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By Annonciata Byukusenge
The villagers in Nyamagabe district have witnessed that despite their old age, they have already understood the importance of environmental conservation which has led them to plant trees to fight against desertification.
A 70-year-old woman, Espérance Iyakaremye, says that they have been sensitized to form biodiversity conservation groups in which they learned about the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Through the groups, the communities have planted trees as part of conserving habitat for accommodating different species.
“I’m an old woman, but I have learned that environmental protection is my responsibility. I have learned that the effects of climate change are due to the absence of trees that could allow us to breathe fresh air. Without trees, we can face serious side effects such as respiratory diseases as people in old age,” she said.
In addition to breathing fresh air, she says, the trees they have planted are mixed with agro-forestry, an agriculture incorporating the cultivation of trees.
The agro-forestry also provides livestock fodder
The trees also include fruit trees that help to fight malnutrition.
She said that the Biodiversity Conservation Cooperative is the one that distributes trees to the people for planting trees adding “Every citizen wants trees and they are getting them for free.”
Philomène Nzabonitegeka is a woman who is participating in environmental conservation.
She says that she is now playing a role in raising awareness about the importance of protecting the environment among neighbors.
“Before joining the conservation groups, I was careless about environmental conservation but today I am in a good position to explain to other people the benefits of protecting the environment,” she said.
Philippe Ndikubwimana is one of the men in the conservation cooperative.
He says that, in the past, men were the ones who only participated in the environmental conservation program, but today he is testifying how most of the participants are women.
“In my group, the majority is women and we appreciate it because women are the best interpreters, they explain things better and the one explained by women is quickly understandable compared to when the man explains it,” she says.
Women are the ones who are helping us in the campaign to encourage the people to participate in tree planting to protect the environment, he adds.
In an exclusive interview with Forefront Magazine, Mr. Athanase Harerimana, Coordinator of the Biodiversity Conservation Cooperatives (Union des Coopératives Agricoles Intégrées/ UNICOOPAGI), said “The community is being provided with trees as part of the development team for the Nyungwe National Park Biodiversity Development Program. The recipients of the trees are members of the group and members of the cooperative and non-members but have groups to which they belong. But for the public awareness, BIOCOOR is our main partner.”
Regarding the source of tree seedlings to the community, Mr. Harerimana said: “UNICOOPAGI prepares seedlings of various species of trees including agro-forestry and fruit trees. We do not sell them, we give them for free.”
According to the Rwanda Forestry Authority census (https://www.rfa.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/RFA/Publications/Rwanda_Forest_Cover_Mapping_November_2019_.pdf), Rwanda’s forests currently cover an area of 30.4 percent, an area of 8,006.7 square kilometers.
Compared to the area of different provinces of the country, it was found that forests have reached the same size as the Western and Northern Provinces combined.
Many wild animals live in these forests including deer, Kobs, The duiker (locally known as Ifumberi), and l’hoest’s monkey (locally known as Icyondi) among others which require community participation to be conserved.
About BIOCOOR
Biodiversity Conservation Organization (BIOCOOR) has been created mainly by young people dedicated to acting and advocating for biodiversity conservation, ecotourism promotion, community health, environmental management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The BIOCOOR headquarters is in the Nyamagabe district of the Southern Province of Rwanda. The organization’s geographical focus is five districts near the Nyungwe National Park. It integrates conservation projects and sustainable economic development for the communities surrounding Nyungwe National Park. The organization has started in 2012 as a social enterprise called BIOCOOP and recently in June 2020 has shifted to a local NGO currently BIOCOOR but keeping the same focus. Its mission is to build a nation that is environmentally and socio-economically stable through its resources and skills.
