IGIHE

Category: Environment

  • Methane Gas Extraction Causes Panic

    {{Citizens residing around Lake Kivu have been filled with panic of possible eruptions of the lake due to methane gas which is currently under extraction.}}

    The panic has made officials from Ministry of Infrastructure and Electricity, Water and Sanitation (EWASA) travel to Karongi District to launch a public lecture about the status of methane gas and its extraction.

    Officials have spent three days in Karongi District explaining and attending to questions with an open discussions related to methane gas.

    The explanations aimed at informing Karongi District residents, about the importance of methane gas ruling out the rumors of eminent eruption of the lake because of too much gas quantity.

    Experts have pointed out noted that there should not be any reason of panic, because the surface area of the lake is far larger than that of methane gas into the water and that extraction work is done by experts and so calling for no panic.

    It is not the first time residents residing around Lake Kivu get panic. Early this year, the State Minister for Energy and Water, Eng. Colette Ruhamya had to respond to them dispelling concerns that the extraction of methane gas and other fossil fuels from Lake Kivu would not harm biodiversity in the area.

    Ruhamya said in a live question and answers show aired both Radio and Rwanda TV, that there are guidelines followed in the extraction of the gas process to avoid any potential dangers adding that the priority is to protect the lives of the people, protect the environment and to efficiently use the extracted gas.

    She said that several feasibility studies were carried out on how the extraction will be carried out without causing any harm and how effectively the waters can be separated from methane gas, which contains other fossil fuels.

    Ruhamya added that a Lake Kivu monitoring team was set up to keep a close eye on the activities in the lake.

    According to her, methane gas, carbon dioxide, petroleum, fertilizers, electricity and hydrogen sulphide are some of the fossils fuel that were discovered in Lake Kivu “but due to capacity constraints, rwanda had to prioritized methane gas and electricity.

    Lake Kivu is said to be containing 65 billion cubic metres of methane (50 million tonnes of petrol) lying 250 metres under the water.

  • Torrential Rains Destroy Homes in Rwamagana

    {{Heavy rains destroyed about 25homes and large hectares of cultivated land in Munyaga sector in Rwamagana district.}}

    Two cells including Rweru and Nzinga out of four that make up the sector were the most hit by the rains. The sector executive of Munyaga KARANGU Alphose said that the rains started at around mid-day with heavy hailstones and speedy winds leading to massive destruction of property.

    “On arrival, we found some of the members whose homes were destroyed reconstructing while for those who didn’t have the capacity were still waiting at the sector for governmental assistance.”

    In abid to aid the affected; the International Red Cross in Rwanda agreed to quickly deliver a total of 750ironsheets to those affected so that at least each house can be roofed once again.

    Muhongayire Yvonne in charge of good governance in the district of Rwamagana encouraged residents to plant as many trees as possible in order to avoid such calamities in their region.

  • Nyarutarama Residents Want Lake Rehabilitated

    {{Plans are underway to put the manmade lake located in the zone of Kibiraro 11, Nyaruitarama Cell in Remera Sector, to generate revenues and provide employment opportunities to the people living in the area.}}

    The lake is commonly known as ‘Nyagahene’s lake’ located near Kigali Golf Club.

    Exclusively speaking to Rosette Kuzwa the leader of Kibiraro 11 zone, she confirmed ,“we recently wrote to the mayor of Gasabo district requesting for the release of the lake so that we can rehabilitate it and put it to use as agreed on behalf residents of this zone toget with the members of FPR here.

    She said the Gasabo District Mayor had promised to visit the place first and then give feedback but hasten to add that they have since not got a response from him.

    According to Kuzwa, if put to use, the lake will provide employment opportunities to over 150 people during the rehabilitation process, generate revenues through taxing visitors at the lake particularly those that will be using boats to sail over the water during their leisure time and from tourists who will be coming for sun bathing.

    Such revenues she emphasized are among others leading to the development of the area.

    Kuzwa added that after renovating the site, security will be instituted since the area is currently infested with idlers.

