[2] In addition to tremendous loss of biodiversity, the region experiences soil erosion and degradation and landslides.

Erosion, landslides, reduced water quality, and soil infertility had resulted from this degradation of the land.

The Gishwati Area Conservation Program (GACP) began in 2007 with the collaboration of Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, and Great Ape Trust, founded by philanthropist Ted Townsend.

The initiative began with the idea of creating a national conservation park in Rwanda to protect the biodiversity of the Gishwati Forest area and stop some of the rapid degradation.

[7] The forest reserve has recorded 58 species of trees and shrubs, including numerous indigenous hardwoods and bamboo.

Previously disturbed regions of the forest experiencing regeneration show colonization of Carapa grandiflora, Entandrophagrama excelsum, and Symphonia globulifera.

[7] Other fauna found are the 84 species of birds, including the white-headed wood hoopoe (Phoeniculus bollei) and mountain yellow warbler (Iduna similis).

With respect to reptiles, the great lakes bush viper and multiple species of chameleons are also found live in the Gishwati Forest.

[14] The main tourist activity in Gishwati Forest is chimpanzee tracking, but there are also a number of near endemic bird species to see as well as Golden Monkeys, serval cats and other animals.

This activity starts early in the morning and requires that you stay at the Forest of Hope Guest House.

Waterfall trail starts close to the Forest of Hope Guest House and is 7 km long.

[15] A small isolated group of east African chimpanzees inhabits the Gishwati Forest, a place that may serve as a test bed for new conservation approaches and ideas.

Between 2008 and 2011 the population increased by forty-six percent to nineteen members through the efforts of Rwandan government and the Gishwati Area Conservation Program.

[17] In 2011, Plant-It 2020 provided funding for the Gishwati Area Conservation Program of the Great Ape Trust to plant 1,000 native trees in and around Gishwati-Mukura National Park.

[19] A 10,000 acre corridor of newly planted trees may one day connect Gishwati Forest and Nyungwe National Park, about thirty miles to the south.

This connection will allow animals to migrate between the protected areas and insure the gene flow of alleles between both populations of chimpanzees.

[21] Gishwati has reduced in size by 98% since 1970s this resulted in environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, erosion and land slide.