The Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) has announced a major plan to help conserve natural marshlands from human activity.

The organisation will seek to conserve natural resources, particularly determining the use and management of marshlands in Rwanda.

The law on "use and management of Marshlands” in Rwanda is expected to be in place later this year.

The law will establish the rights and procedures for the tenure, use, conservation and management of marshland resources for the benefit of all citizens in order to achieve a balance between conservation and rehabilitation of the natural resources.

According to a team of experts who compiled the draft bill, every marshland management plan shall regulate specific areas for specific periods of time whose productivity will satisfy economic and livelihood needs.

"In addition to the requirements of this law, the concerned ministry shall establish minimum standards for district marshland management plans which shall be availed to the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) for assessment, review and comment,” Dr Jim Wingard, the head of the team of experts said.

Wingard pointed out the possible stipulated sanctions upon failure to comply with the terms of the co-management agreement as he presented the draft law to various stakeholders in the environmental sector in Kigali yesterday.

"The National Director may suspend any marshland resource right allocated pursuit to this law after prior written warning and consultation with the person or legal entity in question,” he said.

Rwanda Natural Resources Board (RNRB) shall prepare and present to the National Parliament an annual report of all activities, operations and expenditures conducted under the authority of this law in the preceding year ending 31st December.

Dr Rose Mukankomeje, the Director General of REMA, welcomed the development saying it would help to stop the misuse of marshlands that has been on going for a long time.

Currently Rwanda has over 850 identified marshlands covering a total land of 10 percent of the entire country.

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