Category: Environment

Some government officials have gone forward to promise unrealistic goals of green coverage of the country.

Speeches given in a nationwide campaign with a success of media coverage which started by Member of Parliament within and from East African Legislative Assembly, does not reflect what is on ground.

A random finding from igihe.com which visited one of the Rwanda’s forests in North indicate that Mukura Forest is facing destruction.

The forest which was 3000 ha is now estimated to remaining with only 1600 ha of surviving trees.

The government has set its target of 30% green coverage by the year 2020 planting trees and Mukura forest has not been mentioned anywhere as a priority.

Some trees which planted are sometimes not maintained, and catered for, thus a big challenge to attain the anticipated goal.

Mukura Forest was in the decades ago attached to two biggest forests of Gishwati and Nyungwe and by 1970s it had remained with 3000 hectares, according to the researchers.

Researchers have suggested that today if one visits Mukura forest, will find it located on not more than 1600 hectares as per current study.

It’s location is seating on a land of two Districts of Rutsiro and Ngororero covering Rusebeya and Ndaro sectors.

This is the clear indication for one to say that if nothing is done immediately, this forest may disappear in the near future and thus government not achieving its goal.

Speaking to one of the forestry conservation activist Dancilla Mukakamari, National Coordinator of Association Rwandaise des Ecologistes (ARECO-Rwanda Nziza) confirmed high risks of continued destruction of Mukura forest if no strong measures are taken.

“If no strong measures for the protection of this forest, it will be dried off. As a civil society organization we need assistance from the government, private sector and individuals to ensure protection and create awareness not only to this forest but also to all exotic and indigenous forests located and planted all over the country,” Mukakamari said.

She added that illegal Coltan mining, Eucalyptus tree cutting, and also being unsecure are three major causes of the destruction.

Residents that we spoke to in the area during the visit said that the Coltan mining in the forest is illegally sold to a nearby trading center called Gashubi.

It is also said that over 160 families that had settled in the nearby forests of DR Congo in 1995 have started encroaching Mukura forest due to the shortage of land.

In an interview with Mukura Sector Executive Secretary Jean Batiste Uwihanganye called upon government to prioritise the protection of this forest through provision of forest guards, capacity building and to create a wide range public awareness on the advantages of forests among others.

Serilien Turamye Rutsiro district Forest Officer also called upon the ministry in charge to work a long with ARECO-RWANDA NZIZA to find tangible solution to the problem facing this forest.

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, Rwanda as well; the policy is to make forestry one of the pillars of national economy playing a role in supporting agriculture, tourism, environmental stability and energy among others.

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Rwanda has achieved a 22.1% of the targeted 30% of the forest cover in the country, Liliose Umupfasoni, the Director of Forestry in the Ministry of Natural Resources(MINIRENA) has said.

This follows the government’s efforts to make forestry one of the key pillars of the national economy in order so as to support the development of agriculture, tourism, energy, food, environmental stability.

Umupfasoni was speaking to igihe.com in a separate interview after addressing participants the workshop that brought all stakeholders on National Forestry Policy Implementation organized by the Association Rwandaise des Ecologistes (ARECO-RWANDA NZIZA).

ERECO-Rwanda Nziza is a civil society organization that is currently conducting national campaign on tree planting.

“We have already achieved 22.1% forest cover in the country, and before the end of the year we will have planted another 1.3% to make it 23.4%,” Umupfasoni said in an interview.

“We have hopes that by the year 2020 we will have achieved our target of reaching 30% forest coverage on the national territory,” Umupfasoni added.

She further noted that her Ministry holds monthly meetings with the stakeholders to discuss on possible ways of reaching the target.

In addition Umupfasoni said that other groups including District Defense officers, Police, Forest officers, Agronomists and civil society organs have been set into all districts and headed by Vice Mayors in charge of Economic Affairs to make follow-ups on the conservation.

Dancilla Mukakamari, National Coordinator of ARECO-Rwanda Nziza told igihe.com that however much the step is appetizing; a lot of efforts are needed to reach the target.
The workshop aimed at discussing challenges facing forests and then find way forward for sustainability.

