Geography

Topic area
  Human and Economic Geography
Sub-topic area
  Economic activities
Key unit competence
By the end of this unit, you should be able to investigate impact of forests and forestry on sustainable development in Rwanda.
Unit objectives
By the end of the unit, you should be able to:
• Define forest and forestry.
• Identify the major forested areas of Rwanda.
• List the factors influencing forest exploitation.
 • State different methods of lumbering in Rwanda.
• Give the importance of forests and forestry in Rwanda.
• Outline the products of lumbering in Rwanda.
• Identify the problems affecting forest exploitation in Rwanda.
• State the causes and effects of deforestation in Rwanda.
• State the measures for forest conservation in Rwanda.

Forest and forestry

Activity 12.1
Study the photograph shown below and answer the questions that follow.
                     
A forest is a group of trees growing together either naturally or artificially in a given area. It can also be defined as an area covered majorly by a variety of trees and undergrowth. There are natural and artificial forests. Natural forests grow on their own, while artificial forests are planted by humans.

Forestry is the science or practice of planting, managing, and caring for forests. It involves conservation and scientific management of forests where exploitation and conservation are balanced to ensure sustainability.

Rwanda has 660,351 hectares of forested area. This accounts for 25% of the country’s total land area. There are about 257,500 hectares of protected natural forests and approximately 402,851 hectares of artificial forests.

Forestry contributes to only about 0.6 % of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) according to MINAGRI 1998. The high demand for wood and timber in Rwanda is supplemented by imported wood from Democratic Republic of Congo

here are forested areas that are under conservation. They include the following:
 • Akagera National Park
• Nyungwe National Park
• Birunga/Volcanoes National Park
• Gishwati Forest
• Mukura Forest
• Gallery Forest of Eastern Province

The major forested areas in Rwanda and their characteristics

Activity 12. 2
Work in pairs.
 1. Name areas in Rwanda where forests are found.
2. Classify the forests into either natural or artificial.
 3. Describe the characteristics of the forests you have identified.
4. Discuss the importance of the forests to Rwanda.
 5. Give reasons why it is necessary to conserve them.
6. Write down your findings and present them in a class discussion.

Forests in Rwanda are grouped into two:
(a) Natural forests
The following are examples of such forests in Rwanda:
(a) Nyungwe Forest
(b) Gishwati Forest
(c) Mukura Forest
 (d) Cyamudongo forest
(e) Birunga Forest
                  
(b) Artificial forests
These types of forests are very common along the slopes of the hilly areas of Rwanda.
                    
Natural forests of Rwanda
(a) Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest is a high-altitude, montane tropical rainforest that is situated in the Southwestern part of Rwanda. It borders Burundi to the south. The forest is the largest mountain rainforest in East and Central Africa. It contains over 13 different species of primates.
 It is one of the wellpreserved and protected montane forests in Africa. The location of Nyungwe Forest places it between the watershed of the basin of the River Congo to the west and the basin of the River Nile to the east. The eastern part of the forest is believed to be the source of the Nile.

Nyungwe Forest was established as a mountain reserve in 1933. It attained a National Park status in 2004. The forest covers an area of approximately 970 km² of rain forest, bamboo, grassland, swamps and bogs. The nearest town is Rusizi which is 54 km to the west of the forest.

Characteristics of Nyungwe Forest
(a) It is the largest montane forest in East and Central Africa.
 (b) It has a very rich biodiversity with a variety of flora and fauna.
(c) It has more than 200 species of trees and a wide range of flowering plants.
 (d) It is located on a rugged terrain.
(e) It receives heavy rainfall throughout the year.
(f) Nyungwe Forest experiences a temperature range that is between 00 -300 C with an average temperature of about 15.50 C. (g) It experiences two climatic seasons.
There are marshy areas in the lowland areas of the forest.
(i) It has a large canopy that limits sunshine from reaching the forest floor.
(j) It has little undergrowth due to little or no sunlight reaching the ground.
(k) It has evergreen vegetation.
(l) The trees and other plants have broad leaves.
(m) The trees grow tall to about 30-50 metres high.
The forest produces hard woods.
 (o) There is a wide variety of creeping plants.
                   
