The year 2011 was dedicated to forestry by the United Nations under the theme, ‘Forests for People’ in order to celebrate the central role of people in the sustainability of the world forests, habitat for diversity, source of food, medicine and clean water.
Despite the efforts made by the United Nations, in Rwanda the policy is to make forestry one of the pillars of national economy playing role in supporting agriculture, tourism, environmental stability and energy among others.
The government of Rwanda set to achieving forestry coverage of 30% of the national territory by the year 2020. This year the government and partners are conducting tree a planting campaign to meet multiple needs.
However,researchers, forestry authorities, civil society organizations, local communities among other stakeholders on forestry policy implementation have shown the low survival of trees planted and that natural forests are being destroyed despite the government plans to achieve the goal thus the question goes; who to blame, and what to do to achieve the percentage?
Speaking to residents in Kidogo, Rilima sector, Bugesera district; Anton Twagirimana said that a lot of trees are planted but the problem comes on maintaining them. He added that in their area, there is a problem of animals that destroy forests.
Twagirimana recognizes the advantages of forests. “In the past years like in 2000, our area had a lot of droughts but ever since the tree planting campaign started, we have really survived because today our plants can grow and we harvest in plenty.”
Rwanda Environment Conservation Organization (RECOR) and the Association of Rwandaise des Ecologiste (ARECO-RWANDA NZIZA) under the assistance of National University of Rwanda recently released a survey that exposed reasons for hindered forestry sustainability.
According to Prof. Esron Munyanziza from NUR who was heading the researchers told igihe.com that one of the major cause; there is over population of both people and animals, and then seasonal factor, and that also sometimes different tree species are planted in different areas where conditions does not favor the.
Dancilla Mukakamari, National Coordinator of Association Rwandaise des Ecologistes (ARECO-Rwanda Nziza) and Campaign Organizer of both ARECO-Rwanda Nziza and Rwanda Environment Conservation Organization (RECOR) the two civil society organs that seem to be more active in planting and maintaining of forests to support the government efforts to sustain the forest sector, is calling upon the public and private sectors, and other civil society organizations, and individuals among other stakeholders to employ much efforts and ensure the government objective is fulfilled.
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