This Thursday July 19th 2012 in the meeting room of Heritage Hotel in Nyanza District, Southern Province took place the Official Launching of Rwanda Woodland Management and Natural Forests Restoration Project and the protection of environment and lands aiming at increasing production and eradication of poverty; a project that is sponsored by the African Development Bank(B.A.D) that works in the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Launching ceremonies were chaired by the Minister of Natural Resources Mr. Stanislas KAMANZI .

The launching ceremonies were attended by different senior officials including the Governor of Southern Province Mr. Alphonse MUNYANTWALI, the Executive Secretary of the Southern Province Madam Jeanne IZABILIZA, Army and Police Commanders in the Southern Province, Districts Executive Secretaries, the staff in charge of the Protection of the environment and forests in all the Districts of the Southern Province.

In his speech, Minister Stanislas KAMANZI highlighted that forests and environment in general have to be given a special care in order to protect the soil from erosion, He insisted on the importance of environment in the economy of the Country and peoples’ lives as around 80% of Rwandese live by Agriculture.

Minister KAMANZI also declared that this project will start in the Districts that have a problem of deforestation especially those that are located in Mayaga region and affirmed that over 8,000,000 of trees were prepared for this particular project and he asked tha: “There should be well defined strategies of following up how these trees are cared for avoiding that any tree should be destroyed avoiding that no tree should be damaged. This project comes to support the already existing initiatives, to promote protection of the environment, forests and soil in general.”

The Governor of Southern Province Mr. Alphonse MUNYANTWALI rejoiced for this project and asked all the participants to take it as theirs, to promote close collaboration in the implementation of this project especially insuring a proper Planning and Monitoring and sensitize the population on the importance of environment and the good use of lands always aiming economical development and good life in general.

Jean Paul BYIRINGIRO

Southern Province