    Once the renovation project is approved, roads to the site will be tarmaced and fitted with road lights and security to ensure protection.

    Kuzwa says once that is done the zone is planning to solicit funds from rich people in the area and other local organizations like RDB, MTN, and TIGO to start the rehabilitation process that will take less than two months.

    Efforts to reach the Gasabo district mayor on the issue were futile. However, an official consulted at the district said the area is in the wetland and REMA should be consulted for environmental impact assessment (EIA).

    According to Innocent Gashugi a Senior Environmental Engineer at RDB that conducts EIA to the Investors, the previous lake investor at the site was stopped for encroaching on the wet land.

    “He was stopped because he had started to construct within 20 meters of the wetland which is not allowed.”

    According to Rwanda’s environment regulations on wetlands article no. 87 provides that no infrastructure should be built within 20meters of wetland area.

    Even though Nyarutarama citizens want to develop the lake, the whole site could have been given to the foreign investors for other activities.

    Bruno Rangira the City Council of Kigali communication officer says the area where this lake is located has been given to other investors to develop it.

    Rangira said that the whole area has 76 hectares of land that includes 26 hectares of dry area and 50 hectares of wetland.

  • Board to Distribute New Tree Species

    {{Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) is soon distributing new tree species that will help and provide fertilizers to agricultural plants in order to grow well, Prof. Martin Shem the leader of RAB outlined yesterday during a workshop with stakeholders at Umubano Hotel.}}

    The program is invented soon after a study was conducted in other countries and found it fruitful.

    Some of the tree species that are to be planted in Rwanda include Faidherbia and Alnus Acuminata.

    {{Faidherbia}}

    The leaves of the Faidherbia albida tree are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients. Plants that grow beneath the trees benefit from their annual leaf fall, which fertilises the soil and counteracts soil acidity.

    {{Alnus Acuminata}}

    Shem said that the trees are also meant to provide shade and protect against soil erosion on hill slopes, their leaves to provide soil fertilizers to the plants and can also be used as animal food.

    Dr. Dennis Garrity, a representative of the World Agro forestry Center (ICRAF) also used the pictures taken during the study in the countries like Kenya and Zambia to express how useful these species are.

    Among the farmers Joseph Gafaranga on behalf of the Northern Province Farmers at the workshop did not welcome the move saying its always promises but they are never being taught how this can work out well.

    “We are not always trained on how plant feed such trees to grow well and there are no follow-ups to ensure it is done well thus a hindrance to us as farmers,” Gafaranga said.

    On that issue Prof. Shem promised the farmers that the project is coming very soon and that the farmers will be helped to understand how the species are planted to ensure the project is successful and useful to the farmers.

    Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) was formed to merge some other agencies in a bid to improve services to farmers in their daily activities. It groups Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA), the Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority and the Rwanda Agriculture Research Institute (ISAR) in its French acronym.

  • ASSIST-RWANDA Campaigns For Tree Planting

    The purpose of the program is to contribute and enhance the natural environment surrounding the area of Nyagatare district in the Eastern Province by planting trees in the city yards, around homesteads.

    Youth and Children Development Center (YCDC), a newly founded NGO expect to construct premises in Nyagatare town soon.

    Exclusively speaking to {igihe.com}, Georgia Chadwick of the ASSIST-RWANDA noted, “I launched the program in Australia via my personal face book page on June 10, asking the help of my friends. So far in Australia we have raised over US$800 for the project.”

    “We are appealing for people to purchase 1 tree or a tiny forest. The samplings have been ordered and are being nurtured at the local seed bank in Nyagatare,” He added.

    Chadwick said that soon after his launch for the project, Gerhard heading One World Group in Germany also launched the program.

    He added that over 800 samplings have so far been planted on the site, and were donated by the Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth.

    “The tree planting program will enhance the natural environment, not only within the Youth Centre compound but also the surrounding area in Nyagatare,” Chadwick outlined.

    The area where the Youth Centre is located covers 5.63acres and it’s a stunning piece of land that looks towards the mountains that border Uganda.

