Rwanda has officially kicked off its national tree and forest planting season for the year 2025-2026. The event brought together government officials, local leaders, and residents in a nationwide effort to restore ecosystems and enhance the country’s green cover
Minister of Environment, Dr. Arakwiye Bernadette, together with the former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Samuel Dusengimana, Mayor of the city of Kigali, joined residents for Umuganda, the country’s monthly community work initiative.
Dr. Arakwiye stressed that trees restore ecosystems, purify air, yield fruits, and stop soil erosion. She also noted that Rwanda had attained 30% forest cover and advocated for everyone to manage and protect every tree they plant.
The Mayor Dusengiyumva again affirmed that until the year 2029, the city will be engaged in tree planting with a target of 3 million trees and maintains that proper care of these trees is very crucial for the growth and sustainability of the environmental impact.
Former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn expressed his delight in joining Rwandans in ecosystem restoration efforts and pledged to personally follow up on the trees he planted to ensure they thrive.
Alone, 2000 trees were planted at the launch site. Trees in the urban environment help beautify the city, provide shade, mitigate noise, and are an important climate-change-resisting factor.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva has joined the citizens of Karongi District for Umuganda, reaffirming the Government of Rwanda's commitment to large-scale tree plantation Dr. Nsengiyumva also called on Rwandans to maximize the use of every available plot of land for cultivation and to apply fertilizers to help the country achieve its target of increasing agricultural productivity by 50%. At Muciro site in Rugabano Sector, over 5,000 trees were planted as part of the campaign.
IUCN Rwanda joined the Ministry of Environment, the City of Kigali, and locals in the monthly Umuganda to kick off the national Tree Planting season in Rwanda for 2025-2026. Under this initiative, IUCN has supported TREPA and COMBIO projects, which will enable tree planting in seven districts of the Eastern Province.
The theme of this year’s national tree and forest planting season is: “Igiti cyanjye, umurage wanjye” (“My Tree, My Legacy”).
Written By: Jean Bernard MUKUNDENTE