Rwanda Reveals Other 2018 Kwita Izina Activities
While counting down to the long awaited 2018 Kwita Izina ceremony in Rwanda scheduled for 7th September 2018, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has revealed other activities to be done along Kwita Izina. Gorilla naming ceremony was initiated in 2005 and has since then become part of Rwanda’s traditions and cultures celebrated each year. This year 23 baby gorillas are to be named at the head quarters of Volcanoes national park in Kinigi north west of Rwanda. As always, a high number of people including travelers, conservationists, local people and gorilla lovers from all parts of the world are expected to grace this ceremony. This year’s kwita izina ceremony is themed at “Conservation is conservation” and is the 13th year of celebrating gorilla naming since 2005 when the first set of baby gorillas was named in Rwanda. The other activities to be done along gorilla naming include:
Celebrating conservation success
You cannot miss to celebrate the conservation success Rwanda has achieved since the time of Dian Fossey. It’s undeniable that a lot of success has been achieved in the Virunga conservation area evidenced by the rise of gorilla population from 480 in 2010 to 604 at present. Conservation success will therefore be celebrated in the whole Virunga massif comprised of Volcanoes national park, Virunga national park and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda respectively. Great thanks go to Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Uganda and Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) in Congo for their tireless efforts towards the conservation of mountain gorillas and other wildlife in the Virunga massif. Different programs such as Kwita Izina, local people education, local community engagement and trans boundary cooperation have been established in the area to support gorilla and wildlife conservation.
Another form of conservation success is the expansion of Volcanoes national park at the start of this year hence an assurance of increased gorilla treks in Rwanda. The African wildlife conservation donated 27 hectares of land to expand gorilla habitat hence ensuring wellbeing of the increasing number of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Presently, volcanoes national park spreads over 16,027.8 hectares of land, which is relatively large compared to 160,000hectares before the expansion. Park expansion has provided enough habitats for critically endangered mountain gorillas and at the same time promoting the socio-economic wellbeing of over 18,000people living in the boundaries of national parks.
Conservation on conservation returns
This will be a two days event from 4th to 5th September focused on recognizing the conservation on conservation returns that can be attained through conservation trends and practices. Also, there will be a conservation exhibition in which several conservation efforts will be availed by tourism/conservation partners from Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The conservation on conservation returns will also act as a platform for all global leaders to discuss different ways of promoting conservation and sustainable tourism in the Virunga Massif.
Launching new tourism projects
New community projects in kitabi sector Nyamagabe district and in Ndego sector Kayonza district will be launched on 27th July and 5th September respectively. On this occasion, 10 houses will be opened in Kitabi sector to provide residence for local people especially the former dwellers of Nyungwe Forest National Park. On the other hand, residents in karambi and Sangano villages in Ndego sector will are to receive mobile clinic, solar lighting and solar water pumps 
. All these are new developments Rwanda development board has established to improve the wellbeing of local people especially those who initially depended on protected areas for a living. Like Kwita Izina, community projects were started in 2005 as one way of encouraging revenue sharing with local people. Through these projects, the Rwanda Development Board distribute 10% of the total revenue collected from gorilla tourism to all communities in areas adjacent to the park. Presently, over $1.28 million have been distribute to more than 158 community-based products, which has improved the standards of living for local people. More so, Local people can now access free clean drinking water, health centers, classrooms and housing to some people who had no shelter.
In conclusion, Kwita izina is one of the most interesting activities in volcanoes national park. b part of the 2018 gorilla naming ceremony in rwanda, celebrate the conservation success in volcanoes national park and support the sustainable gorilla tourism in the Virunga massif.
