BY ALEX NGARAMBE

The Rwandan government is in advanced stages to allow Rwandans to own nature reserves around the country which has previously been a preserve of government and this will help boost conservation nature and commercialize this for business purposes.

According to the ministerial order, Rwandans and foreigners who are now interested in conservation, and who meet requirements, can now own nature reserves in Rwanda, after being granted a license from a competent authority.

This move will help create concerted efforts between government and private individuals in order to conserve and protect environment, plants and animals’ species in Rwanda.

Rwanda has been hailed to have taken serious steps in protecting the environment especially when it comes to its zero tolerance to use of polyethene bags and single use bottles.

The Government of Rwanda has announced an ambitious climate action agenda that features a 38% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to business as usual by 2030, equivalent to an estimated mitigation of up to 4.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e).

A nature reserve is a piece of land owned by a State or a person set aside for the purpose of preserving certain animal or plant species to ensure overall protection of the environment and sustainable production.

This moves to own nature reserves in Rwanda comes to enable the implementation of the law passed 2023, governing national parks and nature reserves.

the law provides that a person may own a nature reserve subject to a license provided by the authority, adding that an order of the minister [in charge of national parks and nature reserves] determines modalities, requirements and stages for a person to own a nature reserve.

Environmental conservation refers to the act of saving our natural resources through careful management. Examples of ways to conserve our environment include reducing waste, saving trees, recycling domestic and industrial wastes and using renewable resources.

However, Rwanda still faces environment challenges regardless of all the efforts in place and these include relying heavily on rain-fed agriculture, a sector highly sensitive to climate fluctuations. Rwanda faces various natural hazards, including flooding, landslides, and droughts. Since the early 2000s, the frequency and severity of these disasters have escalated significantly.

Rwanda has invested in climate change initiatives such as Rwanda green fund where this fund has invested in over 35 projects, creating jobs, improving access to clean energy, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The fund has also helped establish Rwanda's first e-waste management facility and contributed to the country's e-mobility industry.