Conserving biodiversity and managing water resources in the Akagera River catchment, Eastern Rwanda: local engagement and knowledge cocreation through the adaptive planning process

This study presents the findings on the engagement and roles of stakeholders in planning for biodiversity and water resources governance. It uses the adaptive planning process (APP) steps in the adaptive systemic approach (ASA) to engage stakeholders, from early planning, toward implementing interventions that support unlocking resilience benefits from the management of the Akagera River catchment in Rwanda. Data was collected from governmental and non-governmental stakeholders’ inputs and catchment community residents through focus group discussions, interviews, and APP workshops. Results demonstrate stakeholders working together to formulate a shared vision and a desired future, exploring their values, and collaboratively building a hierarchy of the objectives essential for intervention implementation. We conclude that facilitating equitable participation among a wide range of stakeholders and taking care to include local people, both enrich the knowledge base from which to manage landscapes and lay a foundation for a collaborative relationship among stakeholders.