(b) Gishwati Forest
 This is the second largest indigenous forest in the country. Currently, it is a protected area. Gishwati Forest is located to the northwestern part of Rwanda. It is found in the Western Province.

Characteristics of Gishwati Forest
(a) It has various tree and shrub species with a wide variety of indigenous hard woods and bamboo trees. (b) The trees in the forest grow very tall.
 (c) It is located on an altitude of about 2669 metres above sea level.
 (d) It occupies part of the Congo-Nile divide and the Albertine Rift.
(e) Gishwati Forest is a protected area.
(f) It suffered serious deforestation in the past 50 years.
                 
(c) Mukura Forest
This forest is located in the north-west part of Rwanda. It covers an area of about 12 km² . It is the smallest forested area in Rwanda. It used to be connected to the Gishwati and Nyungwe Forests in the past. However, due to intense deforestation the three were disconnected. A big part of the forest was destroyed. This caused the destruction of its biodiversity.
                            
Characteristics of Mukura Forest
(a) The forest is located on an elevation of about 2600 metres above sea level.
(b) It has scattered trees towards the edges of the forest.
(c) The forest experiences an annual temperature of 15°C.
(d) It is located in the western side of the Congo Nile crest.
(e) It receives annual rainfall total of about 1500mm.
(d) Birunga Forest
The Birunga Forest is found in the Northern Province, in Musanze district of Rwanda. It is located near the volcanic mountains found in the area. It is home to the mountain gorillas. It has a wide variety of tree species and other vegetation. The forest covers a land area of 7,800 km²

The characteristics of Birunga Forest
(a) It has a wide range of biodiversity.
(b) The forest contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes.
(c) Mountain gorillas live in the forest.
(d) The forest is also home to about 258 different species of birds.
(e) The vegetation types of the Birunga Volcanoes are diverse and vary with altitude.
 (f) The forest is thick with different tree
This is a small forest located in the Western Province of Rwanda in Nyamasheke district, Nkungu sector near Nyakabuye town close to the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. It is located on a high elevation area that is about 1924 metres above the sea level.

Characteristics of Cyamudongo Forest
 (a) The forest has a dense canopy that hardly allows the penetration of the sun-light to reach the forest ground.
 (b) There is dense vegetation with little undergrowth.
(c) The forest has a wide range of tree species.
(d) It has many climbing trees.
(e) The trees are very tall.
(e) Cyamudongo Forest

(f) Akagera Forest
The Akagera Forest is located in the Eastern Province of Rwanda, in Nyagatare and Gatsibo districts. This forest is a conserved area and one of the national parks in the country. It has a variety of trees and wild animals that attract thousands of tourists.
Characteristics of the Akagera Forest
 (a) The forest has deciduous trees. The trees shed their leaves to reduce transpiration because of drought.
(b) The trees in the forest have thick barks to keep moisture.
 (c) There are hardwood tree species in it.
(d) Trees are averagely short and tend to grow to between 0 –12 metres in height.
(e) The trees have Y-shaped branches.
 (f) Valuable tree species are scattered.
             
Artificial forests of Rwanda
Activity 12.3
Work in pairs.
Study the photographs provided below and use them to answer the questions that follow.
                 
                
Artificial forests are planted by humans. They include; forests on Mount Kigali and the Arboretum of Ruhande in Huye district.

Task 12.1
1. Name the natural forests in Rwanda.
2. (a) Define an artificial forests.
    (b) Give examples of the artificial forests found in Rwanda.
3. Outline the distinct characteristics of Cyamudongo Forest.

