Climate and Environment

Climate

Rwanda has a wet, tropical highland climate with significant rainfall year-round and moderate temperatures due to high elevation. The Twa typically reside in areas with reliable but seasonal rainfall, which historically supported the forest ecosystems they depended on. However, with environmental degradation and land encroachment, they now live in areas where farming is difficult, and they lack secure access to fertile land.

Deforestation

The Twa have been significantly impacted by deforestation and forced displacement from protected areas like Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Park. Once deeply connected to the forests, the Twa now live on land that is often poor and difficult to farm. This loss of their traditional environment has stripped them of their cultural role, livelihood, and security.

July 19, 1986

December 11, 2001

Limited Potential

The environment, though fertile in some areas with volcanic soils, is densely populated and heavily cultivated, especially in the highlands where the Twa now reside. This has led to soil depletion and land scarcity. Displaced from their forests, the Twa now live on marginal land with poor soil quality, limiting their agricultural potential and contributing to a cycle of poverty.

Land Rights

Land distribution among the Twa has been shaped by the feudal ubkonde tenure system, where land rights are passed down through inheritance. Since colonial times, there has been little redistribution of land to the Twa, leaving many with limited access. As a result, about 13% of the Twa population is landless, and most face significant barriers to education and healthcare (Lewis, 2006). While organizations like CAURWA (the Twa Association of Rwanda) and the Forest Peoples Programme provide some support, their efforts remain insufficient to address the widespread challenges the Twa continue to face.

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