The theme of this year’s Environment Day, which is “Your planet needs you unite to combat climate change,” sensitizes people to be active agents in sustainable and equitable development through changing attitudes towards environmental issues.

Removing water hyacinth from lakes is one of the activities during the environment week. (file photo)

Stanislas Kamanzi, the Minister of Natural Resources, explained that the activities this week include water conservation through storage and proper usage of rain water, sensitizing Rwandans on finding alternative sources of energy that have no or less environmental impact such as biogas and liquid petroleum gas, tackling pollution from old cars, planting of trees and containing soil erosion, use of recyclable materials as well as advocacy on partnerships to protect the environment.

Kamanzi said that the week begins with community work aimed at protecting River Akanyaru through planting of bamboo trees to reduce soil erosion. At Lake Muhazi, water hyacinth will be removed to be processed into charcoal. The activity will be performed in partnership with local authorities, youth living in districts surrounding Lake Muhazi as well as other organizations.

“The aim is ensure that all Rwandan water bodies are protected from soil erosion,” Kamanzi said.

The Minister further highlighted some of the achievements of the past years such as the protection of Lake Kivu, Ruhizi swamp in Western Province, as well as Cyohoha and Ruhondo lakes in Bugesera district. Soil conservation through establishing terraces has also been on the program.

Concerning alternative sources of cooking fuel, Minister Kamanzi said that Rwanda has enough peat which can be used instead of firewood. However appropriate technologies are still being looked at so that t can be used in household for cooking.

“Apart from peat there are programs of promoting the use of biogas, especially in rural areas through the one-cow-per-family project,” Kamanzi added.

As regards the war against polythene bags, Kamanzi pointed out that despite the political will of the government to fully ban their use, there is still some resistance from people who are slow to change their mind set.

“So far the progress has been good,” the Minister said, “but we are yet to achieve our prime target of fully stopping the use of polythene bags.”

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