About 23 per cent of national surface covered by forests

In an interview via twitter with Hon. Minister for Natural resources, Stanislas Kamanzi has said that current status of Rwanda forest cover now stands at about 23% of national surface.

Stanislas Kamanzi said that through national afforestation and reforestation programs, Rwanda has committed to a systematic forest landscape restoration initiative which aims at increasing forest cover and protection of natural resources in general

 He added afforestation and agro-forestry programs are planned in each District to achieve the National target of having 30% of national territory covered by forests.

Though good progresses in terms of reforestation were made, there remains room for improvement in some Districts.

“We have been noting cases where forests are mismanaged and even illegally harvested. Districts Districts Task Forces should contribute to have that put to an end” Kamanzi said

One of the ways to address this issue was the establishment of afforestation task forces in level of each district led by the vice Mayors in charge of economic affairs and this occurred starting last year for the season 2011-2012

 After establishment of those task forces, the rate of tree survival after planting has gone much higher than before.