    Six different varieties of trees have been selected and grown in the local seed bank at the site. They were selected based on the necessary shades that they will enable the students to relax and study beneath.

    Thereminaliya tree, fruit bearing trees like Avocado, Mango and Orange trees will create boundaries between different facilities on the compound while also enhancing the aesthetics of the surroundings like Palm Oil, Gerveliya, Doranta, Sipwe, and Kajwarini varieties among others.

  • City Council to Relocate Waste Site

    {{Toxic waste, also known as hazardous waste is a type of dangerous waste harmful to living organisms. The waste products are not easily recycled but usually disposed of in landfills. The effects of toxic waste can impact individual health and the environment.}}

    Exclusively speaking to{ igihe.com}, John Mugabo, an Expert in solid waste management in Kigali City Council recognized the threats of the improper waste landfill of the city but also said that the Council is working tirelessly to relocate the site.

    “We are just waiting for the feedback from our consultant on the new and modernized landfill site that will be built very soon in Kigali Sector.” He said.

    He added that from the consultant a study will be made immediately and then the construction process will set off. He therefore believes that with the relocation of the site; all the threats will be solved.

    Remy Norbert Duhame an official from the environmental sector noted, “there was no clear study made before setting this informal site. It’s location is not strategic. He added that there should be a clear study to ensure the problem of leached water is controlled.

    When World Health Organization tasked governments of African countries to prioritize environmental health concerns, the results revealed that while solid waste was identified as the second most important problem after water quality, and less than 30% of urban populations have access to “proper and regular garbage removal.”

    Landfill gas is composed of a mixture of hundreds of different gases. By volume, landfill gas typically contains 45% to 60% methane and 40% to 60% carbon dioxide.
    Landfill gas also includes small amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, ammonia, sulfides, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nonmethane organic compounds (NMOCs) such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride.

    This gas is produced by bacterial decomposition, which occurs when organic waste is broken down by bacteria naturally present in the waste and in the soil used to cover the landfill.
    Organic wastes include food, garden waste, street sweepings, textiles, and wood and paper products. Bacteria decompose organic waste in four phases, and the composition of the gas changes during each phase.

    Landfill gases can be created when certain wastes, particularly organic compounds, change from a liquid or a solid into a vapor. This process is known as volatilization. NMOCs in landfill gas may be the result.

    Chemical reactions including NMOCs can be created by the reactions of certain chemicals present in waste.
    For example, if chlorine bleach and ammonia come in contact with each other within the landfill, a harmful gas is produced t of volatilization of certain chemicals disposed of in the landfill.

    Symptoms such as tiredness, sleepiness and headaches have also been reported. Although these symptoms cannot be assumed to be an effect of toxic chemical action, they may indicate that sites can have an impact on stress and anxiety.

    Sometimes workers’ skins are swollen and this could be as a result of the heat and gas arising from the site here.

    The urban waste landfills that are not waterproof often represent sources of groundwater pollution by nitrates and nitrites, as well as other pollutants.

    Landfill infiltration and water leakage on the slopes affect adversely the quality of the adjoining soils, which brings along consequential effects to their utilization.

    The lining of landfills can however prevents toxic substances from being released into the ground water.

  • Rain Defies National Weather Forecast

    {{For the past week, Rwanda continues to experience rainfall in a period of the year previously known to be a dry season that normally starts in the month of June through July and August. September is normally when rains start.}}

    Although the RMS had communicated on 17th that after four days that normal dry weather would return, this has not been the case instead there have been more experiences of rains.

    According to Rwanda Meteorological Services (RMS), the rains we are experiencing are caused by two masses of air (winds). One that has travelled from the Indian Ocean, and over Lake Victoria and is therefore warm and wet.

    Warm air always rises so when the two air masses converge, the warm air is forced upwards by the cooler air. As it rises into the atmosphere, the moisture cools and forms a cloud. The cloud condenses and thus causes rainfall.

    The RMS body also notes that during the months of June, July and August, the winds over Rwanda come from the south East.

