Editor,

Where once I could see hills, stripped of all large vegetation, I now see seedlings of trees. Soil erosion is a huge problem in Rwanda and this problem is made worse by the fact that the majority of our people earn their livelihood through agriculture.

That  is why re-afforestation programmes  are necessary. The only way that we shall be able to fight the scourge of soil erosion is by planting more trees. That is why I’m excited by the news announced by the Minister of Forestry and Mines, that over 44 million trees will be planted countrywide in the tree planting week slated to be launched in Karongi District on November 8.

44 million trees aren’t a small number and I can see a time when Rwanda’s rivers won’t be the colour of mud because they won’t have our precious soil in them.

Joseph Kamanzi
Remera