“We brought together stakeholders, law implementers, and researchers among others to share knowledge and find solution on forest sustainability,” Mukakamari said.
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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.

The recent rainfall has left Nyabogogo-Kinamba-Kacyiru road flooded causing heavy traffic jam and business standstill near bus terminal.

About five hundred meters in length of the road were flooded due to allegedly the place being close to the wetland.

A new income opportunity for young men around the area begun as they begun lifting people on their back to assist them cross the flooded part of the road.

“This road floods and people want to cross to the end and they don’t have a way out, so I offered my service by lifting them and they pay me Rwf 100,” One young man only identified as Musa said.

This follows last week’s Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi’s visit to the area where he instructed the ministry of infrastructure to make terms of reference in one month for experts top carry out a deeper study to solve the flooding problem at Nyabugogo.

According to Bruno Rangira the Kigali city Director of Communications said that technical study to solve the problem is highly needed so as to have a solution once and for all.

Rangira said the study needs to look into aspects of drainage systems, roads and houses being near the wetland and the like.

He estimates that all the work needed to be complimented mid next year.
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During the monthly communal work ‘umuganda’ on Saturday,MTN Group announced the achievement of registering 150 million subscribers by planting 150,000 trees. Its sister branch; MTN Rwanda celebrated the achievement by planting approximately 7,000 trees to contribute to the number.

Over 200 management and staff of MTN Rwanda mainly those based in Kigali that makes almost 80% of the company’s employees turned up and joined the residents of Nyarufunzo cell, Mageragere sector based in Nyarugenge district few kilometers off Kigali city to plant the trees at an open to erosion hill of Kabungo. The company was also marking the end of year of forests as its part of social responsibility.

MTN Rwanda’s CEO Khaled Mikkawi in a press statement highlighted the company’s efforts to environmental conservation.

“Over the past years we have been involved in Project Adoption where we have planted 100, 000 trees around schools across the country, Nyandungu Garden where we maintaining a stretch of four kilometers holding 10, 000 and a 1, 000, 000 Nursery bed project in Rulindo district.”

Butera Rutagarama who led the management and staff at the activity confirmed the follow up and maintenance of the company’s planted trees with the assistance of the residents located near the areas where they are being planted.

He added, “If we don’t involve in such kind of activities today; we are then loosing the better future of our children and our subscribers as well.”

Juvenile Kabarisa an area resident said that in the past years, the hill had been degraded but confirmed his efforts in the maintenance of these planted trees in order to ensure environmental protection.

Celebrating the 150 million subscribers, MTN Group pledged to plant 150, 000 trees in the countries of its operations before the end of the year.

After the activity of umuganda, MTN officially handed over to the Kigali City officials 80 dustbins to be positioned across the city as part of the keep Kigali clean campaign.

Following the recent story that three miners were still missing after the soil covered the entrance and exit tunnels of the Muhanga based mine, the three miners have been rescued still alive and normal, igihe.com can reliably report.

Information attained by igihe.com indicate that Viatuer, Jean Manirarora and only identified as Ndayamaje were rescued at 2:20 pm as combined efforts from residents, police and the army hurried to save their lives.

Even one of them had a cell phone, there was no communication due lack of power on his phone’s battery.

“No one was traumatized, no psychological distress, no injury. It was just a miracle,” Gabriel Rulinda the Managing Director of Rwanda Rudniki mining company has said by his cell phone.

Yesterday, soils fell from the hills and covered the entrance and exit of the a coltan mine in Nyarusange Sector, Muhanga District in Southern Province four men surviving while other three remaining covered in the mining tunnel.

Speaking at the scene in Nyarusange sector where the mine is situated Beatrice Uwamariya the sector’s Executive Secretary told igihe.com that rescue mission involved police, the army and the residents who worked tirelessly.

“We worked since yesterday and the rain interrupted and after sun set it was dark and we left, we came back very early in the morning to continue with the rescue mission. They spent the whole night inside the mining tunnel, thank God they came out alive,” Uwamariya said by phone.

