Rwanda has made significant strides in digitalizing ecosystem conservation- regional experts say

By Elias HAKIZIMANA.

Environmental experts from various countries of African region who have been attending the 7th General Assembly of the African Man and Biosphere Reserves Network (AfriMAB) in Musanze district commend efforts by the government of Rwanda in digitalizing ecosystem conservation.

The digital system that has been operational for three years has collected information from around 135,000 biosphere places in Rwanda, according to Mapendo Mindje, a lecturer at University of Rwanda and chairperson of researchers’ team on ecosystem information gathering and archiving in Rwanda.

The computerized system is used for example in payment for ecosystem services and natural capital accounts.

“Three years since this technology was introduced, it helped to gather information on ecosystem in around 135,000 areas countrywide and we continue collecting information using the same technology to serve necessary goals in the country,” Mindje says.

The week-long general assembly of ecosystem, environmental scientists-experts, academia and other players in biodiversity conservation embarked on the role of every actor in achieving sustainable ecosystem restoration.

Marlene Chikuni, Ecosystem expert from Malawi says that digital technology helps tourists who visit Rwanda to enjoy the beauty of the landscape as one of the major steps the country made in protecting the ecosystem.

“This technology is very important, many people come to visit Rwanda and enjoy the beauty of its landscape and ecosystem with many touristic attractions, I can say like Gorillas, it is indeed a result of the efforts invested by the country in ecosystem preservation, it adds value to human lives with their harmony with them; I learnt that Cleanliness matters a lot in Rwanda from everywhere and it is a good step in the preservation of the environment,” Chikuni said.

Ir. Dominique Mvunabandi, Director of Sciences, Technology and Innovations Unit at CNRU reiterates that digital technology helps decision makers to further restore ecosystem.

“If this research is done in the protected buffer zones and shows the species of animals, it helps to identify those at risks of disappearing and what species need special conservation. The information is gathered and handed over to concerned entities who make decisions, so they use it to make evidence-based decisions in protecting ecosystem,” Mvunabandi says.

Rwanda and CoEB were recommended to conduct regular monitoring of ecosystems as it is paramount for tracking changes over time. A need for sustainable financing scheme to support daily center’s activities, staffing and projects as well as Scaling up the Rwanda Biodiversity Information System (RBIS) to other biosphere Reserves of the Region were also recommended as the assembly closes on May 6, 2023.

One of the several recommendations given to AfriMAB is to support disaster risk reduction in biosphere reserves in Africa by developing cooperation between the MAB Program and other UNESCO programs involved.

Rwanda has committed to increasing the resources and funds spent on biodiversity preservation and restoration from the current 0.5-0.9 percent to 2 percent of the national GDP in line with the global goal to double the percentage of GDP spent on biodiversity preservation and restoration. The country is also committed to preventing particularly those that are most at risk of extinction and restoring species of ecological importance.

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