Gasabo: GreenGoal Rwanda Initiative plants over 3,000 trees to restore land

By Elias Hakizimana.

Over 3,000 endangered tree species have been planted on 6.6 hectares of the ‘Uwaruraza’ degraded hillside in Ngara cell, Bumbogo sector in Gasabo district.

The trees were planted on Saturday, November 26, 2022, during Umuganda monthly community activity, with full interventions by the members of GreenGoal Rwanda Initiative, a local organization that promotes and conserve environment and biodiversity through land restoration and tree planting initiatives.

The planted trees fall into five native species namely, Maesa lanceolata, Entada abyssinica, Albizia adianthifolia, Polyscias fulva and Erythrina abyssinica.

Speaking to The Inspirer after Umuganda, Anne Micomyiza, Managing Director of GreenGoal Rwanda Initiative said that the site was chosen to accommodate these trees following its history of land degradation caused by heavy rains and erosion that accumulated the soil.

“We decided to bring this initiative at this site after a cross-checking visit of different areas in Gasabo district; and ourselves as the members of this organization are young residents of this nature. So, with the support of local government, we found it necessary to plant trees on the site and bring it back to life, the soil was accumulated by erosion,” Micomyiza said.

Citizens have also excavated progressive terraces on the Uwaruraza site as a supplementing effort to tackle soil erosion.

She explained that they initiated this programme as university students in Masters of Environment protection to serve an example and share knowledge to other youths.

“In the next five years, we want this site to become a touristic model green area, which will be useful for the community. We also wish that other youths can replicate the initiative in their locations to help us achieve the goals in greening our country,” Micomyiza said.

Uwaruraza site connects Bumbogo sector of Gasabo district to the neighbouring Nduba sector. The site, on its hillside, has been affected by the heavy rains that use to devastate crops.

Velene Nyirahakizimana, one of the citizens in the area said that they struggle to buy fruits at the high cost because fruit trees are few in the village.

“Tree planting is a good initiative, the trees will help to restore our soil, we must preserve them,” she said.

Emmanuel Ngiruwonsanga, another citizen said that they will continue to preserve the planted trees and plant more in the future.

“These trees will contribute to the environment protection, providing us with oxygen and they will be good source of rain,” he said.

The next step

In their long run activities on this site, GreenGoal Rwanda Initiative targets to plant Agroforestry trees including fruits starting from next year 2023.

For the sustainability of the initiative, GreenGoal Rwanda Initiative also plans to provide the citizens with incentives so that everyone gets a tree to plant at home.

“We will continue to collaborate with government entities as well as the citizens to promote ownership of this initiative. We also plan to establish environment clubs in the neighboring school institutions by involving youth and they will help us to preserve trees in this area,” Micomyiza said, adding that they will create more green jobs for youths in the future.

Speaking on behalf of the local authority, Olivier Hakizayezu, Citizen Complain Officer Team Leader of Bumbogo sector appreciated the initiative of Green Goal Rwanda to give them a hand in restoring degraded soil.

“Environment protection is in our responsibilities; this activity is very crucial as our soil used to be accumulated by erosion due to heavy rains. In partnership with our citizens, we will preserve these trees as they play a pivotal role in economic development of citizens and nation in general,” Hakizayezu said.

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