Factors influencing forest exploitation
 Case study
John Richards is a European who decided to spend his summer holidays in Rwanda. While in the country, he visited various areas. He was very pleased by what he saw. He wrote this down in his note book: Rwanda is a country that is so rich with flora and fauna. The country’s geography is wellbalanced. Its climate is good. The drainage is good and the infrastructure is well developed. The Eastern Province is made up of savanna grasslands with the beautiful bushes and thickets in Akagera National Park. The northern region beautifully rolls with hills and mountains that are covered by evergreen trees. The forests offer a home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The Nyungwe Forest has tall trees that almost reach the heavens. The wonderful canopy walk was a great experience. Rwanda’s people are warm and very hardworking. There is a lot of potential for exploitation in the forests of this green land of a thousand hills. I will definitely come back here.
 (a) Account for the variation of the plant cover of Rwanda witnessed by John.
 (b) Identify the forested areas that are mentioned in the story.
(c) Name the forest resources that are available for exploitation.
 (d) Explain the factors that influence the exploitation of forests that have been mentioned by Mr. Richards. (e) Evaluate the importance of forest resources to the country of Rwanda.
(f) Present your findings in a class discussion.
Forest exploitation refers to the careful, planned and well managed harvesting of trees in forests for the utilisation of timber, wood fuel, medicinal plants and other forest products. There are physical and human factors that influence the exploitation of forests. They include the following:

Physical factors
(a) Climate
 Areas in Rwanda that have evenly distributed and reliable rainfall and moderate temperatures favour the growth of forests thus their exploitation. The Northern and Western Provinces of the country are densely forested due to the favourable climate that is associated with the areas. On the other hand, the unreliability of rainfall and high temperatures in the Eastern Province does not favour the growth of trees that can yield timber.
(b) The relief of an area
 Relief refers to the general appearance of the landscape of an area. Mountainous areas in Rwanda especially those at 1000 metres above sea level have dense forests. This is due to the occurrence of relief rainfall which is abundant on the windward side of the mountains. This factor has favoured the forests in Musanze area where dense forests are present. The landscape is however very different in the Eastern part of the country where there are lowlands, little rainfall and scarce vegetation.
 (c) Presence of humidity
 Areas with high humidity such as those near lake shores experience convectional rainfall. The rainfall supports the growth of trees that form forests.
(d) Presence of forests
Exploitation of forests depends on their presence. In Rwanda, there are few forested areas. The few forests that are there are conservation areas and are thus protected.
 (e) Tree species
There are limited tree species of high value in most forested areas of Rwanda. The few available are scattered and locating them is difficult. This has created the need to plant forests that have the tree species of high value in order to meet the demands of the timber industry in the country.
(f) Drainage
In some areas of the country, exploitation of forests is affected by the marshy nature of the valleys which are found in forests such as in Nyungwe. Forests in such areas are not easily accessible. Areas with good drainage are easily accessible and support the exploitation of forests such as in the highlands of Gicumbi district.
                           
Human factors
(a) The availability and nature of the labour force
 The exploitation of forests in Rwanda is widely affected by the scarcity of labour. This greatly affects the sustainable utilisation of forests and their resources.
 (b) Availability of adequate capital
This factor is at the centre of forest exploitation in Rwanda. Large amounts of capital are required to purchase the in puts and to pay the workers. Since there is a scarcity of capital, exploitation of forests is on a very small scale.
(c) Level of technology
The level of technology related to forest exploitation in Rwanda is steadily improving. Technology determines how much forest resources are exploited and how they are extracted. In places with less technology, the exploitation is still crude and the yields equally poor.
                              
