Fears as 55% of Rwanda forests invaded by pests

{Senators from the commission of economic and finance development have requested government to seek a sustainable solution for the pests affecting 55% of eucalyptus trees across the country which is said to jeopardize environment protection.}

Rwanda plans to cover 30% of its surface with forests by the year 2018.Up to date forests have been planted to roughly 700,000 hectares occupying 29.2% of the land.
The ministry of natural resources said that despite the achievements, forests are still susceptible to human destruction especially through collection of fuel-wood as 98% of Rwandans use it for cooking.

The forest cover has however been reported to be under threat as the attack from pests has continued to pose serious dangers to the eco-system. During the discussion of implementing policies on forests held between the senate commission of economic and finance development and the ministry of natural resources yesterday, senators expressed worries over large parts of forests ravaged by pests.

The Minister of Natural Resources, Dr. Vincent Biruta, said that pesticides for the pasts have not yet been found but revealed that bee farming may be negatively affected in case pesticides are applied and there are fears of rains carrying pesticide components into water bodies, affecting aquatic and human life.

“We are in a dilemma of applying pesticides at the cost of negatively affecting bee farming and upsetting aqua life systems,” he said.

The disease is attributed to mass non-distant forests and lack of water.
Biruta said that the tree diseases abound in hot seasons and advised residents to embrace forests maintenance through digging terraces to prevent massive run-off and associated erosion.