Monday this week, people throughout the country put on hold all their demanding work schedules to participate in the National tree week.

The National tree week is an event that is annually organised by the environment and natural resources watchdog institutions, with an aim of maintaining and improving natural resources through afforestation.

Claude Habimana, the head of Aforestation Support Program (PAREF) said in a telephone interview on Monday that over 40 million trees had been planned to be planted in this year’s tree week.

"It is going to be a huge boost to the country’s ecosystem,” Habimana said.

The Minister of Natural Resources Stanslas Murekezi, expressed optimism, saying this year’s tree week would have positive impact because of the unreserved commitment people had exhibited during the exercise.

"This year’s tree week is going to have a considerable impact, people are very well mobilised and they participate constructively,” the minister said.

He added that on top of planting trees, what should be highly considered and promoted is the protection and preservation of the already existing trees.

"The civil authorities and the entire populace should partner in the preservation of the already planted trees because it makes no meaning when after planting the trees, others come and cut them down,’’ Cautioned Murekezi.

He underscored the need to protect forests and other natural resources, pointing out that they play a big role in the preservation of the ecosystem which sustains life of all living organisms.

The national tree week was launched in Burera district, where more than three thousand trees were planted. Addressing residents of Burera district, the minister advised them to encircle Urugezi swamp with trees such that Burera and Ruhando lakes can be generated.

"The only way to preserve these two lakes is to plant more trees in urugezi swamp,” the Minister advised.

The theme for this year’s tree week is "a tree is a great pillar of the country’s resources, lets plant as many while we protect them.”

The tree week was organised by the Ministry of Natural resources and other environmental advocacy societies and the planting was coordinated from the district level, trickling down to the lower levels of administration like sectors and villages.

People are mobilised at the village level with logistics to use and tree varieties to plant as provided by the district authorities. 

In Rwanda, forests cover 545,000 hectares, and both small and big forests constitute 19 percent, but in 2020 the country needs about 30 percent.

"This calls for more efforts,” the minister noted.

This has given rise to vigorous tree planting campaigns across the country by environmental conservationist authorities like REMA and others, and these initiatives are on going.

Contact: gahimore@yahoo.com