SOME SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS OF RWC:

·     Among the first activities that were carried out between January and October 2001 was the opening up Wildlife/Environmental Clubs in schools and high institutions of learning and setting up of an agroforestry program in schools, where by tree nurseries were established and the trees transplanted to the communal villages of Musange of the Butare Municipality Butare Province, at National University of Rwanda in Butare, at Green Hills Academy in Kigali, at Remera Academy in Kigali, and at Kigali Parents School.

·     This project was funded by the International Wildlife Coalition-USA, and planting activity in Kigali was assisted by the National Office for Tourism and National Parks-ORTPN, while transportation of trees and university students to Musange Communal Village in Butare was funded by UNR-Rectors office (University Vice Chancellor’s Office)

·     RWC made another big agro-forestry project between February and November 2002 in Butare. This project was supported and financed by the Government of Rwanda thru the Province of Butare, the National University of Rwanda, Butare Municipality and the World Agroforestry Center-ICRAF provided technical assistance.

·     Those trees marked the opening of the National Tree Day 2002 with the presence of the Minister of State for Forestry (currently the Cabinet Minister of Lands, Environment, Water, Forestry and Natural Resources) and were planted in the two communal villages of NYANZA and NGOMA in Butare.

·     RWC  in partnership with ICRAF made a National survey of the national agroforestry program and the national shade coffee project since 28^th  JULY  to 9^th AUG 2003: It was aimed at getting the views and inputs of the Districts and concerned people as required by the national decentralization policy and  the world bank procedures. Involving beneficiaries in the project formulation, elaboration and implementation. It was carried out in the Rwandan coffee zone, mainly eight provinces of Gisenyi, Kibuye, Kigali Ngali, Gitarama, Butare, Cyangugu, Kibungo and Gikongoro:  This was done in collaboration with the office of the Minister of state for Forestry. And basing on this survey a national Shade Coffee Project was developed an the Government of Rwanda submitted it to the Global Environment Facility-GEF

·     RWC  Co-organised and participated in the Butare Provincial Level National tree week activities, November 2003: Where thousands of trees were planted along side Butare-Gikongoro road about 15 KM and was officiated by the minister of state for Water and Natural Resources with a high level government delegation and Provincial authorities. With significant contribution of the army brigade in Butare

·     RWC Participated in the Formulation and Validation of the NATIONAL FORESTRY POLICY from 29-30^th JULY 2003 KIGALI Hotel NOVOTEL Umubano, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and forestry (then) - MINAGRI, where agroforestry was adopted as a main component in helping reforestating Rwanda, trees on farm strategy.

·     RWC represented by its President also Participated in the preparing of  the (UN CBD COP 6) United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity – Convention Of Parties (COP 6 of April 2002 in the Netherlands), from the  BEPAONLINE.ORG. These inputs served as the WORLD CONSERVATION UNION’s (IUCN) main stand

·     RWC Participated in the Preparation of the  NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WEEK 2002, on 21st  May 2002 , at the Ministry of Lands, Environment, Water, Forestry and Natural resources MlNITERE-Kigali

·     RWC Co-organised GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY in RWANDA: Where we planted agroforestry trees and fruit tress in the Genocide widows village of KIMIRONKO Kigali and this was officiated by the Youth member of Parliament, and also for the first time Civilian Youths mixed up with the Army in activities and matching against AIDS. Between 26-27 April 2002.

·     RWC Organised University Level ENVIRONMENT WEEK ACTIVITIES 2002: Where the National Office for Tourism and National Parks and the DIAN FOFFEY-Karisoke Research Center-DFGFI, presented on environmental conservation and tourism promotion, btn June 3rd –7^th 2002, at the National University of Rwanda in Butare.

·     RWC Participated in the Butare Municipality’s,  Environment week Activities on 31^st May 2002, in which we were able to clean a dumping area in the town center-Rwabayanga, which is prone to soil erosion and can cause the town to break into two parts.

·     RWC’s president was nominated by the Rector/Vice Chancellor of the National University of Rwanda, for participation and consideration in the award of the United Nations Environmental program’s UNEP SASAKAWA ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE 2003. And this nomination represented the whole National University of Rwanda. This was in consideration of the great work RWC has done so far in environmental protection.

·     RWC carried out a Feasibility Study for the Integrated Natural Resources Management Project in Ruhengeri Province’s areas surrounding Volcanoes National Park-home to the Endangered Mountain Gorillas between 8^th-13^th Feb 2004: It was financed by the International Gorilla Conservation Program-IGCP. And this was done in collaboration with the National Office for Tourism and National Parks-ORTPN.

·     RWC participated in the HILLSIDES MANAGEMENT workshop of the World Bank’s RURAL SECTOR SUPPORT PROJECT-RSSP of the Ministry of Agriculture, IDA CREDIT no 3483 RW, at La Palise Club-Kigali on 12^th/5/2004.

·     RWC conceptualized and made TEN projects for Hillsides management of Marshlands under the program of the World Bank’s RURAL SECTOR SUPPORT PROJECT-RSSP of the Ministry of Agriculture, IDA CREDIT no 3483 RW, which have been approved and now in implementation by the districts and local population. They were developed between May and July 2004.

                                Kiruhura District.

Gitarama Province: Ntongwe District.

Umutara Province: Kahi District and Umutara Municipality.

Kibungo Province: Rukira District and Kibungo Municipality.

Byumba Province: Humure District.

The projects will help in controlling soil erosion on those hillsides before the marshlands management for sustainable agricultural production. We are using agroforestry techniques and specifically Progressive terracing as a tool.

·     RWC participated and presented a paper: Agroforestry the Only Savior to Rwanda’s Environment Problems at the Eastern Africa Environment Network Annual Conference in NAIROBI-KENYA between 14^th-15^th May 2004.

·     RWC Participated and represented Rwanda in the United Nations Environment Program’s AFRICA ENVIRONMENTAL OUTLOK for Youth, Sub Regional Workshop for Eastern Africa, at Makerere University- Kampala Uganda between 10^th- 12^th June 2004

·     This project is intended to create avenues in which the population can mutually co-operate for proper sustainable utilization of the country's natural resources.      
By basing in the local community and strengthening the local community based environmental education while sensitizing the local authorities, the local population and as well training local people as local technicians on environmental conservation, eco-tourism and   agro forestry techniques.

·     RWC is also participating in the implementation of the ICRAF’s ( DM 2003 Rwanda Award) Development Marketplace of the World bank 2003, Project no. 000790, titled: Zero Grazing Dairy for Small Farmers Rural Rwanda.

This project is intended to raise incomes of farmers in the poorest section of Rwanda by introducing  zero grazing dairies and progressive terracing techiniques.

Its working in 6 Povinces which are:

In Umutara Province-Murambi District, Kigali Ngali Province- Nyamata District, Gisenyi Province-Gisenyi Municipality, Gitarama Province-Gitarama Municipality, Gikongoro Province-Mudasomwa District, Butare Province-Nyakizu District (Gishyanvu) and Gikonko District. 

Period: March 2004-)

RWC’s President made a poster presentation in the FIRST WORLD AGROFORESTRY CONGRESS, which took place in Florida USA between 27^th June- 3^rd July 2004.

It was titled, Agroforestry Efforts in Rwanda. It pulled much support to Rwanda’s environmental efforts.

N.B, The Poster was presented by Ms ELIZABETH PASEK, RWC’s supporter in USA.