Make This World a Better Place
Biodiversity Conservation at Heart
Integrating conservation projects and sustainable economic development for the communities near the Nyungwe National Park since 2012.
Who we are?
Biodiversity Conservation Organization (BIOCOOR) was created by young people dedicated to act and to advocate for biodiversity conservation, ecotourism promotion, community health, environmental management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.The BIOCOOR headquarters are located in Nyamagabe District of the Southern Province of Rwanda. The organization’s geographical focus is the five districts near Nyungwe National Park. We integrate conservation projects and sustainable economic development for the communities surrounding Nyungwe National Park. The organization started in 2012 as a social enterprise called BIOCOOP and in June 2020 shifted to a local NGO called BIOCOOR but with the same focus. Our mission is to build a nation that is environmentally and socio-economically stable through its resources and skills.
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Where We Focus
Wetlands
The wetlands within the Nyungwe National Park Buffer Zone provide vital ecosystem services. Such as, water supply and folder (grass) for domestic animals, erosion control, and nutrients for the soil. Despite local communities heavily relying on the wetlands for survival, little is known about how to asses and monitor the wetlands in the buffer zone.
The Buffer Zone
The buffer zone consists of exotic tree species and wetlands. In 2011, the government of Rwanda signed a 49-year logging agreement with the New Forests Company (NFC) for tree plantation management of the Buffer Zone. There has yet to be a good structure to manage the wetlands. However, BIOCOOR and NFC have begun using the Pressure-State-Response- Framework method to assess and monitor the wetlands within the Buffer Zone.
Community Outreach Programs
BIOCOOR aims to link biodiversity conservation with community action and human welfare. The cooperative has taken into consideration such issues and created community outreach programs in primary (middle school) and secondary (high school) schools. It has also initiated environmental clubs in secondary schools that will assist and support students in training and finance.
Youth in Biodiversity Conservation
BIOCOOR offers student-internships in Ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and environmental management at the Nyungwe Eco Village. Our Research Monitoring and Evaluation Officer trains students to identify different biodiversity existing in and around Nyungwe National Park.
Our Programs
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Community Conservation and Eco Advocacy
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Agroecology and Bioeconomy
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Biodiversity management and Ecosystem restoration
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The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.
~ Coretta Scott King
Dr. Ange's Bio
Executive Director of BIOCOOR
From a young age, I have been committed to creating change in my community by integrating biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, community health, agriculture, entrepreneurship, climate protection and sustainable development in Rwanda. In 2012 I was names Top Young Innovator of Rwanda after co-foduning Biodiversity Conservation Coop (BIOCOOP). In 2020, BIOCOOP changed to a local NGO, now called BIOCOOR, but we maintain the same focus. I am also the founder and CEO of a community nased ecotourism project that helps support our work as a NGO called Nyungwe EcoVillage. I bring my vast experience in biodiversity conservation to our work at BIOCOOR. I received my PhD in Biodiversity Management. I have experience working for The Nature Conservancy and developing the Rwanda Conservation Strategy and Master Plan in conjunction with the EU. At BIOCOOR our vision is to put Rwanda at the level of middle income countries by integrating biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, climate protection, community health, natural resources management, and sustainable development. We hope you join us and support our work.
Effective fund use
The Board of Directors require that BIOCOOR be well managed and supervised to ensure that donor proceeds are used only for the purposes for which the funds were granted, with due regard to economy, efficiency and sustainable achievement of the project’s development objectives.
BIOCOOR Policies
BIOCOOR’s internal policies are more than guidelines to be followed but the ways to give back to our community.
BIOCOOR Centers
Building a nation that is environmentally and socio- economically stable through its resources and skills
