KIGALI - The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (Rema) has unveiled new guidelines to integrate environment conservation into the national anti-poverty campaign.

The guidelines detailed in two strategic guide manuals spell out the required approach to link the ongoing national efforts to reduce poverty with environmental conservation.

One of the handbooks, titled ‘Poverty and Environment Indicators’, outlines strategies for monitoring the indicators within the national framework of poverty fight.

The other, ‘Guidelines for Mainstreaming Environment in the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy’, stipulates necessary actions and approaches for their effective implementation.

In their summary contents, the handbooks highlight attempts to inject fresh impetus into finding solutions for poverty eradication directly linked with environmental problems. The handbooks outline efforts on how to improve environment protection nationwide are thought for within Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) for five years.

The PEI programme, aimed at enhancing the contribution of sound environmental management to poverty reduction, was launched in 2005.

It also aims at supporting sustainable growth and achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set to transform the developing world from deprived welfare.
A technical officer with Rema, Cyrille Turatsinze, said that the most urgent indicator is to convince government ministries and private organs to give that vital priority.

"We would like to see harmonised efforts in the poverty and environment campaign so that we have clear indictors,” he said on Wednesday.
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