NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI — A two-day seminar organised by the Integrated Management of Critical Ecosystems (IMCE) was concluded on Thursday November 13.

The seminar which was organised in conjunction with the Ministry of Lands, Forestry, Natural resources and Mines was attended by Executive secretaries, representatives of farmer’s cooperatives and representatives of local non governmental organisations from Burera and Gicumbi districts.

The New Times Ambrose Gahene talked to the programme coordinator of the seminar Dr.Paul Ouedraogo after the event at Byumba Eglise Episcopal [EER] hall about the importance of the Seminar. Below are the excerpts.

Question TNT:  Dr Paul OUEDRAOGO, you are the Technical Assistant of the IMCE project, could you please introduce this project to our readers.

Dr OUEDRAOGO
Thank you very much for  this opportunity to talk about this useful project. The Integrated Management of Critical Ecosystems (IMCE) Project is financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the World Bank as the implementing agency.

The GEF allocated Fr4.3 millions for the implementation of this project.

This four-year project was effectively started in April 2006 and it is currently being executed by the Ministry of Land, Environment, Forestry, Water and Mines and Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA).

The primary objective of the Integrated Management of Critical Ecosystems (IMCE) Project is to promote the adoption of integrated ecosystem management in agricultural landscapes, particularly in the rehabilitation of marshland and hill-side areas.

The Project is helps to ensure a better protection of the natural resource base through the promotion of an integrated approach to land resource management that supports the rehabilitation of degraded marshlands, hill-sides, and catchment’s areas, and the formulation and implementation of community-based integrated management plans for selected four marshlands [Rugezi in the north, and Kamiranzovu marshland in the west, Rweru-Bugesera and Akagera complexes in the east].

The project is made up of the following components: Development of a policy and regulatory framework for integrated ecosystem management, capacity building and institution strengthening for integrated ecosystem management.

Others are integrated protection and management of critical Ecosystems and project management, monitoring and evaluation, and information dissemination.

TNT: What is the background of regional workshops on Rwanda Marshland potentials and constraints?

 Dr OUEDRAOGO
In order to develop a policy and a regulatory framework for integrated ecosystem management, the IMCE Project Management Unit is conducting four regional workshops on marshland potentials.

The main aims of these regional workshops are to: ensure the participation of the project stakeholders in the process of development of a policy and regulatory framework for integrated ecosystem management.

Create catchments integrated ecosystem management committees, and prepare training for these committees in integrated ecosystem management.

To develop experience sharing practices among the project stakeholders.

TNT: does it mean it is a process?

 Dr OUEDRAOGO
Of course, the process to develop a policy and a regulatory framework for integrated ecosystem management is scheduled for a period of 11 months, from October 2007 to August 2008.

This process is coordinated by Rwanda Environment Management Authority under the supervision of MINITERE. A consultancy firm support will be recruited to draft the marshland ministerial orders.

TNT: Can you summarise the steps of this process?

 Dr OUEDRAOGO
The activities will be implemented in 3 phases: First phase: Organise four regional workshops on Rwanda marshland potentials and constraints and creation of catchments integrated ecosystem management committees from October to February 2008.

Second phase: training o f these catchments committees in integrated ecosystem management and discussion on the draft of marshland related ministerial orders and the proposal of marshland law from March to May 2008.

Third phase: Implement the catchments committees’ work plan and organise a National Seminar on the Marshland law from June to August 2008.

 TNT: What will be the main roles of these catchments committees?

Dr OUEDRAOGO
These catchments committees will contribute to: Development of coordination mechanisms across catchments areas, and across jurisdiction areas.

Develop mechanisms for conflict resolution among resource users, and other stakeholders of competing interests.

They will develop public, private and community partnership for integrated ecosystem, management, planning and implementation, to develop a participatory M&E framework; and Implement training modules.

TNT: If we focus ourselves on this regional workshop, what are the objectives?

Dr OUEDRAOGO
The objectives are the following: to organise discussions on the Rwanda marshland Potentials and constraints and to describe the marshlands characteristics of the IMCE Project sites. Another objective is to start the creation process of catchments integrated ecosystem management committees, and the training of these committees in integrated ecosystem management.

Others are: to ensure the participation of the IMCE Project stakeholders in the implementation of the first component of the project and to share experiences.

Ends