FORESTRY IN RWANDA

By

Munyansanga Frederic
Beijing, April 2008
1
 Introduction
• The forests are among importante natural resources in
our country for environement protection and bring
solutions to many problems for rwandan population
(building house, cooking,medecines, food,…).

• More than 96% of rwandan population use products from

forest. For exemple now the forests are covering 20% of
national land against 26% in 1993 and the area covered
by natural forest has reduced on 65% during last 40
years. That is why some policies, strategies and
activities are planed in order to increase , to protect and
to give value to our natural and planted forests.
 Presentation of Rwanda
• Location in East central Africa between four neighbors
countries ( Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Burundi and Tanzania)
• Resources: from mining, agriculture and tourism
• Total Area:26.338 km2;
• Population:8.500.000 ;
• Density:324 Hab./km2;
• 80% of populations are famers(susbstance)
• Total of forests:532.260 Ha;( 20.2% of national land
cover)
Plantations: 310.960 ha
Natural forests: 221.300 ha
 Problems of forests in Rwanda
• Overexploitation
• Disorder in harvesting
• Mismanagement
• Degradation of forests
• Les land of reforestation
 Policy
I Objectives

• Increasing and diversification of national forestry resources

Improvement of the management of forestry resources

• Improvement of sensitisation

. Valorisation of the forests and its products;

. Development of the research for forestry and agroforestry;

.
 Cont

Improvement of the capacity for the public forestry institutions;

Evaluation of the contribution and services from forestry sector in

the national economy;

Enhacement of the sub-regional and international cooperation in

the forestry resources;

Integration of the gender dimension in the forestry activities.

 STRATEGIES

• Increasing of Afforestation;
• Diversification of tree species especially tree with high
value;
• Promotion of forest biotechnology;
• Promotion of economic stoves and using biogaz in
cooking;
• Capacity building and training of people;
• Protection and Rehabilitation of existing natural forests.
• Cooperation with regional and international organisation
• Elaboration of National forestry magagement Plan
• National forestry law
• National forestry policy Tools
• Regulation ( Permit of tree cutting, permit
of transport of tree products,..)
• 2020 Vision ( national forestry cover :
30%)
 Conclusion
• The climat in Rwanda allows growing of
various species of trees. We have to
increase the forest cover and improve the
management of the exisiting resources by
respect of national forest management
plan and all existing tools.
Thank you