Evaluation of the level of adoption of native tree species in landscape restoration in Rwanda

Abstract

Studies indicate that forest and land degradation is a serious problem worldwide, developing countries in particular, and to reverse large-scale degradation and deforestation goes beyond what can be achieved by site-level ecological restoration. This study assessed the level of adoption of native tree species for landscape restoration in Rwanda, focusing on Rulindo District. A purposive random sampling approach was employed to interview 95 farmers using face-to-face structured questionnaires. The results highlighted that 84.21% have already planted native species while 15.79% did not. Regarding the adoption level, this study found a significant variation in the adoption of native species being used in landscape restoration. Markhamia lutea was found to be the most adopted tree species in the Rulindo (30.8%) followed by Ficus thoningii (18.6%), Erythrina abyssinica (16.2%), Mitrygnya rubrostipulata (9.6%), Polyscias fulva (9%), Afrocarpus falcatus (8.1%), Maesopsis eminii (5.1%), Tetradenia riparia (1.2%), Maesa lanceoalata (0.6%) and Sesbania sesban and Ficus ovata (0.3%). For the exotic tree species, of the most adopted species was Greveilla robusta (38.9%) followed by Alnus acuminata (17.8%), Persea americana (16.5%), Citrus x limon (13.1%), Psidium guajava (7.5%), Mangifera indica (4.4 %). Cedrela serrata (0.9%), Calliandra houstoniana var. calothyrsus (0.6%) and Citrus × aurantiifolia (0.3%). All respondents acknowledged the importance of growing native trees, with 84% rating their preference as high. Furthermore, 94% recognized ongoing community conservation efforts to conserve native trees in their respective community, 4% are not sure and 2% responded that there are no efforts in place. The adoption was facilitated by community champion groups and cooperatives (39%), the government (18%), the role played from other initiatives (14%), the intervention of NGOs (12%), incentive mechanisms (8%,) among others. Moreover, it revealed that the successes are associated with diverse benefits such as fuelwood (19%), soil enhancement (17%), and timber production, shade (13%), medicine (12%), fencing 10%), food (7%), cultural use (4%) provided by native tree species. However, despite the level of the success, challenges still persist, including limited seed availability (30%), low germination rates (27.6%), poor soil and climate conditions (18.5%), low seedling survival (12.7%), and high seedling costs (9.1%). Thus, this study recommend to increase native species coverage in Rwandan by bridging the highlighted challenges. The findings provide a good source of information to refer to for the landscape restoration using native tree species in similar ecological areas to the District of Rulindo.