Youth Initiatives to maintain the natural ecosystem. The project of eradicating exotic plant species in Nyungwe National Park is the success of sustainable Biodiversity Conservation by Biodiversity Conservation, Hygiene, Sanitation and Environmental Management Cooperative (Rwanda BIOCOOP) in paternership with Nyungwe Park Management. The implementation of the project has started in January 2014.

     Exotic species eradication efforts are aimed at the removal of non-indigenous plant species (?target species?), which prevent or hinder the establishment of native forests. The ideal purpose is to ensure integral biodiversity and ecosystem functions by restoring native plants on the entire cover of Nyungwe especially in areas that were successively degraded and then occupied by planted and/or invading exotic tree species.

     The primary focus of this project is the suppression and control efforts of exotic species, mainly including but not exclusive to: Black Wattle Tree (Acacia mearnsii), Pine Trees (Pinus patula.), Cupressus sp., and Eucalyptus Trees. Eradication efforts will include the initial removal or treatment of the target species and the maintenance required to control re-growth. 

     Implementation and choice of treatment and method are such that neither the invasive species nor the method of control adversely affects the establishment of new native species and the survival of those already in place. The methods are avoiding clear cutting that would result in other types of ecological problems like the invasion of places by brackens and other invasive heliophilous plants such as the famed Serichostachys scandens that chock trees. Stamping is also  minimized to avoid killing native seedlings and shrubs. 

    Some target species (like the Black Wattle Tree) are generally persistent with regard to eradication and control efforts.  Therefore, the goal is to suppress the target species to allow the native species to establish and form a dense canopy.