Agroforestry systems are multifunctional settings that can provide a wide range of economic, socio-cultural, and environmental benefits; they also improve soil fertility. Through the Least Developed Countries Fund-Ecosystem-based Adaptation (the building resilience of communities living in degraded forests, savannah and wetland of Rwanda through an ecosystem-based adaptation approach) project, the government of Rwanda started to implement the ecosystem restoration activities in 2017 to restore degraded landscapes and improve peoples’ livelihoods, including the eastern part of Rwanda where this research was conducted and documented on how agroforestry technologies are contributing to ecosystem restoration. Direct observation and interviews with multistakeholder participants helped document agroforestry tree species planted in the project sites, the contribution of agroforestry to the supply of tree products to the smallholder farmers and the challenges affecting the adoption of agroforestry technologies in the study area. Hedgerow system was the dominant agroforestry technology. Firewood was the dominant benefit of practicing agroforestry technology according to the interview participants; whereas termite attack and drought were reported as the main challenges impeding the adoption of agroforestry technologies in the study area. Future research is recommended to identify most adapted tree species that also meet fuel needs of smallholder farmers and their management practices. It is recommended that indigenous species be prioritized in agroforestry because they are already adapted to the local conditions while exploring exotics which may be beneficial.

Keywords: Agroforestry practices, agroforestry services, Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Rwanda, ecosystem restoration, people’s participation in agroforestry technology