Background

ACNR was founded by committed teachers and students of the National University of Rwanda in Huye/former Butare (south of the country) in 1992. The founding members, including present Executive Director Serge Nsengimana, saw the necessity for a civil board of environmental protection in Rwanda, which could effectively influence the population’s way of dealing with nature.

ACNR held its first General Assembly in May 1992 and began its activities in August by creating the first Nature club of Ibanda in Nyungwe Natural Forest. ACNR was recognized as an NGO by the Government of Rwanda through the ministry of Justice on February 17th, 1994.

During the 1994 genocide, the organization was disintegrated and lay idle. In October 1997 some former members who survived the 1994 tragedy decided to re-launch the activities of ACNR. Since then it has been an active and productive panel for nature conservation in Rwanda.