(d) Government policy
The government of Rwanda has developed policies that aim at conserving and protecting the forested areas. Through government interventions and authorisation, forest exploitation can only be done in a sustainable manner.
(e) Transport and communication
Most of the forested areas in Rwanda are located in rugged and heavily mountainous areas. Accessing these areas and transporting the already harvested trees is difficult. This negatively affects forest exploitation.
(f) Availability of markets
There is a wide market for forest products in Rwanda and its neighbouring countries. This demand for timber and other forest products encourages the exploitation of forests.
 (g) Research
The government and private agencies have conducted a number of research studies to find appropriate ways of ensuring sustainable utilisation of forested areas of Rwanda. The research activities support forest exploitation in a sustainable manner.
Population levels
The high and ever increasing population of Rwanda creates the demand for timber and other forest products thus influencing the exploitation of forests.
 (i) Political stability
The development and growth of the industry is attributed to stability and security that Rwanda enjoys. Exploitation of forests goes on without fear since there is a relatively assured sense of security against criminals.
Lumbering/ forest exploitation in Rwanda (methods of lumbering)
Activity 12.4
Your teacher will organise for you a field study visit to one of the major forests in Rwanda. In groups of five find out;
1. The process of lumbering practiced in the forest you have visited and in the country at large.
 2. Describe how each of the lumbering methods is done.
 3. The importance of lumbering in the forest visited and in the country at large.
4. Write down your findings and discuss them in a class presentation.
Lumbering/ forest exploitation in Rwanda (methods of lumbering)
Activity 12.4
Your teacher will organise for you a field study visit to one of the major forests in Rwanda. In groups of five find out;
1. The process of lumbering practiced in the forest you have visited and in the country at large.
 2. Describe how each of the lumbering methods is done.
3. The importance of lumbering in the forest visited and in the country at large.
4. Write down your findings and discuss them in a class presentation.

Lumbering refers to the act of extracting timber and logs from the trees in a forest for commercial purposes. The exploitation of forests in Rwanda is strictly regulated due to the significance the Rwandan government and Rwandans themselves attach to the forests. In the quest to conserve and protect the environment, there are licensed companies and cooperative societies that are allowed to practice lumbering under strict supervision by the government agencies.

A majority of Rwandan citizens are only involved in small scale lumbering. They use simple machines like the hand saws and axes.

The Process of lumbering in Rwanda
Activity 12.5
In groups, use the photograph provided below to answer the questions that follow.
1. Discuss the lumbering methods used in Rwanda.
2. Describe the activity that is taking place in the photograph.
            

The methods of lumbering used in Rwanda are discussed below.
 (a) Identifying specific trees to be cut.
 (b) Felling
This is concerned with the cutting down of trees
(d) Yarding or dragging
This is the transportation of logs to a collecting centre.
               
However, as a regulation by the Rwanda Bureau of Standards, it is mandatory that workers put on protective clothing such as brightly coloured helmets for protection and detection.
(c) Bucking
 This is the cutting of the felled trees into logs so as to enable transportation or extraction of timber from them.
                   
(d) Yarding or dragging
This is the transportation of logs to a collecting centre.
(e) Loading
The logs and timber are carried and loaded onto trucks and taken to sawing mills and furniture makers.
Task 12.2
1. Discuss the factors that influence forest exploitation in Rwanda.
 2. Explain the process of lumbering.
Importance of forests and forestry in Rwanda
Case study
Read the following report extracted from the Rwanda State of Environment and Outlook Report chapter (vi). Use it to answer the questions that follows.
Opportunities from the forest sector
 Forest ecosystems provide goods and services such as wood for fuel and construction, water catchment protection, water purification, tourism, non-timber forest products such as medicinal plants, honey and materials for handicrafts.

The national economy
 At present, the contribution of the forestry sector to the national economy remains unknown and existing statistics from past years underestimate the contribution of the forestry sector to the national Gross Domestic Product. However, in 1991, the National Commission on Agriculture reported that despite the importance of forest plantations, their contribution to the Gross Domestic Product as recorded in the national accounting system was only 1.9 per cent in 1987. In the same vein, the Food Security Strategy and Action Plan of 1997 points out that the total contribution of agriculture to the Gross Domestic Product was in the order of 36.6 per cent of which silviculture represented only 0.6 per cent.

