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After to understand the importance of biodiversity to the human wellbeing, the Rwanda editors are aware to support environmental and conservation stories in order to boost awareness of community to the biodiversity.
In partnership with Internews Earth Journalism Network’s East Africa Wildlife and Conservation Journalism project, the Rwanda Environmental Journalists organized the workshop of Editors from different media houses in Rwanda, private and public. This workshop heled at Nyungwe National Park on 30 January to 1st February 2023.
An editor from radio station said: “In our newsroom we prefer political stories and business than others. When a journalist say an environmental story idea we can facilitate her/him because we are looking for money. The environmental stories not sell, but now I understand the role of biodiversity in our life. They help our plants in pollination and we get enough product. I will encourage my colleagues’ journalists to report on the environment and conservation.”
Since 1970, according to WWF’s Living Planet Report, 2022, human activities have caused a 69% decline in species including mammals, birds, reptiles, birds, and fish.
“Is the journalists have responsibility to talk to the community in order to stop poaching and other activities violet the rights of animals.” Said Dr Apollinaire William, Lecturer at University of Rwanda.
The Project Manager of Internews in East Africa Community Mr. Kiundu Waweru, encourage editors to help their journalist to produce stories have impact.
“For a story to have impact, it must have depth. Our stories must go beyond quoting figures and facts.” Said Kiundu.
He added that the journalist have to raise voice, because the animal can’t talk themselves the challenges they are facing.
According to Protais Niyigaba, the Manager of African Park which has the management of National Nyungwe Park, the journalists have to raise the voice of biodiversity in order to inform community the importance of them in their life.
“It’s a good time to help us to continue the campaigns we started, because to educate is journey. We have the people were poacher in Nyungwe, but now are accountable for biodiversity.” Said Niyigaba.
Building awareness of editors in Rwanda about the importance of biodiversity and the threats to it, it is in order to remind them that they should be the voice of the biodiversity because they are abused and cannot talk themselves. The journalists visited different tourist sites in Nyungwe National Park like Canopy Walkway and Ndambarare Water Fall.