    The communiqué also explains that because the winds travel overland, they lose their moisture along the way. This thus causes hot and dry weather in Rwanda commonly referred to as ‘Dry Season’.

    RMS is Rwanda’s national weather service under the patronage of Ministry of Infrastructure. RMS observes weather from across the country on a daily basis by gathering data from scattered weather centers

  • UK company to manage Nyungwe Forest

    {{A UK based forest company; New Forests Company (NFC) has taken over the management of Nyungwe forest buffer zone, with plans to build a diverse, modern, valuable wood products industry.
    }}

    The agreement was signed yesterday July 19, between the government represented by MINERENA, RDB and NFC itself.

    The company’s CEO, Julian Ozanne told {Igihe.com} that NFC company intends to invest in a series of manufacturing industries to produce wood products for the growing construction sector.

    Ozanne also commented on the likely additional investments; “if we further enter agreements with the government, our company also hopes to generate woody bio-mass electricity for the national grid and other bio-energy products.”

    Speaking after the signing of an agreement, MINERENA’s Minister Stanislas Kamanzi recommended the venture, emphasizing that the year 2011 having been declared a year of forests, has seen tremendous advocacy for the conservation of forests.

    He also said the project would create job opportunities to communities around the area. “Assuming all activities are realized, this scheme alone will create more than 1,200 jobs over the next five years.” Kamanzi said.

    RDB’s Chief Operating Officer Clare Akamanzi said, “NFC hopes to enter into additional agreements with the government and should all this be concluded, the company expects the total investment in the project to reach up to US.$60M in the next few years. This is a clear indication that Rwanda is continuously being trusted by investors and we hope more of them can realize country’s full potential.”

    The company expects to begin harvesting in October 2012; it says it is committed to replanting all harvested areas with improved tree species.

  • Graves Could Be Silent Environmental Disaster

    {{In the near future, things are slated to change regarding how the dead will be treated. The REMA director suggests a mass grave for each family and or cremation (burning of dead bodies) all in the name of better environmental practices.}}

    IGIHE has noticed that there is a continuous violation and disregard of better environmental management practices especially when determining cemetery sites and their preservation.

    Dr.Rose Mukankomeje, Director General Rwanda Environment Management Authority says, “With the allocation of these grave yards, people in charge should always first consult the environmentalists to make environmental impact assessment so that the area can not affect the surroundings in the long run by having a negative impact”.

    According to UN health Experts, during purification of the human corpse, there is a seepage of decay products into percolating water. The seepage contains bacteria, viruses and organic and inorganic chemical decomposition products.

    If the cemetery is located in a porous soil type, such as sand or gravel, movement of seepage can be rapid and mix easily with the groundwater beneath the site.

    This could conceivably be a cause of local epidemics from waterborne diseases, where the groundwater is used as a water source.

    Typical microorganisms known to be responsible for waterborne diseases and present in seepage include micrococcaceae, streptococci, bacillus and entrobacteria.

    There is no doubt by nature of Rwanda’s hill topography and weather pattern, most water sources are spring wells, mostly located at foothills. Most of the gravesites are in somewhat sitting on down hills. This makes it unavoidable for runoff water to cause seepages.

    The quantity of decay products from buried people and wood, fabrics and plastics used in coffins is directly influenced by the age and number of the human corpses decaying in the cemetery at any one time.

    Ideally, coffins should be made of materials that decompose rapidly and do not release persistent chemical by-products into the environment.

    Given the need for an increase in the number of burial sites in Rwanda, there is a need to identify more precisely if, or in what way, cemeteries have any harmful impacts on the environment and public health.

    One approach would be to establish a set of basic design criteria for the siting and construction of cemeteries.

    Careful consideration has to be given to finding the most suitable soil types in which to bury human remains so as to minimize the effect of seepage on the environment and public health.

    In cemeteries, human corpses may cause groundwater pollution not because of any specific toxicity they possess, but by increasing the concentrations of naturally occurring organic and inorganic substances to a level sufficient to render groundwaters unusable or unpotable.

