3million new bamboo trees to improve Rwandans’ health, wealth

Elias Hakizimana Jan 30, 2022Sep 23, 2023 0 Comments

By Elias Hakizimana.

Rwandans will benefit from a new inaugurated Chinese project implemented by East Africa Bamboo Forestry Industry Limited, a Chinese company that will plant 3 million bamboo trees on 2129 hectares in Rwanda over the next three years.

The initiative is a long-term Chinese investment with an agreement with the Government of Rwanda that committed to provide the land of 2129 hectares located on the boundaries of lakes.

Successful implementation of this project will play a pivotal role in environment protection, reduction of greenhouse gases as well as fight against climate change.

The official launch of the project took place on January 28, 2022 in Musenyi sector, Bugesera district, Eastern Province around Cyohoha lake.

**Vulgaris mature yellow bamboo forests that are grown around Cyohoha Lake in Musenyi sector, Bugesera district./Photo by Elias Hakizimana.**

Rwanda currently grows yellow bamboo forest in several areas of the country, which are useful for furniture production and environment protection.

Speaking during the official launch of the program, Spridio Nshimiyimana, Ag.Director General of Rwanda Forest Authority said that bamboo trees are among forest tree species that need to be protected following their vast role in human nature and wealth.

He said that the current project is under the Government of Rwanda’s target to privatize 80 percent of its forests by 2024.

“This project is one of the move and is among those that got long term-agreement. East Africa Bamboo Forest Industry Limited will help us to harvest and process the current mature yellow bamboo trees that are planted on 179 hectares. The new 3 million trees will be planted on the boundaries of the lakes located in six districts namely Bugesera, Rwamagana, Ngoma, Rulindo, Nyarugenge and Kicukiro.” Nshimiyimana said.

He added that the project will give bamboo tree seedlings to government entities and citizens in order to expand areas that host these environmental friendly tree species.

(Right-Left, Spridio Nshimiyimana, Ag.Director General of Rwanda Forest Authority with the governor of the Eastern Province Emmanuel Gasana in the official launch of bamboo tree planting on January 28, 2022.

“The Government of Rwanda chose East Africa Bamboo Forestry Industry Ltd as an experienced company in this sector to help benefit the country and citizens. We expect to have many bamboo materials that will be useful in this country.” He added.

Richard Mutabazi, the mayor of Bugesera district said that the initiative will help to protect environment and biodiversity around 9 lacks we have in the district. These trees will contribute to the reduction of floods that used to ravage plantations and kill fishes in lack Cyohoha. We will plant plenty of them and follow on their growth. The project will also help to teach citizens about the benefits of protecting environment.” Mutabazi said.

**Richard Mutabazi, the mayor of Bugesera district during the interview with the press./Photo by Elias Hakizimana.**

The newly introduced bamboo tree species will be produced into various materials such as office and toilet papers, clothes, furniture and food.

According to the representative of the ministry of environment, existing vulgaris bamboo species in Rwanda are not of good quality.

He said that the Ministry will continue to mobilize funds to sustain the initiative.

Ting Kuo Yu, the Chairman of East Africa Bamboo Forestry Industry Limited confirmed that the five year project will leave 3 million bamboo trees planted and will cost Rwf300billion of which Rwf5billion will be invested in citizens’ employment over the next five years.

**Ting Kuo Yu, the Chairman of East Africa Bamboo Forestry Industry Limited speaking to the media./Photo by Elias Hakizimana.**

“Within the first five years, we will be using existing mature bamboo trees grown in Rwanda while waiting for the new planted trees to grow up. We will establish various processing factories that will produce packaging papers, toilet papers and furniture.” Yu said.

Employing citizens

The project will employ around 30,000 citizens.

Jean de Dieu Ngezahayo, 37, a citizen from Musenyi sector who is employed by East Africa Bamboo Forestry Industry Limited said that these trees have a significant role as they reduced floods that could ravage fishes from the neighbouring lake Cyohoha.

“The company gave me a job where I can earn between Rwf2000 and Rwf2500 per day some times when there are tasks to do with bamboo trees. We can also find fishes from this lake because the trees prevented floods from taking out the soil to overflow the lake.” Ngezahayo said.

Francois Sinamenye, 44, is a father of two children from Rugarama village, Musenyi sector in Bugesera district who also got a job in this project.

**Francois Sinamenye carrying in hands a bamboo tree seedling during the official launch of the East Africa Bamboo Forestry project.**

“This bamboo trees project helped us to cope with hunger crisis as we got employed and get some amount of money to buy food during the bad season of low crop production. We get money every two days, earning between Rwf2000 and Rwf2500. We get fishes from the lake and it helps fighting malnutrition. The trees also are good for environment, the wind is a good source of rainfall.” He said.

Séraphine Mukanyangezi, another citizens from Nyagihunika cell, Rugarama village said that the bamboo trees generate oxygen that help crops around the Lake Cyohoha to grow. The initiative is a source of employment for us as neighbouring citizens. We can use the money we get from this project to buy pesticides for our crops around here.”

China has 3000 years’ experience in growing and processing bamboo trees with around 100 kinds of products. The new planted species on Rwanda’s land can generate a tree of 20 to 40 cm³ of volume once they have grown up.