The Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA), the government’s statutory body charged with management of the environment, has validated an environment sub-sector strategic plan to cost over $67 million.

The REMA Director General, Rose Mukankomeje told APA that the five year strategic plan was in the interest of national priorities and emerging global challenges to cope with the effects of climate change.

“The plan has four specific objectives which include, restoration of regulatory functioning of the ecosystems, rehabilitation of the critical eco-systems, putting of appropriate mechanisms for climate change adaptation, mainstreaming of the environmental sustainability principles in national policies, and ensuring pollution control and management,” she said.

The program is expected to be financed by the national budget and the sector-budget fund on top of commitment from development partners.

Mukankomeje said Rwanda had mapped out the critical eco-systems noting watersheds and swamps that had affected water levels and the supply of hydro-electricity in the country.

Human activities have greatly affected watersheds and swamps ; many swamps have been reclaimed for agriculture while rivers are silted, in all, water levels have dropped and electricity supply affected, she adds.

According to REMA chief, Rwanda enacted an environmental law which protects the swamps and the biodiversity but implementation has been limited by lack of land for cultivation.

This she said will be handled through sensitization and capacity building for people to find other means to survive and break away from dependence on agriculture.

“There is a political will to protect the environment but there is also need to have alternatives to agriculture practices, which this plan will ensure,” Mukankomeje said.

The environmental plan is meant to meet the Millennium Development Goal 7 aiming at environmental sustainability.

Though the country emerged successfully from the conflict that climaxed in the 1994 genocide, it is still faced with numerous challenges like institutional and human resource capacities, a vulnerable population of orphans, widows, disabled, landless, and HIV/Aids victims.

The country’s resources are strained by re-settling of returnees and refugees from neighboring conflict-stricken countries like Burundi and Congo.

Rwanda ranks among the poorest countries with 60% of the population living in absolute poverty. Majority of the population survives on agricultural practice.

The United Nations Human Development Index 2009 ranked Rwanda 167th out of 182 countries.

Source African Press Agency

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