The acting Director General of Rwanda Forestry Authority, Spridio Nshimiyimana visited the Ibanda-Makera gallery forest, where the Tropical Montane Forests in a Warming World (TMF) project is conducting an experiment to assess the suitability of 20 native tree species for forestry plantation in Rwanda and their sensitivity to warmer climate.

During his visit, he was informed about this project, which is funded by University of Gothenburg, Sweden since 2016 and was formerly implemented by RAB prior to the transfer of forestry and agroforestry research to Rwanda Forestry Authority.

“The primary goal of this study is to identify the different native tree species that will be affected and unaffected by rising temperatures. As the temperature rises, we have seen that several native tree species are in jeopardy of extinction; as a researcher, we would like to identify some of them that will survive and what kind of management for these that are threatened by increased temperature.” Said Bonaventure NTIRUGULIRWA, Forest Productivity and Improvement Researcher in Rwanda Forestry Authority

Aside from the research activities, the results will assist the country's environment sectors, notably the forests.  The entire region where Rwanda is located will also benefit from the findings, because suitable different varieties of native tree species will be available for them.

Different native tree species planted by TMF project for the experiment

Ibanda-Makera gallery forest is made of savanna trees, shrubs and bushes, swamps and big trees through which Makera stream flows. The activities of restoring this forest that was said to be a home to several types of wild animals like lions, monkeys, snakes, chimpanzees, wild pigs, antelopes, leopards and birds are undergoing.

In this context, Spridio Nshimiyimana, Acting Director General of Rwanda Forestry Authority, joined Mpanga Sector authorities and citizens to plant native tree species to the area as forest enrichment and forest restoration. In his remarks; he appreciated the project’s activities and urges the locals to protect natural forests, particularly native trees, for they are so vital to people's livelihood.

 “Native trees species are so important in lives because some of them are source of medicine, but not only that but also tree and forest provide fresh air for breath, and they are source of rain which makes crops grow as well as biodiversity conservation. As you have seen, Government has invested more in this project in order to identify the trees that will be suitable for this area. The rivers we daily see should not exist unless there are no forests. ” said Acting Director General of Rwanda Forestry Authority, Spridio Nshimiyimana

Acting Director General of Rwanda Forestry Authority and citizen in native tree planting

He also calls the people to think twice about the forests.

“As we plant trees in a sustainable manner, we should also consider how we can protect them sustainably by using improved cooking stoves, but if you see someone damaging trees, you must ask him or her to stop such activities." Added the Acting Director General of Rwanda Forestry Authority

The Ibanda-Makera gallery forest, which presently occupies 169 hectares, is undergoing restoration work, with some animals having returned. Different measures have been put in place by the government to restore the ecosystems and kinds of native tree species in eastern province, where various initiatives are currently underway and others are scheduled to begin.

Acting Director General, Spridio Nshimiyimana visited beekeeping cooperative

Ibanda-Makera natural forest  which is under restoration