By Jean de la Croix Tabaro

Three districts, five schools and six entrepreneurs are celebrating the World Environment Day with a smile, following awards they were given by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority as recognition of their efforts in environment protection. Under the theme "Raise your voice, not the sea level”, the World Environmental Day 2014 is dedicated to raise awareness on climate change which has a direct bearing on global warming, which affects the vulnerable small islands by causing the sea levels rise.

Addressing participants at the function yesterday, the State Minister in charge of Mining in the Ministry of Natural Resources Evode Imena said climate change affects not only the islands, but also countries in high altitude which include Rwanda.

"Global warming affects our agricultural production upon which Rwanda marks WED, awards environmental protection best practices our country largely depends by causing a drought on one side or floods on another side,” he observed,” calling upon Rwandans to make good use of the land, to protect the shores of the rivers and lakes, and to adopt practices of rain water harvesting. He advised local leaders to support environment protection initiatives. 

AWARDS

To encourage environmental protection best practices, REMA awarded categories of people and institutions with outstanding activities in environment protection. The awards which include water tanks, office stationeries and TV screens among others went to schools, districts and entrepreneurs. Gisagara district was awarded a trophy and three water tanks for promoting rain water harvesting and for contributing in energy saving.

Most commendable in this district, said REMA boss, Rose Mukankomeje, is that they do environmental impact assessment for district projects, which is lacking in most other districts.