Energy
Wood remains the main source of domestic energy for more than 90 per cent of Rwandans. In 1997, wood fuel consumption was estimated to be at 7.1 million m3 of wood. Approximately 5 per cent of this volume was consumed by the small scale industries. Charcoal is usually used in towns and its annual production was estimated at 46,000 tons, 80 per cent of which were sold in Kigali (MINAGRI 1998).
(a) Identify and explain the importance of forests mentioned in the above report.
(b) Examine other positive contributions of forests to Rwanda that are not mentioned in the above extract. (c) From your own knowledge and observations of your local environment, do you think forests are important? Explain your answer.
 (d) The government has invested a lot in the conservation and protection of forests. Justify this statement.
The following are some of the reasons forests and forestry are important in Rwanda.

(a) Employment opportunities
 Forestry offers employment opportunities to people both directly and indirectly. Examples of people employed in the sector include loggers, foresters, rangers, technical personnel and saw millers. Table 12.1 shows the number of people employed in the sector.


(b) Source of water catchment areas
 Forested areas are also water catchment areas. They are sources of most of the rivers in the country. For example, the Akagera River has its catchment in the Nyungwe Forest. Forests further provide the water purification systems hence enabling the availability of clean and safe water for use.
 (c) Raw materials
There are a number of raw materials that are obtained from the forests. They include poles and timber that are needed in the furniture making industry and the construction sector. Other materials used in art, craft and medicine are also obtained from forests.
(d) Protection of soil against erosion
 Forests hold the soils together making them strong enough to resist erosion. Erosion causes soil degradation and a reduction in soil fertility. The tree branches absorb the force of the pounding raindrops and hence reduce the occurrence of splash erosion.

(e) Source of revenue to the government
 Many people and companies that are involved in forest exploitation pay taxes to the government. The revenue collected supplements other government’s sources of revenue that are used to develop other sectors of the economy.
(f) Home for wildlife
There is a wide variety of flora and fauna that are found in forested areas. Forests support a host of biodiversity. Different plant and animal species are found in the forests.
                
(g) Source of medicine
Forests have trees, shrubs and other vegetation that are traditionally used as medicine. Other herbs are used in the manufacture of conventional medicine such as quinine, which is used in the treatment of malaria.
Foreign exchange
Though not many forest products are exported, the few that are sold outside Rwanda, such as furniture, enable the government to earn foreign exchange.
(i) Tourist attraction
The economy of Rwanda is greatly supported by tourism. The forests, the birds and the wild animals in them are all tourist attraction sites. Tourists bring foreign exchange to the country and also facilitate the development of other infrastructure like hotels, lodgings, roads, air transport facilities.
 (j) Research and studies
 Forests assist students and other researchers to conduct various studies on forests and forestry. Learners in higher institutions frequently carry out fieldwork in forested areas.
 (k) Art and craft
 There are many art and craft items that are made in Rwanda. The raw materials used are obtained from the forests. For example, wood carving entirely depends on the wood obtained from forests. Some of these art and craft items are part of the Rwandan culture.
                             
(l) Modification of climate
To a great extent, forests are responsible for the climate of the areas in which they are found. The role of forests in the hydrological cycle and in the cleaning of the atmosphere is very key.
(m) Source of food
There is a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that grow wildly in forested areas. They supplement the food requirements of humans.

Products from lumbering in Rwanda
Activity 12.6
Work in pairs.
1. Define lumbering.
2. Name some of the areas in Rwanda where lumbering takes place.
3. Identify the products obtained from forests that are used in your school.
4. Other than the products identified in (3) above, identify other products obtained from lumbering in Rwanda.
5. Write down your findings and discuss your work in a class presentation.
Below are the some of the products that are obtained from lumbering in Rwanda:
• Timber (lumber)
• Poles used for fencing, building and telecommunication and electricity
• Sawn wood
• Plywood
 • Veneers
 • Particle board
 • Fibreboards
• Fuel wood (firewood and charcoal)
The above products are used to create other products. Below are some examples of the items that are made out from lumbering products.
• Construction or building materials.
 • Furniture items.
• Bridges.
 • Boats.
• Musical instruments such as violin, guitar.
• Sports equipment (hockey sticks, tennis bats).
 • Used in flooring houses in the form of tiles.
 • Fences.
 • Art and craft to make decorative items such as carvings.

