NORTHERN PROVINCE

BURERA — The State Minister for Natural Resources Vincent Karega has called upon Burera residents to enhance the sustainability of  wetlands as part of the protected areas of the country’s natural resources.

Karega said that 90 percent of wetlands in Rwanda are  connected to the Nile basin, and as such human activities  impacts positively or negatively on the whole ecosystem which ultimately affects climate change.

"Wetlands are very compatible to the roles played by our  rivers which in turn affects our health delivery systems.This calls for counteractive measures to avoid pollution,’’ he said on the shores of L. Ruhondo  during celebrations to mark the Wetlands Day on Monday February 2.

The day, marks the date the world adopted the Convention on Wetlands in 1971, and each year government agencies, NGOs, and citizens at all levels of the global community use it to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits.

The wetland valleys of L. Ruhondo and Burera had been used for agricultural purposes by the neighbouring residents leading to a reduction of water levels, which ultimately  affected electricity supply from Ntaruka Hydro power Dam.

Karega warned that the rules governing the use of wetlands should be upheld while more efforts should be geared towards rehabilitating the misused wetlands through measures such as  behaviourial change  and making shifts in community livelihoods.

During the celebrations, local authorities were challenged to encourage residents to adopt measures meant to protect all wetlands within the areas under their jurisdictions.

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