Bernadette Arakwiye

Bernadette Arakwiye (born in the 1980s in Kigali) is the current Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Rwanda (as of August 2025). Quotes My research has focused on understanding dynamics, drivers, and outcomes of forest cover changes in densely populated regions in Africa. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) I explore how the types and qualities of forest governance influence forest extent and forest types across space and time. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) The research is particularly important in my work, as we seek to document the types of forest governance that have the potential to influence environmentally sound and socially just forest restoration outcomes. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Forest governance is a set of formal and informal rules made by multiple stakeholders to determine how forests are managed and/or used. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Governance is needed to provide general guidance and a check on stakeholder’s interactions with forests. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) There is a mounting evidence on the benefits forests provide at various scales and on the risk of natural forest depletion. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) There is a need to safeguard the sustainable supply of these services, and this is something functioning and representative rules – effective governance – can address. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Without such governance, I would expect chaos and conflicts in the ways forests and their products are accessed. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) I see governance as a mechanism to avoid those unfortunate conditions. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Good forest governance should involve quality participation and inclusivity of all stakeholders. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Good governance also understands that rules and norms are not set in stone, and should allow flexibility to continuously take the needs and rights of multiple stakeholders into account. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Stakeholders’ needs and priorities change over time; therefore the rules and norms governing forests should be regularly revisited to check for their relevance and potential for improvement. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Having a set of agreed-upon definitions and indicators of success can help stakeholders explore possible rules for forest management and use that have the best outcomes for both forests and communities. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Social science research has demonstrated that governance approaches that are inclusive and participatory can lead to the best outcomes. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Good types of forest governance should also recognize these potential tradeoffs across space and/or time and should provide venues for stakeholders to discuss those realities and identify alternative solutions. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Inclusivity and participation of all stakeholders is very important. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) It is also important for stakeholders to understand the boundaries of the forest resources being governed so that they know where they have rights of use, access, etc., and where they do not. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Although generally the diversity of stakeholders depends on who has formal and informal rights to forests and their resources, it is important to avoid approaches that see these stakeholders as a homogenous group. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Evidence shows that even within a household, men, women, and youth often have different rights and/or access to forests and their products. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) The challenges are the degree of inclusivity and participation of stakeholders in forest governance. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Evidence points to cases where powerful actors become responsible for developing and enforcing forest governance rules that may exclude less powerful actors. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) This leads to the marginalization of some communities and often has negative impacts on both forests and communities. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) There is now an increasing recognition that stakeholders’ involvement in forest governance is key to ensuring sustainable forest management and the supply of goods and services. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) Information is increasingly shared in public platforms and fora. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) There is adequate conservation of natural forests to protect biodiversity habitats and provide diverse ecosystem services at scales ranging from local to global. Expansive approaches to inclusivity and participation are key for good governance in Rwanda – interview with Bernadette Arakwiye. resilience-blog.com (October 14, 2026) I’d like to help other students, especially women, develop more interest in science – and not be scared of the forest and other wild places. Bernadette Arakwiye: From Karisoke to Keene, New Hampshire. gorillafund.org (October 14, 2026) Stay motivated, keep your interest alive and find a way to improve yourself. There are people who will help you, but you need to show your interest. Bernadette Arakwiye: From Karisoke to Keene, New Hampshire. gorillafund.org (October 14, 2026) External links de:Bernadette Arakwiyerw:Dr. Bernadette Arakwiye Category:Living people Category:Political figure stubs Category:1980 births