Problems affecting the forest exploitation/lumbering in Rwanda
Activity 12.7
 Work in pairs.
 Using the Internet and knowledge obtained by observing your local environment;
1. Find out the challenges that affect forest exploitation in Rwanda.
2. Suggest the solutions or control measures that can be put in place to deal with the challenges identified. 3. Write down your answers and share them in a class presentation.
There are a number of problems that affect forest exploitation in Rwanda. They are discussed below.
(a) Poor technology
The exploitation of forests in Rwanda is still carried out by people who use simple tools such as hand saws and axes. The output of this hardly meets the ever increasing demand for forest products. Poor technology therefore translates to the use of poor equipment and hence poor output.
 (b) Inadequate skilled workforce
There is a general lack of professionals in the lumbering and wood processing sectors. The use of unskilled workers has contributed to the waste of forest resources and production of substandard products.
(c) Reduced forest resources
The forestry sector is threatened by the increasing demand for wood and its products. This has left many forested areas bare. The population of Rwanda is increasing. Due to its rural nature, with people earning low incomes, they only use wood as the source of energy. The people also clear forested areas to create space for settlements. The end result of this has been reduced forests and their resources.
                                    
(d) High demand for wood products
This has come as a result of the increasing population which has put pressure on forest resources. The wood products are needed in the construction of buildings and furniture making industry.
 (e) Mismanagement of forest plantations
Forest managers have mismanaged the forests by failing to regulate the rate at which trees are harvested against their replacement. This happens a lot in the planted or artificial forests, which are the main source of wood.
 (f) Poor grading and treatment standards
 This is a serious problem that affects lumbering and forest exploitation in Rwanda. The parties involved in forest exploitation have limited knowledge on how they can add value to their products. This makes their products substandard.
(g) Poor statistical data related to wood production
Forest exploitation in Rwanda is supported by the private forest plantations that are owned by individuals and private timber dealers. Most of them do not keep records of their operations due to lack of both entrepreneurial and scientific knowledge and skills. This has been an obstacle to the planning and monitoring systems of the country with regards to forestry.
Fire outbreaks
There are frequent fire outbreaks that have always claimed large hectares of forested lands especially in the Akagera National Park and in the private forest plantations in Gicumbi. These leave behind the trees that are stunted and of poor quality. This mostly occurs during the dry season.
 (i) The need to develop tourism
 Since most of the natural forests in Rwanda are under protected areas, they are regarded as tourist attraction sites. Sometimes the tourists erect tents inside the forests in the process destroying young immature trees. At other times, they cause forest fires.
 (j) Animals, pests and disease destruction
Wild animals such as monkeys sometimes destroy young trees. The high population of animals such as buffaloes in national parks threatens the trees in the forests. During the dry season, they overgraze and end up feeding on young trees thus destroying the forests. Pests like caterpillars and termites destroy the leaves and barks of trees creating defects in the wood. At other times, diseases attack the trees drying them before they mature.

(k) Long maturity periods
Most of the indigenous tree species that yield hard wood take too long to mature. This makes it difficult for people to plant them since they prefer growing trees that mature quickly and can be harvested as fast as possible.
 (l) Competition
 There is high competition from other wood producing countries. The most competitive wood and wood products come from the DRC. The wood from there is hard and of good quality. It is therefore better than the locally produced wood in Rwanda. This reduces the demand for local wood processed by the lumbering sector of Rwanda, affecting the local businesses.
 (m) Inadequate capital
There is a shortage of the required capital to be used in developing the wood extraction and forestry industry. Most of the people engaged in forest exploitation are middle and low income earners who do not have much capital to offer.
Poor transport and communication facilities
The forested areas and forest plantations are located in areas where roads are poorly developed and impassable during the rainy season. In some parts, roads do not exist at all especially in rural areas. Where roads are better, the operators are faced with lack of suitable trucks designed to carry and transport timber.

