Rwanda will today 5th June, 2015 join the World to celebrate World Environment Day (WED).This year’s WED theme is “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care “and is in line with Rwanda’s commitment to harmonize economic growth with environmental sustainability and sustainable management of natural resources.
“As we celebrate World Environment Day, let’s promote resource efficiency and sustainable production and consumption by doing more and better with less resources, reduce our footprint and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle,” observed Dr. Rose Mukankomeje, Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).
WED celebration 2015 will take place in all Districts.., However, at national level, the celebration will take place in Rutsiro District, Mukura Sector and it is an opportunity to launch the Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LAFREC); a project aiming the rehabilitation of Gishwati and Mukura Forest Reserves.
Participants to the WED celebration in Mukura Sector will join local residents in a Community Work “Umuganda” to rehabilitate degraded mining sites in Mukura Forest. After the community work, officials will hold discussions with the local community on efficient use of natural resources in line with this year’s WED theme as well as on LAFREC interventions.
Landscape Approach to Forest Restoration and Conservation (LAFREC), a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project, aims at restoring the highly degraded Gishwati-Mukura landscape, boosting land management of the Gishwati and Mukura forests and improving local livelihoods, environment, and climate resilience within the area.
The objective of LAFREC Project is to restore the degraded Gishwati-Mukura landscape by increasing tree cover, restoring indigenous woodland in deforested areas and enhancing the biodiversity of the remaining degraded forest reserves so as to provide national and global environmental benefits.
Two main components of the 9.53 million US Dollars project are; forestry-friendly rehabilitation of Mukura landscape and upgrading Gishwati-Mukura forest reserves to a national park; and improvement of livelihoods for surrounding communities to be climate resilient.
“We call up on everyone to fully support the implementation of this project as its success will benefit the local communities, country and the world as a whole,” said Dr. Rose Mukankomeje, the Director General of REMA.
Initially, Gishwati-Mukura reserve was estimated to cover 250,000ha before it reduced to 28,000ha in 1980s due mainly to human activities. Over the past decades, the Gishwati-Mukura area was nearly depleted largely due to resettlement, livestock farming and small farming in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This led to devastating erosion within the forests, resulting in severe landslides and floods. However some patches of native forest remain, alongside important biodiversity, including a small population of chimpanzees.
Presently, Gishwati-Mukura Forest Reserve is known for a wide range of flora and fauna, including four species of primates: the eastern chimpanzee, the golden monkey, the blue monkey, and the mountain monkey; more than a dozen species of East African chimpanzees; mammals such as red river hog, the black-fronted duiker, the southern tree hyrax, among others. The forest reserve also boasts about 60 species of trees, including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo.
Currently, a bill that will transform the Gishwati-Mukura Reserve into a National Park is being discussed in the Parliament. The draft law is expected to be signed into a law expected to be passed in the few coming months.
Upgrading the forest to the status of a National Park will ensure that the remaining part of the natural forest is fully protected. The plan is part of the country’s broader efforts to expand the total forest cover to 30 per cent of the country’s total surface area by 2020 and promote the tourism sector.
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