Stage et mémoire : "How can individual interests align with collective benefits? Insights from Rwandan Farmers in a Forest and Landscape Restoration Project"

Abstract

This article examines how an agroforestry project in rural Rwanda combined individual interests with the collective goal of restoring forests and landscapes. It focuses on encouraging farmers to plant trees on their agricultural plots as a strategy to reverse land degradation while sustaining their livelihoods.

The study is based on qualitative research, including individual interviews and focus groups with farmers enrolled in the restoration initiative. This empirical data is complemented by a review of scientific literature on Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) and participatory approaches.

Results reveal that farmers’ participation is shaped primarily by their immediate livelihood needs and the practical costs of engaging in restoration activities, rather than purely environmental concerns. Successful engagement depends on adapting project activities to these socio-economic realities and maintaining ongoing follow-up and reflexivity in project design.

The discussion highlights that FLR efforts must acknowledge the competing priorities faced by rural smallholder farmers. Technical interventions alone are insufficient; restoration projects require a flexible, context-specific approach that integrates farmers’ motivations and constraints. This approach helps align individual decision-making with collective environmental benefits.

The article concludes that fostering sustainable restoration requires continuous adaptation and sensitivity to local conditions, demonstrating that achieving common good depends on addressing individual interests within the realities of rural livelihoods.