KIGALI, Rwanda - Two decades ago, coinciding civil wars and genocide, the landlocked tiny East African country Rwanda also witnessed large scale destruction of its forest cover and ecosystem.
To revive the green cover and prevent land erosions, the country has now launched an ambitious six-year initiative called Green Amayaga Project, worth $32.7 million to promote biodiversity and also help agriculture productivity to benefit 1.3 million Rwandans.
Under this restoration drive, authorities are planning to plant 8 million trees.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Project Coordinator Philbert Nkurunziza said, a drive to plant 1.4 million trees is already underway, expected to complete by next year.
“The tree seedlings to be planted are all produced locally within the established tree nurseries in the project intervention zones. Around 700,000 trees are being planted every month,” he said.
Supported by the Global Environment Facility and the UN Development Program, the officials said the project will improve the livelihoods of local communities, increase agricultural productivity and food security.
The government drive of reforestation has also given a flip to the businesses of local nursery owners like Michel Munyemana, 45, who grows seedlings of different tree species in the Gasabo district in Rwanda’s capital Kigali.
