Three districts, five schools and six entrepreneurs yesterday received prizes from the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (Rema) in recognition of their efforts in environmental protection.

This was during celebrations to mark the World Environment Day in Kigali.

Under the theme, "Raise your voice, not the sea level,” the World Environmental Day was dedicated to raise awareness on climate change-whose effects include global warming.

The State Minister in charge of Mining in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Evode Imena, said climate change affects not only islands but also countries in high altitude areas such as Rwanda.

"The global warming would affect our agricultural production upon which our country largely depends by causing drought on one side or floods on another,” Imena said.

The minister called on Rwandans to make good use of resources to protect river banks and lakes and to adopt practices of rain water harvesting.

Awarding the best

To encourage best practices, Rema awarded categories of people or institutions with outstanding activities in environment protection.

The prizes that included water tanks, office stationery and television sets, 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 to energy saving.

Rema Director-General Rose Mukankomeje lauded Gisagara for engaging in environmental impact assessment for district projects, which she said is lacking in most of the districts.

"Protecting environment is our mandate; to achieve this, we involve all the district residents because consequences of global warming affect each and every body,” said Leandre Karekezi, the Gisagara mayor.

Ngoma and Kayonza districts were also recognised for protecting lake shores and for promoting use of biogas.

In category of schools, Rutsiro’s Groupe Scolaire Murunda Primary School was recognised for greening and cleaning and was also awarded with a TV set and DVD player, beside three water tanks.

Award winning activities among small and medium enterprises, non-governmental organisations and individual entrepreneurs included efforts in waste management, handcraft and forestry protection.

Besides water tanks, winners were given wheelbarrows, laptops and printers.

The World Environmental Day has been celebrated every June 5 since 1973, to raise awareness about the need for environmental protection.