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Rwandans urged to halt destruction of forests

    NAIROBI

    The scale of deforestation problems, and the associated degradation of land, has prompted the minister of state for forestry, Thaddee Habiyambere, to urge Rwandans to stop the destruction and protect forest resources. Nyungwe forest in southwestern Rwanda had been destroyed by gold-mining in the area, while Gishwati forest in northwest Rwanda had shrunk from 28,000 hectares in 1960 to 3,800 hectares in 1996, RNA news
    agency quoted Habiyambere as saying. The main reasons cited for forest depletion were encroachment for farming, settlements, fuel, mining and construction activities. Mining would be suspended in forest areas "until proper procedures are put in place to avoid the destruction of forests", Habiyambere announced. He added that a massive programme would be
    undertaken to sensitise Rwandans on the importance of protecting forests.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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