We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment thus we don’t have to be aware only of the empty space in the forest, which only yesterday was filled with trees that’s why On the 26th December 2016, The Ministry of natural resources (MINIRENA) in partnership with The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) and the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority (RNRA) organized a National Tree Planting Campaign to make a massive awareness on Landscape Restoration using sports.
“Forests are sources of clean air”
The 26th campaign started with the tree planting on the roads at the special economic zone, the second activity of the day was a football match between the most popular team in Rwanda Rayon Sports F.C and Bugesera F.C.
Before the beginning of the match the captain of Rayon Sport F.C, Mr. Jean Luc NDAYISHIMIYE on behalf of the teams addressed a message to the spectators asking them to protect the environment by planting trees and encouraged everyone present to protect the environment.
The tree planting ceremony was made during the half time of the match and was attended the following dignitaries:
- The Minister of MINIRENA, Honourable Dr. BIRUTA Vincent,
- The Minister of defence (MINADEF), Honourable Gen. KABAREBE James,
- The Mayor of Kigali City, Mrs MUKARULIZA Monique,
- The President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, Mr BAYIGAMBA Robert,
- The Vice Mayor of Kigali City, Mr BUSABIZWA Parfait,
- The IUCN regional technical coordinator, People and landscapes programme Mr. ROBERT Wild.
- The IUCN regional coordinator forests and landscape restoration, Mr. Charles KARANGWA.
- The President of Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA), Mr NZAMWITA Vincent De Gaulle,
- The President of Rayon Sports F.C Mr. GACINYA Chance Denis.
- 2 Team captains.
The activities of this campaign are underway where the second wave of the campaign will take place in Gatsibo, with volleyball competitions. Prior to the competitions, the public will participate in tree planting of 5, 000 seedlings.
The third event will take place in Gicumbi where a handball competition for both men and women is to be organized, again a total of 5,000 seedlings will be planted during this event.
The first day of the campaign in photographs:
Honourable Minister of defence (MINADEF), Gen. KABAREBE James.
The IUCN technical coordinator, People and Landscape programme addressing his speech to the audience.
Trees were planted in the box.
