Slideshows:

• Forest's Future in Good Hands
• Gishwati area visitors learn more about Rwanda National Conservation Park
• Forest of Hope

Videos:

• Gishwati Area Conservation Program

• Forest of Hope is in good hands

Ms. Madeleine Nyiratuza

In-Country Director

Great Ape Trust, Earthpark and the Rwanda Environmental Management Agency (REMA) selected Madeleine Nyiratuza as the program coordinator for the recently established Gishwati Area Conservation Program in western Rwanda.  Among her responsibilities, Ms. Nyiratuza established project headquarters in the Gishwati area, conducted community participation programs for villagers and coordinated the planning of a pilot ecotourism program.

Ms. Nyiratuza was selected from a field of more than 30 applicants by officials with REMA and Great Ape Trust.  The selection committee said Ms. Nyiratuza’s passion for conservation and the future of her country set her apart from other qualified candidates. The committee was particularly impressed with Ms. Nyiratuza’s suggestions on how to convey to Gishwati residents the importance of forests for improved and secure livelihoods.

Biographical Sketch

Ms. Nyiratuza received her master’s of science degree in Environmental Management and Development from Kampala International University in Uganda. Her thesis, titled The Impact of Poor Livelihoods on Conservation of Gishwati Forest Reserve, Rwanda, was based on interviews with 120 residents of three Gishwati communities. It determined villagers’ use of the forest, attitudes toward conservation and steps that could be taken to reduce their impact on forest conservation.  Ms. Nyiratuza earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, geography and education in 2004 from the Kigali Institute of Education.

A primary school teacher for six years, Ms. Nyiratuza also taught biology for two years at Gisenyi College in Rwanda. She coordinated a global partnership between Gisenyi College and Hockerill Anglo-European College in the United Kingdom, and helped develop joint education and environmental projects. She founded and managed the environment club at Gisenyi College, which planted more than 500 trees on the grounds of local schools and increased student awareness of conservation. More recently, Ms. Nyiratuza has designed syllabi and trained local teachers on methods for teaching science and technology. She has also participated in a study, sponsored by the Karisoke Research Center of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, on attitudes of people living near Volcanoes National Park toward conservation and ecotourism.

A mother of two, Ms. Nyiratuza resides with her family in Gisenyi.