A new coalition initiative that gathers together five Non-Governmental Organizations Red Rocks Initiative for Sustainable Organization in Rwanda, VeryNile in Egypt, Uganda Junior Rangers and Green watch in Uganda and Association Burundaise pour la protection de la Nature in Burundi, was launched in those above mentioned five countries. Red Rocks Organization launched the event at the River Mukungwa on September 18, 2021 to protect the river from environmental problems.
The Nile Coalition event was initiated and supported by One Earth One Ocean (OEOO) and VeryNile to protect the river from Environmental Problems. as a product to achieve United Nations SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 14 (life below water).
The Red Rocks Initiative Nile Coalition event took place at Mukungwa River which flows into Akagera up to Lake Victoria, where organization members and communities planting Bamboo’s trees which are water-friendly along the river.
Among the activities also were cleaning of the river from all garbage’s in particular plastic garbage’s within the river and on the river banks, increasing community and public awareness raising on environmental conservation and the prominence of water conservation and its essence to nature as well as boosting community and public awareness on using Banana Backs seed bags that are soil Friendly and biodegradable while planting trees.
The Nile Coalition event on the River Mukungwa attracted Local Leaders, community members and Organizational Volunteers but with limited number of 30 people due to COVID-19 guidelines as advised by local administration on the participant’s number and other preventive measures like social distancing and face mask wearing.
During the event, 525 trees were planted and 315 tree seedlings were given to the communities along the River Mukungwa to plant them on their gardens adjacent to the river also.
Garbage Correction from the River Mukungwa after the tree planting
Speaking at the end of the event, the founder and chairperson of Red Rocks Initiative for Sustainable organization Greg Bakunzi thanked the participants at the launching ceremony for the time devoted to the event regardless of other commitment that were left undone back home where he urged the citizens and local leaders to join efforts by ensuring protection and follow up of the planted trees together.
Mr. Kamana Theophile, the Projects Field officer mentioned some types of water friendly trees like bamboos (S.A Vulgaris) that have been planted along the River Mukungwa and other variety of trees in botanic names like Vernonia, Amygdaline, Erythrina Abysnica, Sesbania Sesban Etc., Red Rocks Initiative will supply to the community to continue protecting all water bodies in particular Mukungwa River to make it green, not brown as it has been looking before.” Kamana said.
Kamana said that this initiative was introduced after finding that plastic bags are banned worldwide especially in the entire Rwanda. “This came after multiple analyses that sometimes the debris of the plastic bag burns the microorganism, where most plants were produced and sold in conventional, petroleum-based plastic containers made from nonrenewable resources.” He noted.
Garbage Correction from the River Mukungwa after the tree planting
Red Rocks initiated the idea of switching from petroleum-based plastic containers to an eco-friendly alternative which is a highly visible means to meet consumer demand for sustainable products while capitalizing on a consumer’s willingness for eco-friendly products, by introducing eco-friendly alternative containers “Igihoho seedbag”.
“These seed bags are made out of banana barks and are biodegradable and can often be decomposed and are suitable for soil conservation, since these plant pots decompose and fertilize the garden while it decomposes to add nutrients to the soil.
Garbage Correction from Mukungwa River after the tree planting
The above collected garbage’s are separated depending on Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable in the above garbage collection center where some are used as fertilizers while other are taken by recycling companies for recycling purposed” Muhinda Charles, Projects Manager in Red Rocks Initiative for Sustainable Development Organization, explained.
RWANYANGE Rene Anthere
