EASTERN PROVINCE Residents of Rwempasha Sector, Nyagatare District marked the annual tree planting anniversary by reforestating the area’s most barren hillsides. The exercise, undertaken under the government auspices of local environmental conversation saw residents planting over 16,000 trees in various designated sites. Support also came from the Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) men in the area. In many parts of Nyagatare, deforestation has been rife leading to soil erosion which in turn leads to long spells of the dry season. Farmers who participated in the reforestation exercise described it as the dawn of new era within conservation efforts in the district. Officials who were present cautioned that the government efforts to halt the deforestation is yet to yield matching results due in part to the kind of perception some residents have towards this program. The Vice Mayor in charge of economic affairs, Anthelm Rurangwa said the district will entrench conservation within the local laws in a bid to ensure that millions of trees that have been planted will survive. ‘The change of our farming systems and by extension our lifestyles necessitates us to change our perception towards tree planting. Embracing conversation of our forests will enable us to have better rainfall patterns,’ he explained. Families, living along hilly sides now categorised as barren, are required to plant at least 30 trees in their plots to have complete ownership over such parcels of land. Rurangwa reiterated that land ownership will be pegged upon considerations such as family needs and commitments from households to embrace tree planting. Residents were advised that it is prudent to initially plant fast-growing species for firewood and to supplements these with species capable of boosting local woodlands and providing fruits so as to restore the productivity of the damaged landscapes. Olive Muhongerwa, a representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources advised that the tree species to be planted should be those capable of withstanding the harsh and extreme weather conditions of the area. Ends
