Category: Environment

Flood Victims in Rubavu,Nyabihu and Musanze districts want urgent assistance saying it has been delayed since floods swept away crops and left residents homeless.

However, the ministry of disaster management says that once damage assessment is completed, assistance will be provided soon.

Floods destroyed about 876 hectares of crops including maize, potatoes and beans.

Cabinet ministers visited the affected areas to assess the extent of the problem and identify possible solutions.

The government is also working to ensure that victims receive basic materials. Some of the victims were left homeless, and they are staying at their neighbours.

The floods were caused by heavy down pour that hit parts of the northern and western provinces in the night of 11th to 12th April.

Heavy rains busted the banks of Sebeya River. In some parts of the three districts rain water have formed small lakes while heavy clouds are frequent.

Most of the natural disasters that occur in Rwanda are frequent in the districts including; Rubavu, Musanze and Nyabihu districts register.

More than five years ago, the Government of Rwanda scaled up tree planting programmes in a bid to raise forest cover to about 30%.However, More than 80% of the population derives their livelihoods directly from nature and about 36% from agriculture alone.

This realization has been translated into a resolve of the Government to effectively control pollution, conserve biodiversity, and restore productive ecosystems.

However,the ever growing population exerts more pressure on the limited natural resources especially trees as they are a major source of energy, building materials and other affiliated uses.

The rate of harvest of trees is so high and this poses a bigger risk to the ecosystem. Already the change in pattern of rains and weather is being experienced with especially longer drought and floods and landslides.

A new World Bank study on illegal logging reports that a football field of forest is clear-cut every two seconds around the globe and the problem is now a “global epidemic.”

The report estimates that illegal logging accounts for 90% of all timber felled each year, generating between $10 to $15 billion. The report says the logging is mostly controlled by organised crime, and ill-gotten gains are used to pay corrupt government officials at all levels to turn a blind eye.

“Forestry’s criminal justice system is broken. Despite compelling data and evidence showing that illegal logging is a worldwide epidemic, most forest crimes go undetected, unreported, or are ignored,” says the 56-page report released early this week.

“All too often, investigations—in the rare event that they do take place—are amateurish and inconclusive.”

A four-year study in Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and the Philippines — four forest-rich countries — found that the probability of illegal loggers being penalized is less than 0.1 per cent

“We need to fight organised crime in illegal logging the way we go after gangsters selling drugs or racketeering,” says Mr Jean Pesme, manager of the World Bank Financial Market Integrity team that helps countries combat illicit financial flows.

Estimates of financial losses from illegal logging don’t consider “the enormous environmental, economic and societal costs— biodiversity threats, increased carbon emissions and undermined livelihoods of rural peoples,” the report says.

“Large-scale illegal operations are carried out by sophisticated criminal networks, and law enforcement actions need to be focused on the ‘masterminds’ behind these networks—and the high-level corrupt officials who enable and protect them,” the report says.

“Pursuing these important targets through the criminal justice system will require creativity and a clear focus on those criminal justice rules and procedures that prove most effective.”

The report, Justice for Forests: Improving Criminal Justice Efforts to Combat Illegal Logging, says that to be effective, law enforcement needs to look past low-level criminals and look at where the profits from illegal logging go.

By following the money trail, and using tools developed in more than 170 countries to go after dirty money, criminal justice can pursue criminal organizations engaged in large-scale illegal logging and confiscate ill-gotten gains.

The World Bank estimates that illegal logging in some countries accounts for as much as 90 per cent of all logging and generates approximately $10–15 billion annually in criminal proceeds. Mostly controlled by organized crime, this money is untaxed and is used to pay corrupt government officials at all levels.

The new report provides policy and operational recommendations for policy makers and forestry and law enforcement actors to integrate illegal logging into criminal justice strategies, foster international and domestic cooperation among policy makers, law enforcement authorities and other key stakeholders, and make better use of financial intelligence.

