One Acre Fund has encouraged farmers to embrace, value and properly manage both exotic and native tree species.

For the upcoming 2023 tree campaign, One Acre Fund has set forth an ambitious goal of distributing a staggering 20 million agroforestry trees.

Notably, 10 percent of this remarkable total will comprise native tree species.

In the districts of Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru, a particularly noteworthy commitment is being made, where an impressive 33 percent of the distributed trees will consist of native species.

The move is in line with Rwanda’s plan to plant 63 million indigenous (native) and exotic tree seedlings under the 2023/24 tree planting season.

Native tree species are trees that have evolved and adapted to the local environment over countless generations. These trees have developed unique characteristics that make them well-suited to thrive in Rwanda’s specific climate, soil, and ecosystem, and that's why they are so crucial.

"Native tree species, in particular, play a vital role in sustaining our environment, our communities, and our future generations. Native tree species are our allies in the battle against climate change. They act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” explained Evariste Bagambiki, Communications Specialist at One Acre Fund.

The organization has conducted a series of festivals aimed at celebrating native species and awarding villages that are outstanding for having the highest survival rate of both native and exotic species among the villages.

These festivals were held in 8 cells of Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru in September where it created a platform to encourage farmers to value and properly manage both exotic and native species for the upcoming tree distribution.

"This not only helps combat global warming but also improves air quality, making our communities healthier places to live. Moreover, native trees are guardians of biodiversity. They provide essential habitat and food sources for countless species of animals. We are conserving the delicate balance of our neighborhood ecosystems by planting and caring for these trees,” Bagambiki said.

There are useful advantages native trees offer to farms.

By fixing nitrogen, they increase soil fertility and lessen the demand for synthetic fertilizers.

"Their extensive roots aid in stopping soil erosion, protecting our valuable topsoil, and guaranteeing that our land will continue to be productive for many years to come. Additionally, native trees give our crops shade and cover, which lessens heat stress and boosts overall yields,” he said.

Farmers and local leaders commend the initiative

Paul Kagame is one of the farmers who participated at the Festival in Kibangu cell, Ngoma sector, Nyaruguru district.

"Native trees have almost disappeared in our region, but we need to replant more native trees. We used to make traditional wood materials from them and some of the trees were used for traditional medicine,” he said.

Jeanne Murekatete, a farmer from Kibangu cell, Ngoma sector, Nyaruguru district said the trees are a shelter for birds.

"When we still had native trees in our location, birds used to be our time indicators. They would sing in the morning and we could tell it was time to wake up. But today, we don't have many birds. We are planting native trees to bring back the birds," She said, appreciating One Acre Fund interventions to promote native species.

Emmanuel Ntagonzera Ngarambe, the Secretary Executive of Uwinkingi sector in Nyamagabe district said that the festivals have encouraged farmers, and he hopes that native trees will be planted and properly managed.

"The award that has been provided to the village that had the highest tree survival rate last season, has encouraged farmers from other villages to abundantly plant both native and exotic trees, thanks to One Acre Fund,” he said.

One Acre Fund is an international agricultural development organization incorporated in Rwanda as a foreign branch of the One Acre Fund U.S non-profit. In Rwanda, the organization operates under two Community Benefit Companies namely One Acre Fund, focused on partnership activities to improve food systems, and Tubura, which is a subsidiary of One Acre Fund that is focused on direct services to support their prosperity.

Globally, the organization currently serves more than one million smallholder farmers in Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.