**6. Conclusion**

This chapter described different erosion control approaches that have been adopted in Rwanda, focusing on two selected case studies such as Gishwati area and LWH project sites (Karongi and Nyanza). It pinpoints the success stories in land husbandry interventions that can be scaled up to other regions with similar landscape properties. Challenges observed can also serve as lessons learnt in future interventions within or outside of Rwanda.

Participatory landscape approach promoted in Gishwati area was a success story in protecting degraded lands and generating ecosystem benefits. The more integrated natural resources management, and participatory planning helped for addressing the frequent landslides and flooding while sustainably exploit the land to the profit of local farmers in the livelihoods and the country's economy in general. This approach comprises development of agriculture land, reforestation, and rangeland rehabilitation, relocation of people from high risk zones and building capacities of farmers through farm-livestock farmers's organization.

On the other hand, the LWH projects provided strong evidences how land husbandry technologies (terraces) efficiently reduced erosion risks and improved farmers' livelihoods through crop productivity increase. However, it also highlighted the challenges observed in the adoption of integrated watershed management which did not tackle some technical and socio-economic aspects. Technical problems could result from inappropriate establishment of terraces without incorporating recommended technical guidelines related to soil types, depth and slope. These resulted into terrace destruction leading to mass movements, gullies and siltation in the valleys. Socio-economic challenges importantly cause farmers for abandoning or under-exploiting terraced lands. Terraces on very acidic and inherently unfertile soils require an intensive supply of organic and lime amendments together with use improved agronomic practices and agroforestry systems.

Finally, this chapter recommends the land husbandry policy strategies to successfully adopt the participatory landscape management for optimizing land's productivity in a sustainable manner. Ths involves the participation of farmers' communities from planning up to the implementation processes as well as valorization of terraced lands. HIMO approach is also suggested in the development of rural communities. Farmers should be grouped in rural communities (cooperatives) to increase their financial and technical skills.
