Residents urged on tree planting

SOUTHERN PROVINCE KAMONYI — Residents of the Southern Province have been asked to protect the environment by planting more trees. Fidele Uwizeye, an official of the Ministry of Natural Resources, made the call on November 24 during the launch of the National Tree Planting exercise. At the provincial level, the exercise was launched on Karengera hills, in the Musambira Sector, Kamonyi district-during which hundreds of residents and local leaders planted trees. A total of 9,000 trees were planted on 20ha of land. The residents committed to lead the environmental protection drives in the area, by sensitising others and desisting from activities that degrade the environment. Uwizeye, also called upon residents to plant agro forest trees around their homes so as to increase access to fruits, therefore enhancing their nutritional value. Meanwhile, in Ruhango district, residents planted over 1,200 trees on 30ha of land in the Mwendo Sector-all aimed at addressing the problem of deforestation that has been blamed on illegal tree fellers. Rwanda is said to be one of the countries with less forest cover, accounting for only 545,000 ha (20% of the land). Of a total of 2,262,000 trees planted annually, 8,980,000m3 of forests are being consumed every year, while 6,718,000m3 is estimated to be destroyed, according to Ministry reports. Ends