Kirehe residents urged to protect gazetted forests

The calls follows the arrest of a man identified as Ignace Niyonzima, 33, on Saturday, April 2, after he was found cutting trees in a gazetted forest located in Nyabayama Village, Nyabitare Cell, Nyarubuye Sector, Kirehe District.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said that Niyonzima was reported by local residents.

“Niyonzima has a small forest near the government protected forest. So, he has been sneaking into the gazetted forest to cut trees in wee hours but lying that he gets them from his forest,” said SP Twizeyimana.

“On Saturday, concerned residents called the Police after they saw him cutting trees in the protected forest. By the time of his arrest, he had already cut 40 trees,” he added.

SP Twizeyimana thanked residents, who shared information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

He further warned against such acts of environmental degradation and urged residents to continue to report people, who destroy forests.

The suspect was handed over to RIB at Nyarubuye station for further legal process.

Article 44 of Law N°48/2018 of 13/08/2018 on environment prohibits the following acts in order to protect biodiversity: burning forests, national parks and reserved areas, burning swamps, grazing land, bushes, grass with the aim of agriculture or organising grazing land, killing, injuring and capturing animals of endangered species, destroying or damaging habitats, larvae, pupae or the young animals of the endangered species, causing death or burning protected plants, harvesting or destroying them, transporting or selling the remains of a whole or part of an animal and plants of endangered species, and cutting trees in forests or protected areas or in national parks.

In article 59; any person who causes death, destroys protected plants, harvests or damages them, commits an offence. Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf3 million.