The Queen Commonwealth Canopy Forest known as Arboretum Forest is located  in Huye District. It has a collection of tree and shrub species that acts as an outreach, teaching, and research facility dedicated to preserving a wealth of tree species adapted to Rwanda’s contexts. Located in Huye district, Southern Province, it was developed in 1933 in an area of about 200 hectares to serve for the production and propagation of tree species in order to address the supply crisis for fuel wood and timber.

The present holding of the Arboretum is 210 tree species comprising: (i) 146 broadleaved species of which 18 tree species are indigenous and 128 exotics, Eucalyptus alone accounting for 69 species, (ii) 56 conifer tree species of which two are indigenous (Podocarpus falcatus, P. latifolius), and (iii) eight bamboo species of which two are indigenous (Arundinaria alpina and Bambusa vulgaris.

The Arboretum harbours a variety of herbaceous flora and fauna including monkeys, gazelles, birds, bats, and a variety of insects, including honeybees. Its plots are maintained based on a management plan. Each plot is monospecies on 0.25 hectares and is identified by its unique number, species name and planting date. This information together with records of various silvicultural interventions and tree measurements are kept in the Arboretum Database.

• The Queen Commonwealth Canopy Forest   is a genebank

The Queen Commonwealth Canopy Forest is managed for the long-term vision to inform the afforestation programs with adapted exotic and native tree species. It represents a suite of conservation stands and a genetic back up to maintain adapted exotic tree species and high value native tree species.

As a result, a large part of the planting materials for Rwanda’s forest landscape restoration programs and agroforestry are collected there for dissemination in other parts of the country. The QCC arboretum embeds nearly 7.5 Ha of seed stands for nine exotic tree species and four native tree species namely Podocarpus falcatus, Polyscias fulva, Carapa grandiflora, and Entandrophragma excelsum.

• The Queen Commonwealth Canopy Forest  is an impressive research facility

The Forest serves a research site for forestry and agroforestry purposes.  The range of scientific studies comprise tree species and provenances evaluations, tree phenology, propagation methods, and appropriate silvicultural and management practices, ecology and socioeconomic research.

Forest research in the Arboretum has mainly undertaken the verification and assessment of previously established research plots to identify afforestation tree species, estimate their growth and productivity. On the basis of the data collected, local volume and yield tables were developed for the main afforestation tree species including eucalyptus, Pines and cypress. 

Comparative and multi-location trials of broadleaved tree species over nearly 33.3 hectares and coniferous tree species on about 3 hectares were assessed since 1933. Provenances and progeny trials were set up for Eucalyptus tereticornis, Grevillea robusta and Araucaria cunninghamiana to study the performance of germplasm from a range of geographical areas and to compare the performance of specific mother trees or families within each provenance.

These trials evolved into stands managed to produce improved seeds and conserve the genetic quality of the best provenances.   In addition, clonal seed orchards were also established to produce seeds and maintain the genetic collection of 27 clones of Cupressus lusitanica (18 clones from Kenya, 6 clones from Rwanda, 2 clones from Uganda and 1 clone from Tanzania) over the total area of 2.2 hectares.  

Agroforestry research focused on species and provenance trials of many multipurpose agroforestry tree species such as Leucaena spp., Gliricidia sepium and Calliandra callothyrsus to compare their adaptability, growth and biomass production in the arboretum context. Studies on agro-silvicultural practices including planting density and cutting height, frequency and interval of multipurpose agroforestry shrubs including Leuceana spp, Calliandra calothyrus, Sesbania sesban and Morus alba were conducted to optimize the production of wood and green manure.   

In order to evaluate the suitability of native tree species for afforestation, it was essential to first determine the priority species, then develop their appropriate propagation techniques. This was followed by collecting their germplasm for evaluation trials.  Subsequently these species were evaluated in propagation methods and germination trials to identify fast and efficient propagation methods.

Research on sowing dates was done to study the effect of moon phases (new moon, full moon) on the germination and later on the growth of forestry species. Concurrently, there was a need to enhance the natural regeneration of the species very difficult to germinate or do not germinate in their natural habitat. In this regard, assisted natural regeneration methods were evaluated in the plots of Entandrophragma excelsum to facilitate the regeneration of this species.

Using the arboretum, research to inform the management of forest pests and diseases was important especially with the outbreak of Cinara cupressii in 1990’s. The resistance of eight species of Cypress against this aphid was assessed by investigating on its parasites, undertaking grafting and experimenting fertilization to enhance resistance.

Partnerships have and remain at the center of the research in Ruhande Arboretum through an extensive network of scientific collaborators. The Arboretum promises to be a rewarding experience to visiting national, regional and international scientists and assist in the study of several elements including ecology, physiology, carbon sequestration, biodiversity and soil-tree species interface, among other areas.  Various publications including peer reviewed articles and technical notes have been produced as research outputs from the QCC Arboretum Forest.

• The Queen Commonwealth Canopy Forest is a tourism attraction

The management plan of this Forest has been developed in consideration of its state and surrounding opportunities. The Arboretum of Ruhande is in a proximity to the communities and the University of Rwanda, and is managed by the Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA).

The forest serves as an opportunity for communities surrounding it for leisure and tourism destination. The over 10,000 students in the university and being an urban forest in a secondary city, it attracts local tourism as far as Kigali resident tourists, although it is currently restricted on certain activities.

• Business Opportunities

Surrounded by communities with varying interests in an urban setting, business opportunities in the Arboretum may include:

• Botanical/Biological research & development: Laboratories and field research and development on plant-based medicines, food and ornament products;
• Eco-Hotel: Huye as a secondary city and a tourism destination, an urban eco-hotel in the Arboretum would be an ideal in the city and in the country as well;
• Arboretum Adventure: Sports & Games (Cycling, Jogging, horse riding, track & field, archery); Videography (filming, photo shooting); etc.