Despite compelling evidence showing that illegal logging is a global epidemic, most forest crimes go undetected, unreported, or are ignored. In addition, estimates of criminal proceeds generated by forest crimes do not capture their enormous environmental, economic and societal costs— biodiversity threats, increased carbon emissions and undermined livelihoods of rural peoples, with organized crime profiting at the expense of the poor.

“Preventive actions against illegal logging are critical. We also know that they are insufficient,” said Magda Lovei, sector manager at the World Bank. “When implemented, the recommendations of this publication can have a strong deterrent effect that has been missing in many actions taken against illegal loggers.

“Organized crime networks behind large scale illegal logging have links to corruption at the highest levels of government. The investigation of forest crimes is made even more complex by the international dimension of these operations. Recognizing these challenges, this study calls for law enforcement actions that are focused on the ‘masterminds’ behind these networks—and the corrupt officials who enable and protect them.”

Meanwhile, Brazil stands at a crossroads in its efforts to preserve the Amazon rainforest as the government considers controversial legislation governing land use. For most of the past decade, it has made a dramatic reduction in the rate of deforestation, providing a model of how it could be tackled in other rainforest areas such as Indonesia and Congo.

The Amazon rainforest covers a huge area, roughly half as large as the United States, with about 60 per cent of it in Brazil.

It is estimated that nearly a fifth of the Brazilian forest has been lost since 1970; figures from Brazil’s space research institute, INPE, show that 4.1 million square kilometres (1.58 million square miles) of Brazilian forest were still standing in 1970, compared with 3.35 million square kilometres (1.29 million square miles) today.

Like in many developing nations, there is pressure on the natural environment from commercial and agriculture interests.

According to INPE, in 1995, nearly 30,000 square kilometres (about 11,550 square miles) were cleared — that is an area about the size of Belgium or the US state of Maryland — but in 2011, the rate of loss had been reduced to just over 6,000 square kilometres (about 2,400 square miles).

Last year saw the lowest annual clearance since yearly INPE surveys began in 1988, and Brazil is aiming to reduce deforestation even further to 3,500 square kilometres annually by 2020.

Brazil’s environment ministry credits its success to a combination of support for sustainable activities and near-real-time satellite monitoring of forest regions that allows it to target illegal operations with extra agents.

Additional information (World Bank & Agencies)

A body of a dead mountain gorilla was discovered yesterday in a poachers snare at Virunga Massif . The park rangers found the lifeless primate while conducting an anti-poaching patrol.

Veterinarians from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) performed a post mortem exam on the infant gorilla’s body and found it had an empty stomach and was severely dehydrated, signs suggesting the gorilla may have suffered in the snare for days before dying.

Dr. Mike Cranfield the executive director of MGVP said, “The tragic death of this mountain gorilla at the hands of humans is a blow to all of us who work to protect this critically endangered species.”

Local poachers set snares illegally in the national parks to catch antelope and other forest wildlife for food, but unsuspecting gorillas, especially infants and juveniles, are sometimes fall in the traps.

Antoine Ruvebana the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) has noted that residents in Musanze district have been secured from being affected by a mountain prone to landslides.

Ruvebana says this has been made possible with the collaboration of MIDIMAR and the National Police.

The musanze mountain has reportedly sunk 2meters below its original height.However, Ruvebana notes that his ministry and Police are on high alert ensuring that no citizen in the area is affected by the sinking mountain.

MIDIMAR has also conducted a training workshop involving its stakeholders aimed at increasing awareness about the role of disaster management in national development.

Rwanda’s Hon. Patricia Hajabakiga a law maker at the East African Community Legistilative assembly deserves a pat of her back for moving a Bill on polythene materials control for adoption in all five member states of the regional grouping.

The EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2011 passed in the House late yesterday evening. The Bill pushes closer to an Act of the Community should the EAC Heads of State assent to the same.

The Bill aims at providing a legal framework for the preservation of a clean and healthy environment through the prohibition of manufacturing, sale, importation and use of polythene materials.

Justifying the move to have the regional law in place, Hon Hajabakiga stated that the Bill is intended to control the use of polythenes while advocating the total ban of plastics.

