As the countdown to #COP17 begins, 50 young leaders gathered in Kigali for Rwanda’s Pre-COP17 National Youth Consultation. They explored how youth leadership and community action can advance biodiversity conservation. Their message is clear: young people must help shape decisions affecting Africa’s wildlife, wild lands and communities. Participants developed a Rwanda Youth Position Document to share with the Ministry of Environment ahead of #COP17.

A new $49m Smart Green Village in Musanze will provide families with improved housing, infrastructure and basic services, alongside support to build sustainable livelihoods. The first phase is expected to accommodate 547 households. @nsapatric, @AWF_Official Country Coordinator in Rwanda, says residents will be connected to business support, skills training, financing and markets before relocating. AWF is partnering with the @RwandaGov on the broader programme, drawing on more than 40 years of work in the country. Read more from the article in @NewTimesRwanda: newtimes.co.rw/article/39446…

In Rwanda, lasting conservation depends on who gets to shape its future. Young people living around Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park bring first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing their communities, from deforestation and soil erosion to limited livelihood opportunities. Their leadership is essential to developing solutions that make sense locally and can endure over time. Through the @EU_Commission - funded project Empowering Youth for Climate-Resilient Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Volcanoes Region of Rwanda, AWF has signed sub-grant agreements with five youth-led organizations. Each will receive approximately RWF 12.4 million to advance its work across the 12 sectors bordering the park: @gybn_rwanda, @RwYouthAction, @SaveEnvironme14, @TheProtectorRw, and @ryaf_agribiz. The investment recognizes the value of locally led ideas and gives these organizations greater scope to put them into practice. @AWF_Official will provide training and mentorship, while the organizations lead their own initiatives and set their direction. Conservation is stronger when young people are equipped to shape it. We look forward to seeing how these five organizations contribute to resilient livelihoods and a thriving Volcanoes region.

1/4 - This #WorldGorillaDay, mountain gorillas offer a powerful example of what sustained conservation can achieve: their population has surpassed 1,000 in the wild.

1/6 - Black or white? Neither. On #WorldRhinoDay, join us in this thread 🧵 as we explore what really sets Africa’s two rhino species apart.

1/4 - Over 130 new businesses, countless lives transformed and one massive leap for local communities in Rwanda. Over 130 community members just graduated from an intensive enterprise program, turning raw ideas into sustainable, job-creating businesses. Here is what community-led growth actually looks like in action: 🧵

1/4 Can conservation create economic opportunity at the same time? Around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, the @AWF_Official is working with the Rwanda Development Board and local communities to demonstrate how market-driven enterprise can strengthen livelihoods while supporting the long-term protection of mountain gorilla habitat.

As Rwanda prepares for #KwitaIzina, the spotlight turns to the mountain gorilla. But conservation success must go beyond species recovery. It means landscapes where people, wildlife, and economies thrive together — through locally led conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and long-term investment. Read how Rwanda is helping shape this next chapter: awf.org/news/beyond-gorilla-… @nsapatric

1/5 🐘 WORLD ELEPHANT DAY Did you know an elephant can drink up to 200 litres of water a day? In a landscape like Tsavo, that makes access to water fundamental to the survival of elephants—and to how they move through landscapes shared with people. But there is a bigger story behind that number. 🧵 #WorldElephantDay

Climate resilience begins with people. Around Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, young people are restoring indigenous forests, protecting wildlife habitat, and demonstrating that lasting conservation starts within communities. Read how youth are helping shape a more resilient future. 🔗 awf.org/news/it-starts-me-ho…

The reported loss of 15 elephants in Amboseli National Park is deeply disturbing. Amboseli is one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife landscapes and one of the last great strongholds of the continent’s legendary Big Tuskers. These elephants are more than a national treasure; they are an irreplaceable part of Africa’s natural heritage, inspiring generations and underscoring the importance of protecting healthy, connected landscapes. The @AWF_Official is in close consultation with the @KWSKenya and other conservation stakeholders as investigations continue. We support a thorough, science-based process to establish the facts and look forward to a swift, transparent, and peaceful resolution based on verified evidence. Our thoughts are with everyone dedicated to safeguarding Amboseli’s wildlife. We remain committed to working alongside governments, communities, and partners to ensure this extraordinary landscape and the wildlife that calls it home continue to thrive for generations to come.