His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales commends ARCOS Network for conservation initiatives
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has commended the work of the ARCOS Network
By Ange de la Victoire DUSABEMUNGU
Charles, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has commended the work of the ARCOS Network that aims to protect biodiversity and sustainable natural resources management.
On his visit to Rwanda for the occasion of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which is taking place in Rwanda , His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales paid a visit to one of ARCOS’ sites in Bugesera to witness a collaborative landscape restoration for climate resilience in Rwanda.
Among the activities visited by Prince Charles on Tuesday include some of the ARCOS tree nurseries that are set to expand afforestation programs, provide agroforestry species while at the same time protecting and conserving the biodiversity and enhancing the livelihoods of the local community.
In his message posted on Twitter after the visit, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales said that It was “Wonderful to see the good work of the Albertine Rift Conservation Society, which aims to enhance biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.”
During the Royal visit, Prince Charles talked to local communities and had first hand information on what ARCOS is doing in favour of environmental and Biodiversity conservation.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was accompanied by Rwanda’s Minister of Environment Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, ARCOS Executive Director, Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa and many other delegates.
The Executive Director of the ARCOS Network who is also the Founder of this conservation organization, Dr Sam Kanyamibwa said that “The visit is a paramount to ARCOS as it serves as a good occasion to exchange with His Highness a subject, he has cherished all his life about the role of grassroots communities as custodians of our mother land in the journey to sustainability.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya also highlighted that “For many years, Bugesera District experienced deforestation, severe drought and other climate change effects that led to extreme food shortage, loss of biodiversity and water resources across many freshwater ecosystems including the lake Cyohoha North….” adding that “The remarkable results we see on this site need to be replicated”
For Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa, ARCOS contribution to the country’s race towards landscape restoration is not only about building resilience to climate change.
“Our intervention is engaging the local community to build resilience to climate change, creating green jobs, boosting productivity and improving communities’ livelihoods but most importantly, integrating indigenous tree species in Rwanda’s agrosystem,” He said..
