KIGALI - Rwanda’s environmental conservation drive is an inspiration to the East African Community as member states strive to ensure uniformity and share positive initiatives. 

This was disclosed by Dr Rose Mukankomeje, the Director General of Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) in an interview with The New Times, as she provided updates on the implementation of the Strategic Environment Assessment Plan, which was validated in a meeting held in Kigali recently.

"Regional states are inspired by our recent improvements in nature conservation,” she said. "They shared with us how far they have gone with their respective policies and promised to improve on their areas of weaknesses.”

Kigali organised the regional meeting to discuss and develop common goals for effective conservation within the bloc.

This was also necessitated by the fact that the countries share various environmental features like lakes Kivu and Victoria, and realizing that a single country could not achieve much alone.

Mukankomeje added that Rwanda plays her part in strengthening policies and  evaluating projects like housing, construction and road expansion projects, before they kick off.

This ensures that the projects do not pose a negative impact on the environment, as stipulated within the Environmental Law.

She was optimistic that Rwanda’s role in regional environmental conservation would also enhance sustainable development of regional joint projects like the East African Railway construction.

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