Today, the 17th National Cross-Sectoral Task Force (CSTF) meeting took place at the prestigious Lapalisse Hotel in Nyamata, Bugesera district, bringing together various representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations, civil society, academia, the private sector, and development cooperation agencies with a focus on validating and upgrading CSTF terms of references, synthesizing existing forest landscape restoration and sustainable food and agriculture practices, and developing a future action plan

The meeting, marked by determination and shared commitment to environmental stewardship, commenced with Dr. Concorde Nsengumuremyi, Director General of the Rwanda Forestry Authority, citing and unpacking pressing issues, such as shocks of climate crisis and biodiversity loss, resonating not only in Rwanda but worldwide.

Addressing the audience, Dr. Concorde expressed a sense of urgency and commended Rwanda’s commitment and dedication to forest preservation and biodiversity enrichment. He added that the nation aims to increase and maintain 30% of forest cover by 2024, positioning it as a leader in global environmental initiatives.

"Forest and landscape restoration (FLR) represents a beacon of hope, signaling a collective journey towards ecological balance and human prosperity. Realizing this vision requires concerted efforts from diverse stakeholders," he underscored.

Ongoing initiatives such as Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation (TREPA) in the East, Community Based Biodiversity Conservation (COMBIO) in the East, Large-scale Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in Africa (AREECA) in the East, Green Amayaga in the South, and Green Gicumbi in the North, demonstrate Rwanda's multifaceted approach to ecosystem restoration. To add further to that, there are projects in the pipeline including Forest Investment Program (FIP) in the South including Gakenke district, and Congo Nile Divide targeting 10 districts including Karongi, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Nyamasheke, Rubavu, Rusizi, and Rutsiro in western Rwanda, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru in the South, and Musanze in the North further underscore the country's commitment to enhancing livelihoods, restoring biodiversity, increasing agricultural productivity, and bolstering climate change resilience.

Established after an international workshop in Kigali in June 2015, the Cross-Sectoral Task Force has since served as a pivotal platform for coordinated activities in forestry landscape restoration and sustainable food and agriculture. Each annual meeting addresses critical issues such as land degradation, deforestation, erosion, and biodiversity loss, reflecting Rwanda's proactive stance towards safeguarding ecosystems and promoting sustainable development.

Acknowledging the link between healthy food systems and landscapes Dr. Concorde emphasized the need to prioritize sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture amidst challenges posed by agricultural intensification, climate change, and soil erosion. Aligning forest landscape restoration efforts with agricultural investments assumes paramount importance, echoing sentiments expressed during previous cross sectoral task force meetings.

He concluded his remarks at the 17th CSTF meeting encouraging everyone to remain on the frontline in putting into effect enhanced coordination, knowledge sharing, and working hand in hand, urging stakeholders to unite in pursuit of sustainable forest and landscape restoration and resilient agriculture leading to harmony between human and nature.