According to official data, in 2022, wildfires destroyed 41 hectares of Nyungwe. The number rose significantly in 2023 to 138.5 hectares, before falling sharply again in 2024 to 25 hectares.
On August 31, 2025, as Rwanda concluded the month dedicated to conservation activities under the theme 'Nyungwe National Park: A Source of Wellbeing and Sustainable Development for Surrounding Communities', residents living near the park were reminded that fire outbreaks remain a serious threat. Burned areas take a long time to regenerate, disrupting the ecological balance of the park.
The awareness campaign featured football tournaments for both men and women, bringing together teams from the 23 sectors bordering the park, along with one additional sector whose residents are also involved in activities that pose risks to the park.
During the games, conservation messages were shared with the public, calling on communities to avoid harmful practices such as burning grass, harvesting honey with fire, illegal mining, tree cutting, and grazing livestock inside the park.
One of the participants, Tuyisenge Jeannette from Nyamuzi cell in Bweyeye sector, Rusizi District, emphasized the importance of the park, especially its role in maintaining regular rainfall for agriculture. She criticized those still involved in destructive practices.
'Some people who don't understand its importance enter the park to hunt animals and end up setting fires just for meat. I would advise them to stop and find alternative ways to earn a living,' she said.
The Community Development Manager Pierre Ntihemuka, explained that the sports tournaments, known as the Colobus Cup Tournament, were introduced as part of education and awareness efforts.
'These tournaments are bringing real benefits because community attitudes are changing. In the past, when fires broke out, residents would run back into their homes, leaving us without support. But now, they are the first to respond, bringing tools and helping us extinguish fires. Cases of illegal hunting have also reduced, which has led to a decline in fire outbreaks,' he noted.
Statistics from the Nyungwe Management Company reveal a significant decline in harmful activities impacting Nyungwe National Park.
Such activities declined from 1,147 cases in 2022 to just 130 cases in 2024. At the same time, the area affected by wildfires fell from 41 hectares in 2022 to 25 hectares in 2024, after a peak of 138.5 hectares in 2023.
Between January and August 2025, only 50 square meters have been affected by fires, a promising sign that this year may record far fewer wildfire incidents compared to previous years.
IGIHE
