Effects of Forest Landscape Restoration Initiatives on the Socio-Economic Development of Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda: A Case of Bweyeye Sector, Rwanda

This study investigated the effects of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) initiatives on the socio-economic development of smallholder farmers in Bweyeye Sector, Rusizi District, Rwanda. While FLR efforts aim to restore degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity, and support rural livelihoods, their socio-economic impacts remain unclear, particularly for small-scale farmers. The study had three specific objectives: (1) to evaluate FLR by mapping forestland cover change from 2003 to 2023 using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools; (2) to assess the effects of FLR using descriptive statistics from a survey of 332 smallholder farmers across five cells in Bweyeye; and (3) to analyze the relationship between FLR and socio-economic development using correlation and regression analysis. GIS results showed a significant forestland cover loss of 45.73 square kilometers over the 20-year period, mainly due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure development, despite high community participation in FLR activities. Descriptive findings indicated improved socio-economic conditions among FLR participants, notably in income, food security, education, and healthcare access. Correlation analysis confirmed a strong positive relationship between FLR initiatives and socio-economic development. The study recommends that policymakers implement balanced land-use strategies and that the Rwanda Forestry Authority strengthens monitoring systems to track tree survival and land cover changes. Future research should explore long-term FLR impacts on job creation and housing. Key words: Forest Landscape Restoration, Socio-Economic Development, GIS Analysis, Agroforestry, Bweyeye sector, Rwanda