Uwamaliya said that the rescue team used different tools like spades to remove the soil that had covered both entrance and exit tunnel.

“They told us they had morale and had hope they would be rescued because they heard people talking and doing something to rescue them,” Uwamariya said.

“They all looked ok and the rescue mission went very successful, they have finished taking some food and drinks,” she added.

An effort to speak to one of the three rescued members was fruitless as they were not in a position to speak to the press at the time.

In case of any damage, Rulinda said that all miners in his company are protected and insured with CORAR insurance company and that they would be compensated if any damage occurred.

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Volocanoes National Park Veterinary Warden Elisabeth Nyirakaragire assessed Kigoma, a gorilla in the third silverback in Kwitonda group, who had been reported to be suffering from an ear infection.

Nyirakaragire claims that currently the gorilla is recovering from the wound.

“We tracked the group for 1.5 hours, finally finding the group pretty high on the slope of Mt. Gahinga. Where we found Kigoma behaving normally and eating well, but with a terrible ear infection – there was white discharge running from his left ear,” Nyirakaragire said.

“We decided that while the infection may not look life threatening at the moment, the severity and proximity of the infection to his brain meant we needed to intervene, with antibiotics as a first attempt, and full intervention if antibiotics failed to help,” said Nyirakaragire.

She also noted that she doesn’t know how the infection started but added that perhaps the injury might have been a scratch from a stick.

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The Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Forests and Natural Resources (MINIRENA), targets to plant 67 million trees in the country.

Its Against this this background that Rwanda Defence Forces- Reserve Forces have contributed to this campaign in Rukara in the Eastern Province.

President Paul Kagame visited Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted renewable energy company, on November 12 to receive a brief on the efforts of the UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi, to develop renewable energy solutions and clean technology.

Kagame and the accompanying delegation took a tour of the Masdar City and Masdar Institute for Science and Technology.

During the visit, they were provided with a comprehensive overview of Masdar’s objectives and the projects that are being implemented within the country and around the world.

The presentation covered all aspects of the value chain in the renewable energy sector including education, researches and development, investment in clean technology, implementing projects of generating renewable energy, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and building Masdar City to be one of the most sustainable cities in the world and act as a global hub for leading companies in technology and advanced innovations sectors.

“I was delighted to visit Masdar and experience first-hand the development and progress the company has achieved over the past few years. It is clear that the Masdar’s progress in the renewable and sustainable energy field will benefit the region and entire world,” said Kagame.

Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, chief executive officer of Masdar, said: “We are pleased to welcome His Excellency President Paul Kagame to Masdar. His visit contributes in familiarizing the world with the progress achieved by UAE in the field of renewable energy and clean technology.”

“In line with the directions of the Emirati leadership, we welcome exploring areas of possible collaboration with the like-minded countries. Such partnerships will boost global efforts to secure the energy security, achieve sustainable development, and develop solutions to mitigate climate change.”

The Minister of Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi has announced that the annual season on the tree planting has started adding that over 67 million tree seeds will be planted countrywide in less than two months left to end the year.

Kamanzi said that the official launch of the season is set November 19 in Kirehe District, Eastern Province.

He urged the public that the process of forest planting this time will follow a different methodology saying that trees will be planted closely to each other.

Kamanzi made the remarks over the weekend during the visit to Gihara p/s in Runda Sector, Kamonyi district, Southern Province where he joined other government officials and residents to plant trees at the school premises.

The Rwandan Senate President Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo present at the event called upon the public to concentrate on tree planting program.

Ntawukuriryayo challenged the residents to plant many trees as they are important in various ways like in environmental protection, fight soil erosion, generate income to the country etc.

While at the event, the President also called upon the public to match the family planning program along with environmental protection in order to ensure a steady economy.

The activity was organised by EALA Chamber of Deputies and attracted different top officials including Speaker of the Parliament Rose Mukantabana, Stanislas Kamanzi Minister of Natural Resources, and Monique Mukaruriza Minister in charge of East African Community among others.

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