Hajabakiga also notes several dangers of plastics and polythene materials notably soil degradation through burning of wastes, harmful emissions of toxics and the endangering of human and animal lives.

She further indicates that while plastics can be burned, they emit chemicals and the corresponding photo-degradation has consequential impact on human and infrastructure.

Countries such as Bangladesh, Botswana, Israel, Rwanda and France among others have since enacted a similar law, Hon Hajabakiga said.

The Chairperson of the Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources Committee, Hon Safina Kwekwe whose Committee the Assembly mandated to look through the Bill, remarked that the Committee had met various stakeholders in the Partner States during the public hearings.

The meetings were called to create awareness of plastics and visit plastic manufacturers with a view to interfacing with them and suggesting for improvements on the Bill.

In its report, the Committee states that Rwanda which has an existing law in place supported the Bill while requesting for inclusion of a clause on alternatives to polythene materials as well as an incentive programme.

Meanwhile, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) meeting in Kampala also passed key amendments to the Inter-University Council for East Africa Act, giving the body powers to oversee accreditation of tertiary institutions in the region.

Assembly members overruled objections from the council of ministers that had expressed reservations about the amendments which among others, will grant institutions better regional mobility, only to get accreditation from the council to operate regionally instead of multiple applications to individual countries.

Generally, The law will promote, modernise and harmonise EAC university curricula.

Recently a Video clip on Youtube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg2hCuDy2wg) showing a tourist being touched by wild mountain gorillas has captivated more than a million viewers and will likely inspire many travelers to book a trip to visit mountain gorillas themselves.

However, a communiqué from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) “While the desire to connect intimately with one of our closest relatives is an innate reaction, such close contact with this endangered species is not in the best interest of their conservation.

Disease transmission due to contact with humans is a very real problem for mountain gorillas, some of whom have become ill as a result of their proximity to humans. Tourism and the work of scientists, researchers, and other experts with gorillas are absolutely vital to the species’ survival,” the statement read.

For those looking to make a positive impact on mountain gorilla conservation, the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project would like to suggest 10 ways in which you can help:

Trek to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, DR Congo, or Uganda

Without gorilla tourism, mountain gorillas might have gone extinct. The regions where mountain gorillas live are home to the densest human populations in Africa. Most of the people living in these areas are farmers, so land is critical to their livelihoods.

However, the governments of Rwanda, Uganda, and DR Congo have kept the gorilla’s volcano habitat off-limits to agriculture in order to protect the gorillas, largely because the revenue gained through tourism outweighs the value of forested slopes for other purposes.

Gorilla trekking permits are pricey ($400 in DR Congo and $500 in Rwanda and Uganda), but by purchasing permits, you’re not only buying a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with this charismatic species, you’re providing the economic incentive for the gorillas’ protection. Visit the tourism websites for gorilla trekking Rwanda and Uganda.

Do not trek to see gorillas if you are sick

Due to the genetic similarity between humans and mountain gorillas, gorillas are susceptible to many of the same infectious diseases that affect people. Mountain gorillas are also immunologically naïve, meaning they are particularly susceptible to human diseases because of their historic isolation from people.

Research conducted by the Gorilla Doctors and other scientists has proven that mountain gorillas have died as a result of infections that originated in people. Infectious disease, after trauma, is the leading cause of death in mountain gorillas, accounting for 20% of acute mortality. The most common infection is respiratory disease, which can range from mild colds to severe pneumonia.

Stay at least 7 meters away from the gorillas

In order to reduce the risk of disease transmission and to avoid changing or disturbing the gorillas’ natural behavior, the Gorilla Doctors have worked national park authorities to establish the rule of staying 7 meters (21 feet) or more from the gorillas at all times.

The gorillas themselves, especially youngsters, don’t know the rules and may approach humans, but tourists should make the effort to back away and avoid touching the animal if possible. The 7-meter rule should be observed at all times, even when gorillas leave the national park and venture on to property owned by tourist lodges and camps.

