AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Officials say unselective species of trees have been planted across Kigali - the capital of Rwanda - and other towns around the country with no regard to international standards for urban forestry.
It is against this background that the government has embarked on formulating a policy, which will complement the Kigali City Master plan and the national green-growth agenda.
This is so property developers also get to plan for urban afforestation while putting into consideration specific species of trees to grow in cities and towns.
Vincent Biruta, the Minister for Natural Resources, says that as Rwanda strives to increase Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) across the country, the government is equally mindful about mitigating carbon emission in urban areas, hence looking at urban forestry as key leverage to meet this target.
Biruta made the remarks during deliberations on policies and opportunities for sustainable economies, at a two-day Africa High-Level Bonn Challenge Roundtable meeting which concluded in Kigali. The meeting brought together more than 50 environment leaders and experts from over 20 African countries that have demonstrated leadership on forest landscape restoration, as well as delegates from international organisations supporting these endeavors.
Streamlining urban forestry
Biruta’s comments were echoed by Rwanda Environment Management Authority's (REMA) acting director general Eng. Colleta Ruhamya, who noted that a policy to streamline urban forestry is being worked on, and is expected to come into force in the near future. “The new procedure originates from the study that was conducted which shows what would be planted in urban areas,” Ruhamya told The New Times in an interview.
“We have been planting just any kind of trees; everybody plants tree species they are interested in but we need to know the appropriate trees to be planted in urban areas, at which length and, of course, their benefits,” Ruhamya added.
Ruhamya said the new campaign to promote specific trees in urban areas, is aimed at producing more oxygen which would meet high carbon emission in urban centres. “When you are in Kimihurura and then move to the Kiyovu area (which has many trees), you will definitely feel the difference. Kiyovu is cool and the air around that area is so fresh… that’s the feeling we need to have throughout the City of Kigali,” she said.
Biruta made the remarks during deliberations on policies and opportunities for sustainable economies, at a two-day Africa High-Level Bonn Challenge Roundtable meeting which concluded in Kigali. The meeting brought together more than 50 environment leaders and experts from over 20 African countries that have demonstrated leadership on forest landscape restoration, as well as delegates from international organisations supporting these endeavors.
Streamlining urban forestry
Biruta’s comments were echoed by Rwanda Environment Management Authority's (REMA) acting director general Eng. Colleta Ruhamya, who noted that a policy to streamline urban forestry is being worked on, and is expected to come into force in the near future. “The new procedure originates from the study that was conducted which shows what would be planted in urban areas,” Ruhamya told The New Times in an interview.
“We have been planting just any kind of trees; everybody plants tree species they are interested in but we need to know the appropriate trees to be planted in urban areas, at which length and, of course, their benefits,” Ruhamya added.
Ruhamya said the new campaign to promote specific trees in urban areas, is aimed at producing more oxygen which would meet high carbon emission in urban centres. “When you are in Kimihurura and then move to the Kiyovu area (which has many trees), you will definitely feel the difference. Kiyovu is cool and the air around that area is so fresh… that’s the feeling we need to have throughout the City of Kigali,” she said.
