play a vital role in fighting climate change. They absorb carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas that contributes to global warming, and release oxygen. Trees are like silent workers. They go about their tasks quietly, but their impact is profound.
Trees help clean the air we breathe. One of the most serious challenges today is the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂), especially from cars, factories, and firewood burning. This gas gets trapped in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. But trees help. They absorb CO₂ and store it in their trunks and roots. This process is called carbon sequestration.
The more trees we plant, the more carbon we remove from the air. This slows down climate change and makes the air fresher and cleaner. That is why planting trees is not just a farming activity. It is also a climate solution.
One of the most important but often overlooked benefits of agroforestry is its role in protecting underground water. When land is covered with trees and plants, rainwater does not simply run off. The roots help water seep into the ground, where it stays and feeds underground reserves.
These water sources later support wells, rivers, and springs. In dry areas like Rwanda's Eastern Province, this is a lifeline. Without trees, rain washes away the soil and disappears. With trees, water stays where people and animals need it most.
Agroforestry also protects biodiversity, which refers to the variety of life in an ecosystem. When only one tree species, such as eucalyptus, is grown, biodiversity decreases. But when trees, crops, and animals share the same land, many species thrive. Birds find nesting places. Bees find flowers for honey. Animals find shade and food. Every plant and insect plays a role in nature's balance. By protecting biodiversity, we protect our future.
Agroforestry does something even deeper. It restores harmony between people and nature. In many villages, people are planting traditional medicinal trees again. These trees treat illnesses, just like they did for their grandparents.
Others are planting trees that protect their land from strong winds and heavy rain. Farmers know their land better than anyone else. Agroforestry gives them the tools to care for it. When farmers feel connected to their land, they work with more care and pride.
Trees are not just good for the environment. They are also part of our culture and identity. In Rwandan tradition, many trees carry deep meaning. Some are planted to mark a birth, to honour a loved one, or to celebrate peace.
When we lose trees, we lose more than wood or fruit. We lose our connection to who we are. Agroforestry helps bring back those cultural values. It teaches young people to respect nature, to care for the land, and to remember that trees are part of our family story.
Trees teach patience. You plant them and wait. They grow slowly but surely. This is the opposite of the fast and careless way some people treat nature today. Trees remind us that good things take time. They teach us to be responsible. They also teach us to think about the next generation. When we plant trees, we are planting hope for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.
Rwanda has a big opportunity at the World Congress on Agroforestry in 2025. This event is not only a time to show what Rwanda has achieved. It is also a chance to ask for stronger international support.
We must tell climate donors and global investors: Support agroforestry not with small pilot projects, but with real investment, sound policies, and long-term plans. The world already spends billions on climate change. It is time trees and agroforestry receive their fair share.
Agroforestry is not only about trees. It is also about human dignity. It brings people hope and pride. When a farmer plants an avocado tree and knows her children will eat its fruit, that is a powerful act. When a young person sees a future in growing trees and decides to stay in the village, that is a reason to believe. Agroforestry is not only about the land. It is also about people. It is about giving families better lives while taking care of nature.
Of course, challenges remain. Some banks and businesses are reluctant to invest in tree-based farming because profits take time. But these are challenges we can solve. We need to support farmers, especially young people and women, with training, tools, and financing.
We also need to teach children about trees and land care in schools. Agroforestry should not be seen as something old-fashioned or only for the poor. It is modern, innovative, and sustainable. It is a way of life that respects nature and strengthens communities. We must change how we speak about trees. They are not just decorations. They are not optional. Trees are the foundation of healthy land and strong societies.
Rwanda is leading the way. It is not the richest or largest country, but it believes in practical solutions that benefit both people and the environment. Rwanda is turning degraded land into living land. This is happening in places from Rusizi's hills to Nyagatare's plains, from home gardens to school farms. The goal is not only to plant trees. It is to grow a future.
I call on the world to look at Rwanda, not with charity, but with respect. Rwanda has shown that it is possible to restore land, fight hunger, protect the climate, save water, and grow the economy all at the same time. Let this World Agroforestry Congress be a turning point. Let the world realise that the answers are not always in high technology or large machines. Sometimes, the solution lies beneath our feetâ€"in the soil, in the seed, and in the roots of a tree.
And Rwanda is standing tall like a tree, for the world to see.
Habimana Jean Claude is a Science Communications Expert dedicated to unlocking the power of Nature-based Solutions, Forest Landscape Restoration, Conservation Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture, Gene Editing, One Health, and the circular economy in Africa.
X handle: @Habimana_JClaud
Jean Claude Habimana
