TOP 5 Environmental projects that continue to change lives of local communities in Rwanda
The Photo shows rehabilitated area in Sebeya Catchment
As the world celebrates important environmental days in this month of March, 2021, TOP AFRICA NEWS has selected some of Rwanda’s environmental protection related projects that continue to change the lives of people in different parts of the country.
The projects we have selected include some that focus on water conservation, reforestation and extending agroforestry species and of course these projects ‘similarities are on the Landscape Restoration.
These projects are linked to other key components that continue to contribute to the development of the community but are also expected to have other positive impacts over the long term.
- Sebeya Project (EWRM)
The Sebeya project, also known Embedding Integrated Water Resource Management in Rwanda Project (EWMR), is being implemented in Nyabihu, Rubavu, Ngororero and Rutsiro districts with funds from Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kigali. It is a project launched on June 20, 2019, in Rubavu district, mainly due to the fact that the main activities of the project were to first address the problem of erosion and floods that affected the Sebeya River whose outflow cases also led to the destruction of community infrastructures, crops and erosion, and loss of natural Rwanda’s resources to list few.
Among many activities EWRM project is proving include preventing and controlling erosion in all cultivated areas by installing new and maintaining existing trenches, radical and progressive terraces, planting agroforestry trees and, planting grass for animals feeding, soil protection, rainwater harvesting, and environmental protection.
By combining all activities and preventing cattle from grazing in the newly restored area, the river is now regaining its health.
Even during the COVID-19 crisis, the project has employed and still over 15,000 local people to fight the floods as well as gaining income and so far more than 2939 ha are already restored by 2020, and the project is still counting until 2022.
Congratulations to the consortium team from Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) and Rwanda Rural rehabilitation initiative (RWARRI) and four administrative districts (Rubavu, Nyabihu, Rutsiro and Ngororero)
Read more on this project
- https://www.topafricanews.com/2021/03/05/rutsiro-29-beneficiaries-of-sebeya-project-receive-cows-as-part-of-livelihood-transformation/
- Rwanda: Involving Women in Water conservation is key to Sustainable Development
- https://www.topafricanews.com/2021/03/13/how-do-iucn-rwanda-water-resources-board-view-the-current-conservation-of-water-resources-in-rwanda/
- Green Mayaga Forest Landscape Restoration Project
The Green Mayaga Forest Landscape Restoration in the Mayaga region (FLR Mayaga) project is a ground-breaking six-year project initiative that will afforest the degraded ecosystem and restore the natural forests of four districts of Mayaga in Rwanda’s southern Province by promoting biodiversity, fostering ecosystem services, increasing agriculture productivity and reducing the vulnerability of people and ecosystems to the adverse effects of climate change.
The project which was launched in October, 2020 has started to benefit local communities and expectations of more income generating activities are high. The project in total will create at least 150,000 Jobs and this is for sure a source of revenues among local communities.
Read more on this project:
- Green Mayaga Forest Landscape Restoration Project to create 150,000 jobs for Locals
- REMA distributes Improved Cook stoves to stop deforestation in Amayaga Region
- ‘Floods Management in Volcanoes Region’ Project
One of the projects that the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) implemented to avert floods include ‘Floods Management in Volcanoes Region Project.’ This six-year project, which has now started to bear its fruits following a number of interventions done so far, comprises of different activities such as construction of ponds and gabion along the water channels of Virunga mountains. These activities are source of employment opportunities to local residents in addition to curbing flooding from volcanoes which was a major threat to human lives.
While speaking on Radio Isango Star recently, the Deputy Director General of Rwanda Water Resources, Christine Niyonambaza said that this project has started to yield into positive Results noting that ““The project is funded by the Government of Rwanda and the activities implemented in the project include the construction of ponds that capture water from volcanoes, the construction of water channels, the construction of large-scale ponds, the construction of bridges or the expansion to provide adequate space to the running water.”
- “Agroforestry for Livelihoods” Project
This project which is being implemented by the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS Network) aimed to improve the well-being of the citizens in Rulindo and Bugesera District.
Through this project, more than 6 million trees will be planted (Diversity of trees including indigenous), 15,209 ha restored, 3 million of tons of CO2 sequestrated in 20 years, while 120,000 people and 30,000 households will benefit from project.
Read more on this project:
- Rulindo and Bugesera residents set to benefit as ARCOS moves in to plant six million trees to improve Livelihoods and nature conservation
- Interview with Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa as ARCOS is celebrating 25 years of Collaborative Action for Nature and People
- Green Gicumbi Project
The Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Environment and Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA), are implementing the ‘Strengthening Climate Resilience of Rural Communities in Northern Rwanda’ project in Gicumbi District.
This project, which is being financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), will increase the district’s climate resilience and prepare residents for the impacts of climate change. It will also support the adoption of low carbon technologies and job creation.
Find more on FONERWA Website
- https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/rwf30-billion-climate-resilience-project-launched-gicumbi
- http://www.fonerwa.org/blog/rwanda-launch-major-green-growth-investment-strengthen-climate-resilience-gicumbi-district
- http://www.fonerwa.org/blog/rwanda-receives-328-million-grant-green-climate-fund-strengthen-climate-resilience-gicumbi
Although we come back to these five projects that appear above, there are other projects that are being implemented across the country but the most important thing is that they are meant to support each other in order to achieve an eco-friendly economy.
The Government of Rwanda continues to invest in such projects because in addition to contributing to the protection of the environment as a whole, it also contributes to the development of the community through sustainable Green employment opportunities and productivity as well.
