As Rwandans observe Tree Planting Week, the putting together of the land Use and Development Master Plan is national priority.

Stanislas Kamanzi, the Natural Resources Minister, , explained yesterday at Hotel la Palisse, Nyandungu that this is geared towards effective application of National Policies towards poverty eradication through rational land use and development.

"The Master Plan project that is implemented by Swedesurvey is fully sponsored by government,” he told the stakeholders present.

Swedesurvey is an overseas agency of the National land Survey of Sweden that has been assigned to guide the three-year project to be concluded at the end of the third quarter of 2010.

The Minister pointed out that it is important for all the stakeholders to play an active role in the implementation of better land use and development.

"Stakeholder participation is considered a key technique in the eventual putting together of alternative national development plan proposals. This is essential for physical infrastructure such as roads, railways, and water ways,” he said.

Doctor Nils Viking, the Director of Swedesurvey Kigali office, stressed that the project was a dynamic instrument to guide development especially on land for agricultural purposes.

"The plan is to create a locally conceived and designed arrangement to provide relevant and dynamic solutions for sustainable economic development,” Dr. Nils said, adding that this would be done in accordance with the law.

He also revealed that aerial photographs of over 70 percent of the land in Rwanda had been taken and that it would take a few more months to complete the process.

National Land Centre (NLC) President, Eugene Rurangwa, said that the new technology of taking aerial photographs will be very helpful during land registration.

"The pictures taken with a lens resolution of 25cm show all the land in detail and this would also help to monitor the activities taking place,” Rurangwa told The New Times.

Swedesurvey is expected to assist the NLC in planning and setting up an organisational structure for data collection and management of Rwanda’s land.

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