Donate to conservation organizations working to protect mountain gorillas

One of the most effective ways to help mountain gorillas is to donate money to organizations working on the ground to conserve the species. Numerous organizations including MGVP have spent decades finding effective methods for protecting mountain gorillas, and most rely on grants and donations to fund their work.

When donating your money to support any cause, it’s important to evaluate the organization you’re considering supporting to determine how successful the group is in carrying out its mission.

You should find the answers to questions like,“What methods does the organization use to accomplish its stated goals?” and “Does the organization have any data or statistics to show that its methods are having an impact?” An organization’s website and annual reports should provide this information, or you can always send an inquiry to their public information or development officer.

MGVP is proud to be the only organization providing direct life-saving medical care to mountain gorillas in the wild. Research has shown that the work of the Gorilla Doctors and the anti-poaching efforts of the park rangers and trackers we work with is responsible for up to 40% of the growth of the human-habituated mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif over the last 10 years.

When visiting the region, do other activities in the parks in addition to gorilla trekking

The vast majority of tourists who visit the national parks where gorillas live spend a day or two trekking gorillas and then leave. However, all of the gorilla parks offer other amazing wilderness experiences. As with gorilla trekking, the revenue earned through these activities further incentivizes the governments and local people to protect mountain gorilla habitat.

You can climb the active Nyiragongo volcano in DR Congo, home to the world’s largest lava lake, or can climb extinct volcanoes in Rwanda and Uganda, such as the snow-covered Mt. Karismibi or the fluted peaks of Mt. Sabyinyo.

Both Rwanda and Uganda offer treks to see golden monkeys (another highly endangered primate), and in Rwanda you may also visit the gravesite and former research station of Dian Fossey. Ask your tour provider about the options available.

Support local businesses and community projects around the national parks

As much effort as the governments and conservation organizations put into protecting the gorillas, the support of the local people surrounding the parks is vital to ensure the preservation of gorilla habitat and the conservation of mountain gorillas. The more that local people share in tourism revenue and benefit from non-profit and community efforts in the area, the more likely they are to want to protect the mountain gorillas.

Tourists can help by frequenting local restaurants, shops, and other businesses, or by making contributions to community projects around the park. For instance, tourists can pay to visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village near Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, which employs former poachers as cultural interpreters and performers.

Don’t buy products made with wild animal parts

While mountain gorillas are very rarely targeted by poachers, other animals living in the national parks where gorillas live are actively hunted. Poachers mostly set snares to catch small antelopes to bring home to their families for food but occasionally larger animals such as buffalo or elephants may be targeted. Gorillas often get caught in poachers’ snares set for other animals.

Poachers presence in the forest disturbs the environment and increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. While the main purpose of poaching is to obtain bush meat, wild animal skins, bones, and ivory may be used in crafts and other items sold to tourists. If you have any doubt about a product’s origins, don’t buy it. And certainly, in the rare instance you may see or hear of someone selling a live wild animal, report it to the national park authorities.

Trek with a tour provider that donates a portion of the trip cost towards conservation efforts

When researching tour packages to see gorillas, consider booking with a provider that directs a portion of their profits to support conservation projects. For example, Terra Incognita Ecotours, which offers 8-day Rwanda tours including a visit with the Gorilla Doctors, donates a portion of the trip cost to MGVP. In DR Congo, you can book packages including permits, transport, and accommodations directly through Virunga National Park, which puts profits right back into the park itself.

Organize a fundraiser

Can’t afford to make significant personal donation or travel to Africa? Organize or participate in a fundraiser to help raise money for mountain gorilla conservation. In the past, schools have raised money for MGVP through bake sales and fun runs.

Travelers and volunteers visiting gorillas in Rwanda have sold gorilla t-shirts to raise money to pay for their trips and make a donation to MGVP. One of biggest our fans even raised $30,000 in donations and pledges by walking 228 miles from Seattle to Portland, Oregon!

