KIGALI - Rwanda Development Board’s (RDB) department of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Thursday brought together all sections affiliated to the environment. 

This was part of the National Environmental Week activities in a bid to step up the scrutinizing process of investment activities which infringe on the environment.

RDB Deputy CEO, Clare Akamanzi, observed the need to strike a balance between development and environmental protection.

"The environment is a catalyst to development. So we need to strike a balance between economic development and environmental protection if we are to achieve sustainable development,” she said.

She challenged all responsible departments to undertake conscious raising initiatives of all stakeholders and the public at large to monitor and check all forms of environmental degradation. 

The move was aimed at creating a holistic platform made up of all the departments which have the environment as their central aspect.

This is in order for all forms of environmental degradation to be predicted and avoided in time, as well as solving the already existing problems infringing on the environment.

According to Theobold Mashinga, the Director of EIA in RDB, sensitizing and sharpening the responsible departments on environmental protection is strategic and crucial in this cause, since they are the ones who encounter environmental issues regularly.

"The investors, tourists and other development partners whose activities at times infringe on the environment go through some of these RDB departments. So it is strategic to sensitise these levels on the guidelines and measures of securing our environment and checking forms of environmental degradation,” he said.

Mashinga added that there are strategies in place for safeguarding the environment at all levels which EIA had to share with the stakeholders. He revealed that this training was also aimed at gathering ideas, experiences and opinions which can be helpful in the cause.

Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) was previously the one concerned in keeping an eye on investors infringing on the safety of the environment However, with such frameworks in place, such investments will not kick off unless they have been well securitized and cleared as free of any environmental dangers.     

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