In 2011, Rwanda was the first country in Africa to pledge to restore forest landscape as part of the Bonn Challenge. Later, the country demonstrated its leadership through the highly successful African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100).

Although Rwanda’s commitment to increasing its forest cover to 30% by 2020 was impressively ambitious, the country has surpassed the milestone to 30.4% for its Vision 2020 blueprint.   In an effort to sustain and increase Rwanda’s forests cover and their protection, Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), districts of Kirehe and Nyagatare through AREECA project planted 1500 agroforestry tree species and distributed improved cooking stoves to 500 families in need.

This activity is one of many planned by the Rwanda Forestry Authority and its partners for the joint week of celebration of International Day of Forests, World Water Day and World Meteorological Day, which run from March 21^st March to 26^th March 2022.

Rwanda Forestry Authority' s Acting Director General,Spridio Nshimiyimana participated in agroforestry tree species planting

In his remarks, the acting Director General of Rwanda Forestry Authority, Spridio Nshimiyimana, stated that this activity of distributing improved cooking stoves aims to help citizens understand the role of protecting forests by using improved cooking stoves as one of the methods of reducing deforestation rates.

"We are now experiencing effects of climate change because people did not pay much attention to the forests. To avoid and reduce these consequences, everyone must understand his or her role in protecting forests, which, as we all know, are vital to our daily lives. Today, we distributed these improved cooking stoves to emphasize the importance of using other alternatives in cooking to save forests." said Spridio Nshimiyimana

The AREECA project is on course to restore the ecological functionality and biological productivity of the landscapes of the districts of Kirehe and Nyagatare to enhance its ability to adequately meet multiple objectives including biodiversity conservation, climate change resilience and better livelihoods. 

The 4 years’ project is funded by the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). 

A total of 25000 ha is being brought under restoration through the direct implementation of restoration measures in Nyagatare and Kirehe districts. This is being implemented in partnership with Rwanda Forestry Authority, IUCN, RWARRI, districts and local communities through an integrated landscape community approach.

500 Improved Cooking Stoves were distributed in Kirehe and Nyagatare Districts

Rwanda Forestry's Acting Director General Spridio Nshimiyimana distibuting Improved Cooking Stoves