Spread the word about mountain gorilla conservation

Anyone can make a difference for the gorillas by telling their friends, family, and colleagues about the mountain gorillas and the efforts being made to save them. Remember that even though mountain gorillas are critically endangered, their story is a positive one! Mountain gorillas are the only subspecies of non-human great ape growing in number.

Fewer than 250 animals were counted in the mid-80s when Dian Fossey was researching the gorillas but today the population numbers nearly 800 animals. This species has a fighting chance for survival if we continue to work to address conservation challenges.

Some government officials have gone forward to promise unrealistic goals of green coverage of the country.

Speeches given in a nationwide campaign with a success of media coverage which started by Member of Parliament within and from East African Legislative Assembly, does not reflect what is on ground.

A random finding from igihe.com which visited one of the Rwanda’s forests in North indicate that Mukura Forest is facing destruction.

The forest which was 3000 ha is now estimated to remaining with only 1600 ha of surviving trees.

The government has set its target of 30% green coverage by the year 2020 planting trees and Mukura forest has not been mentioned anywhere as a priority.

Some trees which planted are sometimes not maintained, and catered for, thus a big challenge to attain the anticipated goal.

Mukura Forest was in the decades ago attached to two biggest forests of Gishwati and Nyungwe and by 1970s it had remained with 3000 hectares, according to the researchers.

Researchers have suggested that today if one visits Mukura forest, will find it located on not more than 1600 hectares as per current study.

It’s location is seating on a land of two Districts of Rutsiro and Ngororero covering Rusebeya and Ndaro sectors.

This is the clear indication for one to say that if nothing is done immediately, this forest may disappear in the near future and thus government not achieving its goal.

Speaking to one of the forestry conservation activist Dancilla Mukakamari, National Coordinator of Association Rwandaise des Ecologistes (ARECO-Rwanda Nziza) confirmed high risks of continued destruction of Mukura forest if no strong measures are taken.

“If no strong measures for the protection of this forest, it will be dried off. As a civil society organization we need assistance from the government, private sector and individuals to ensure protection and create awareness not only to this forest but also to all exotic and indigenous forests located and planted all over the country,” Mukakamari said.

She added that illegal Coltan mining, Eucalyptus tree cutting, and also being unsecure are three major causes of the destruction.

Residents that we spoke to in the area during the visit said that the Coltan mining in the forest is illegally sold to a nearby trading center called Gashubi.

It is also said that over 160 families that had settled in the nearby forests of DR Congo in 1995 have started encroaching Mukura forest due to the shortage of land.

In an interview with Mukura Sector Executive Secretary Jean Batiste Uwihanganye called upon government to prioritise the protection of this forest through provision of forest guards, capacity building and to create a wide range public awareness on the advantages of forests among others.

Serilien Turamye Rutsiro district Forest Officer also called upon the ministry in charge to work a long with ARECO-RWANDA NZIZA to find tangible solution to the problem facing this forest.

The year 2011 was dedicated to forestry by the United Nations under the theme, ‘Forests for People’ in order to celebrate the central role of people in the sustainability of the world forests, habitat for diversity, source of food, medicine and clean water.

Despite the efforts made by the United Nations, Rwanda as well; the policy is to make forestry one of the pillars of national economy playing a role in supporting agriculture, tourism, environmental stability and energy among others.

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Rwanda has achieved a 22.1% of the targeted 30% of the forest cover in the country, Liliose Umupfasoni, the Director of Forestry in the Ministry of Natural Resources(MINIRENA) has said.

This follows the government’s efforts to make forestry one of the key pillars of the national economy in order so as to support the development of agriculture, tourism, energy, food, environmental stability.

Umupfasoni was speaking to igihe.com in a separate interview after addressing participants the workshop that brought all stakeholders on National Forestry Policy Implementation organized by the Association Rwandaise des Ecologistes (ARECO-RWANDA NZIZA).

ERECO-Rwanda Nziza is a civil society organization that is currently conducting national campaign on tree planting.

“We have already achieved 22.1% forest cover in the country, and before the end of the year we will have planted another 1.3% to make it 23.4%,” Umupfasoni said in an interview.

