EAC experts push for harmonised wetlands preservation strategies

In order to sustainably preserve wetlands in the East African Community (EAC), environmental experts have called for the harmonisation of policies between the partner states, especially since most of the major wetlands cut across common borders. The call was made, yesterday, during a meeting in Kigali, which aimed at formulating a five-year strategic framework (2016-21) under the Ramcar Centre for East Africa (RAMCEA). The centre seeks to facilitate the implementation of the Ramcar Convention on wetlands, which designated different wetlands in the world to be protected. The convention was signed in Iran in 1971. Participants follow presentations. (Teddy Kamanzi) Paul Mafabi, the vice chair of RAMCEA, said that wetlands help purify at least 20 per cent of the water used in the region and protect coastlines, bessides being home to biodiversity. However, Dr Rose Mukankomeje, Director General of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), said if policies are not harmonised for appropriate management of wetlands, it would affect the region and the continent in general. “For instance, in the region, Rwanda shares Akanyaru Wetland with Burundi, Akagera with Tanzania and Uganda, so if one country does not get it right, it will certainly affect the others,” she said. According to Mukankomeje, regional water bodies like Lake Victoria and the River Nile would be affected if say Rwanda did not preserve its wetlands the way ‘‘we are doing.’’ Dr Rose Mukankomeje (L), together with Paul Mafabi follow the presentations. Experts say globally 64 per cent of wetlands have disappeared since 1900, including some in the EAC region. The main challenge, Mukankomeje says, is human encroachment on some wetlands in the region. Some people carry out activities like construction, agriculture, illegal mining among others, which destroy wetlands, she said. Rwanda position Approximately 10.6 per cent of the Rwandan surface area is covered with wetlands. Guests post in a group photo at Umubano hotel. (Teddy Kamanzi) The inventory of wetlands conducted in 2008 by REMA through the Integrated Management of Critical Ecosystems, revealed that Rwanda had 867 marshlands on 278,536ha and 101 lakes on 149,487ha while tillable wetlands covered 53 per cent. “In Rwanda, we have classified wetlands in different categories; there are those to be preserved at high standards for international benefit and those for agriculture exploitation, mainly by our farmers,” Mukankomeje said. Rwanda won Green Globe Award for the restoration of Rugezi, Burera and Ruhondo wetlands in 2010 and has been credited for implementing the Ramsar Convention, which has designated 60 wetlands in Rwanda as internationally recognised. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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EAC experts push for harmonised wetlands preservation strategies