    No reports have been found about epidemics or widespread disease outbreaks that were unequivocally the result of seepage from cemeteries. However, doubt and concern persist due to the paucity of sufficient and clear scientific data.

    However, Dr. Mukankomeje suggests that, “To me I think the better way of burying people in our small nation, let’s adopt the way of deepening the underground and have one mass grave per family.

    “Then the process will cover a small portion or adopt other ways like cremation (burning bodies). This can also work out well since it is well applied in other foreign countries”. She suggested.

    When contacted, the Gasabo district Mayor Willy Ndizeye said: “In our terms of reference which were made by experts in this section, everything and environmental impact assessment inclusive were considered while allocating our new burial yard and therefore I don’t expect any negative impact on environment.

    “There will also be people cleaning the site all the time. It is to be built in a modern way since it’s a survey that was carried out from other developed countries about the construction of burial sites.” The Mayor stressed.

    “On the issue of land, yes I understand it takes a big area for the burial sites but still it’s our culture and we have to respect it until we come and see other possible ways like cremation.”

    The current policy on the graves; length takes 2.30m, width is 80cm and depth take 1.5m.

    Capitholine Musabyeyezu, the President Twifatanye Funerarium Cooperative at Kimironko burial site in Gasabo commonly known as iwabo watwese says: “we felt concerned and developed a proposal and submitted to the district proposing a new policy.

    “It involves removing dead bodies from the grave yard after a period of twenty years and remains can be removed and kept in shelves in a small place so that the land can be used for other purposes.”

    In order to identify the environmental impacts of cemeteries, information is needed on the survival of bacteria and viruses and the fate of the decay products from human corpses in soils and groundwater.

    Both survival and retention are dependent on the type of the soil in which a cemetery is sited, the type of microorganisms present, the prevailing ground temperature and rainfall.

    Scientific research indicates that microorganism die-off rates increase approximately two times faster with every 10 °C rise in temperature between 5 °C to 30 °C (4). Consequently, the survival of the microorganisms is prolonged considerably at lower temperatures. Several organisms in the soil are known to survive better in a pH range of 6–7, and die off more quickly under more acidic soil conditions.

    Adsorption is the major factor controlling virus retention. Most polioviruses are held in the soil layer. Viruses may move through some soils to the groundwater with the help of rainfall and downward seepage flow.Polioviruses may move considerable distances through sandy forest soils and gravels.

    Other soil properties such as particle size, clay content, cation exchange capacity and moisture influence retention, but the relative extent to which they do this requires further research.

    Climatic factors such as rainfall also influence retention. They increase the mobilization of bacteria and viruses from tissues retained on soil particles, and facilitate their transportation to groundwater.

  • Gov’t to compensate animal attack Victims

    The loss of crops and vandalism caused during a recent impromptu invasion by about 70 stray elephants from Akagera national park has prompted government in passing of a compensation bill into law that provides for compensation of residents attacked by wild animals.

    The lawmakers on 20 June 2011 deliberated on the new law that directs the state to compensate persons attacked by wild animals from any gazzetted national park including any other place during official duty.

    Specific provisions of the law include; awarding compensation to members of family of victim including both child and adult attacked and killed by the wild animals.

    Compensation shall be awarded to the child or adult victim both attacked and injured or hurt or affected in any form by the wild animals.

    Lastly, compensation shall be awarded to a child or adult whose property has been vandalized by the wild animals.

    In the recent attack by a herd of elephants, no deaths were reported however, three residents were injured during the invading massive herbivores that also destroyed more than 80 hectares of crops valued at over frw 6Million.

    Intervention of a noisy RDF helicopter scared the elephants away until the elephants returned into the park.

    In February the governor of Eastern province Aisha Kirabo kacyira had promised that residents in the area attacked by invading animals from the national parks would be compensated, “the long standing issue of Park animals, is about to be resolved…it was discussed at all levels. Very soon, victims will start to get compensation, so no more worries”.

    additional reporting by Andrew Kareba