“We have hopes that by the year 2020 we will have achieved our target of reaching 30% forest coverage on the national territory,” Umupfasoni added.

She further noted that her Ministry holds monthly meetings with the stakeholders to discuss on possible ways of reaching the target.

In addition Umupfasoni said that other groups including District Defense officers, Police, Forest officers, Agronomists and civil society organs have been set into all districts and headed by Vice Mayors in charge of Economic Affairs to make follow-ups on the conservation.

Dancilla Mukakamari, National Coordinator of ARECO-Rwanda Nziza told igihe.com that however much the step is appetizing; a lot of efforts are needed to reach the target.
The workshop aimed at discussing challenges facing forests and then find way forward for sustainability.

“We brought together stakeholders, law implementers, and researchers among others to share knowledge and find solution on forest sustainability,” Mukakamari said.
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The year 2011 was dedicated to forestry by the United Nations under the theme, ‘Forests for People’ in order to celebrate the central role of people in the sustainability of the world forests, habitat for diversity, source of food, medicine and clean water.

Despite the efforts made by the United Nations, in Rwanda the policy is to make forestry one of the pillars of national economy playing role in supporting agriculture, tourism, environmental stability and energy among others.

The government of Rwanda set to achieving forestry coverage of 30% of the national territory by the year 2020. This year the government and partners are conducting tree a planting campaign to meet multiple needs.

However,researchers, forestry authorities, civil society organizations, local communities among other stakeholders on forestry policy implementation have shown the low survival of trees planted and that natural forests are being destroyed despite the government plans to achieve the goal thus the question goes; who to blame, and what to do to achieve the percentage?

Speaking to residents in Kidogo, Rilima sector, Bugesera district; Anton Twagirimana said that a lot of trees are planted but the problem comes on maintaining them. He added that in their area, there is a problem of animals that destroy forests.

Twagirimana recognizes the advantages of forests. “In the past years like in 2000, our area had a lot of droughts but ever since the tree planting campaign started, we have really survived because today our plants can grow and we harvest in plenty.”

Rwanda Environment Conservation Organization (RECOR) and the Association of Rwandaise des Ecologiste (ARECO-RWANDA NZIZA) under the assistance of National University of Rwanda recently released a survey that exposed reasons for hindered forestry sustainability.

According to Prof. Esron Munyanziza from NUR who was heading the researchers told igihe.com that one of the major cause; there is over population of both people and animals, and then seasonal factor, and that also sometimes different tree species are planted in different areas where conditions does not favor the.

Dancilla Mukakamari, National Coordinator of Association Rwandaise des Ecologistes (ARECO-Rwanda Nziza) and Campaign Organizer of both ARECO-Rwanda Nziza and Rwanda Environment Conservation Organization (RECOR) the two civil society organs that seem to be more active in planting and maintaining of forests to support the government efforts to sustain the forest sector, is calling upon the public and private sectors, and other civil society organizations, and individuals among other stakeholders to employ much efforts and ensure the government objective is fulfilled.

The recent rainfall has left Nyabogogo-Kinamba-Kacyiru road flooded causing heavy traffic jam and business standstill near bus terminal.

About five hundred meters in length of the road were flooded due to allegedly the place being close to the wetland.

A new income opportunity for young men around the area begun as they begun lifting people on their back to assist them cross the flooded part of the road.

“This road floods and people want to cross to the end and they don’t have a way out, so I offered my service by lifting them and they pay me Rwf 100,” One young man only identified as Musa said.

This follows last week’s Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi’s visit to the area where he instructed the ministry of infrastructure to make terms of reference in one month for experts top carry out a deeper study to solve the flooding problem at Nyabugogo.

According to Bruno Rangira the Kigali city Director of Communications said that technical study to solve the problem is highly needed so as to have a solution once and for all.

Rangira said the study needs to look into aspects of drainage systems, roads and houses being near the wetland and the like.

He estimates that all the work needed to be complimented mid next year.
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