**2. Approach**

This chapter compiles two case studies in Rwanda describing and analyzing various approaches used on soil erosion control systems in the recent past years (after 2000). The findings have to inform the success experiences, problems encountered and generated potential policy and technical recommendations to be adopted in future.

The first section concerns the north-western part of Rwanda namely Gishwati area using participatory landscape approach. The second involves the use of two watersheds (Nyanza-23 and Karongi 12–13) developed under support of World bank project namely Land, Water-harvesting and Hillside-irrigation (LWH) which adopted integrated watershed management approach. The last section discussed lessons learnt to inform policy decision makers at national, regional, international scopes of what is the appropriate way to sustainably optimize the land productivity based on Rwandan experience. The study areas are located from different agro-ecological zones: Gishwati site in the Birunga, Nyanza in central plateau, and Karongi in Kivu lake Borders (**Figure 1**).

#### **Figure 1.**

*Map of Rwanda showing its agro-ecological zones and study sites (Nyanza 23, Gishwati, and Karongi 12–13). (Source: Author).*
