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By Annonciata Byukusenge
Families living near the Urugezi Wetlands in Burera District, Northern Province of Rwanda, have been given modern cookstoves (Rondereza) to help them participate in protecting the wetland’s rich biodiversity.
The initiative, led by the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) in collaboration with local authorities, aims to encourage residents to avoid practices that harm the wetlands, particularly the cutting and burning of surrounding forests.
The first distribution took place in Kabuga Village, Mubuga Cell, Miyove Sector, Gicumbi District, where 192 households received the cookstoves. RWCA emphasized that the program not only helps conserve forests but also promotes environmental protection and human health by encouraging the use of clean energy.
Some of the recipients told The Forefront Magazine that these cookstoves significantly reduce the long, exhausting trips they previously made to collect firewood and prevent the destruction of nearby forests.
From the district’s perspective, Moses Kirenga, the Executive Secretary of Gicumbi District, urged residents to take good care of the cookstoves, avoid selling them, and report anyone attempting illegal activities in the Urugezi Wetlands.
The Urugezi Wetlands and surrounding marshes are home to diverse wildlife, including species of birds such as the Grey Crowned Crane and the White-collared Oliveback, among many others. RWCA hopes that continued conservation efforts will not only protect these ecosystems but also attract tourists to Rwanda.
The Urugezi Wetlands cover an area estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 hectares.
