The RBCI Herbarium aims to increase knowledge of the plant and fungal diversity of Rwanda, the Albertine Rift Zone. Its core mission focuses on collecting, preserving, researching, and exhibiting living and non-living botanical specimens, while serving as a vital national reference center for plant taxonomy, DNA barcoding conservation, and environmental education.

The first specimens accessioned are from the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Young Scientists Award, funded by the UNESCO. The project established a foundational scientific baseline for the conservation and study of plant biodiversity within Rwanda’s Gishwati-Mukura Biosphere Reserve. Executed between December 2024 and October 2025, the initiative addressed a critical knowledge gap by leveraging modern molecular techniques alongside traditional botany to create a robust and replicable research model.