The Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA), in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN) under the auspices of the AREECA project, has embarked on an endeavor to furnish 1000 households in Kirehe and Nyagatare districts with improved cooking stoves. This initiative is poised to fortify the communities' resilience against climate change while addressing the degradation of deforested regions in eastern Rwanda. With a strategic vision aimed at rehabilitating at least 350 million hectares of forests and agricultural lands by 2030 worldwide, the project endeavors to foster environmental sustainability across the region.

A beneficiary of the enhanced cooking stoves expressed profound gratitude, stating, "I am overwhelmed with joy! Words cannot fully convey my appreciation for this stove. I pledge to cherish this gift and redouble my efforts in safeguarding forests."

The distribution of these cooking stoves serves as a catalyst for farmers, including participants in AREECA's agroforestry and woodlot initiatives, to embrace eco-conscious cooking practices. By curbing the consumption of biomass fuel, mitigating deforestation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigating health risks associated with traditional cooking methods, the initiative aims to deliver substantial positive outcomes.

Damien Maniriho, Agroforestry Ecosystem Specialist at RFA, elucidated, "We are providing improved cooking stoves to farmers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to environmental stewardship, particularly through tree planting and conservation efforts in hilly and degraded terrains. We implore you to cherish these assets, as they are pivotal in alleviating the impacts of climate crises."

Recipients of the cooking stoves are encouraged to assume ownership of the equipment and actively engage in environmental conservation and biodiversity preservation at the grassroots level. Through responsible usage and maintenance of their cooking stoves, they can make meaningful contributions to environmental sustainability and instill a culture of ecosystem preservation within their communities.

William Munyaneza, Executive Secretary of Nasho Sector, expressed gratitude to the government of Rwanda and acknowledged the steadfast commitment of the Rwanda Forestry Authority to environmental stewardship. He noted that the afforestation efforts have revitalized the green landscape in Kirehe district, enhancing climate resilience. The AREECA project, alongside the cooking stove initiative, has been instrumental in achieving these milestones. He pledged continuous collaboration with farmers and the Rwanda Forestry Authority to uphold the achieved progress.