• A wildlife conservation body has delved headlong into the restoration of natural habitats in Rwanda.
  • Trees are important natural elements, and this organization has chosen to massively plant Rwandese indigenous tree species.
  • Natives are working closely with this organization on this rigorous tree-planting program.

Since 2017, the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA) has been vigorously executing strategic tree-planting episodes across numerous sites in the east African country of Rwanda, and fundamentally, emphasis has been placed on planting native trees to preserve the region’s biodiversity.

The non-governmental body, on this vital mission to restore the country’s native trees, in addition to its reforestation efforts, is also championing a conservation initiative targeted at the protection of the Grey Crowned Crane and other vanishing wildlife spaces in Rwanda. The organization, through this program, is working towards protecting and restoring natural territories.

               

The organization, on the 29th of March, marked five years of re-establishing habitats for wildlife and people alike. The event took place at Umusambi Village, Masaka, and involved a visit to RWCA’s indigenous tree nursery and seed storage facility at the place and a restoration site situated in Rwamagana District, adjacent to Lake Muhazi. The site is 8 hectares of land and was restored in 2018 in partnership with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

According to the Habitat Restoration Manager at RWCA, Cecile Kayitanirwa, the site had been used as farmlands previously, though, the land’s occupants were interested in working with RWCA to plant assorted native trees to avert their extinction. Kayitanirwa mentioned that the neighboring community cooperated with RWCA in planting and taking care of the trees. This collaborative effort has profited the community by providing employment for different individuals and also enhancing the growth of trees, indigenous trees especially.

                 

At RWCA, the attention concentrates on growing trees rather than just planting them. The body identifies the importance of cultivating, nourishing and nursing the trees as they progress, while also promoting community ownership. Expanding on the program’s essence Kayitanirwa said “we prioritize planting indigenous trees because they are unique to Rwanda and are currently facing threats of extinction. Therefore, our goal is to restore these trees so that future generations can witness their natural beauty and potential uses. Moreover, indigenous trees play a vital role in providing a habitat for animal species and serving as a source of food and medicinal benefits for the community. These trees are also crucial in preventing soil degradation by holding the soil in place.”

So far, RWCA has successfully restored about 60 hectares of land, including 35 hectares of forest and 25 hectares of wetland. The organization has employed over 500 casual workers and about 14 guards at their sites. They have planted about 75,000 trees from over 40 different species.

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