Task 12.3
1. Discuss the importance of forests in Rwanda.
2. Highlight five problems that effect forest exploitation in Rwanda.

Deforestation
Activity 12.8
Work in pairs.
Study the following photograph provided and use it to answer the questions that follow.
                             
1. Describe what is happening in the picture shown.
2. Give reasons why people cut down trees in Rwanda.
3. What are some of the effects of cutting down trees to the country?
4. Relate the situation shown in the picture with other areas in Rwanda.
5. Suggest conservation measures that can be observed to ensure that the trees in the forested areas are conserved.
6. Discuss the importance of conserving forests.
7. Present your findings in a class presentation.
Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. Deforestation is a problem in some parts of Rwanda. These parts include Gicumbi, the area around the Akagera National Park and other areas situated along the slopes of the hilly parts of the country.

Causes of deforestation
(a) Increased population
Rwanda has always had a population increase since independence. This increase has led to the high demand for land for settlement, agriculture and firewood. This need has left many parts of the forests stripped, hence deforested.
(b) Bush burning
Bush burning has claimed many parts of the forests in the country. The fires are sometimes caused by the locals, tourists or accidents.
(c) Charcoal burning
This practice has caused serious deforestation in areas of Gicumbi, Eastern and Southern Provinces. The steep slopes are stripped of the trees leaving the soils bare. In the process of burning charcoal, bush fires may be caused.
(d) Poor farming methods
 Although the government has played a great role in assisting the farmers transform their agricultural practices, some farmers still stick to their old traditional practices. For example, the farmers who stay near the natural forests such as the Akagera and Mukura Forests, still cut trees and burn vegetation in order to prepare their fields for the next planting season.
(e) Road and infrastructual development
There is massive development of various infrastructure in Rwanda. This has cost the country a huge number of trees as sites have to be prepared for the construction of schools, roads and hospitals. For example, the road constructed through Nyungwe Forest caused serious deforestation.
 (f) Overgrazing
 In areas where cattle keeping is still characterised by large herds of animals, the cattle overgraze in a limited area. During the dry season, the livestock feed on young trees leading to deforestation.
(g) High demand for forest products
There is a need for harvesting trees in forests for products such as timber and poles that are required in the making of furniture items and other commercial products. This demand leads to deforestation.
  Urbanisation
This has created the need for more land for the construction and expansion of urban centres as they struggle to implement their master plans. This leads to clearing of forested areas and forest plantations that are near urban centres.
(i) Landslides and mass wasting
This has caused deforestation in various areas of Rwanda. During the rainy season the slopes are affected by mass wasting and the landslides. As the soils break off, the trees and vegetation on the slopes fall away too and get destroyed.
(j) Mining
Mining has also caused deforestation in many parts of Nyungwe Forest. Trees are cleared as the soils are dug up to create mining sites.
 (k) Climatic changes
Harsh climatic conditions occur as a result of deforestation. Ironically, the harsh conditions cause further deforestation by drying up young and immature trees. This is a common occurrence in the Eastern Province where during the dry season, many trees dry up.
(l) Biotic factors
Termites and many other wild animals such as elephants destroy many trees. Bugesera area has had a serious problem with the termites which eat up trees during the dry season. Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks have also lost many trees due to destruction by wild animals, hence causing deforestation.

Effects of deforestation in Rwanda
 Activity 12.9
Work in pairs.
 1. Uwamaliya Gloriose advised her learners never to cut trees without planting more than what they cut. She further told them that global warming is as a result of deforestation and poor environmental management.
 2. A part from the effect mentioned in the statement said by the teacher in (1) above, what are the other effects of deforestation?
 3. Explain why this teacher was concerned with conserving forests.
4. Write down your answers and discuss them in a class presentation.
Deforestation affects the climate and the environment which in turn affects the well being of humans. Some of the effects of deforestation in Rwanda include the following:
 (a) Global warming
 Cutting down trees interrupts the global carbon cycle. The carbon dioxide in the air is greatly harvested by trees which store it. Global warming has increased because the forests and vegetation cover have been cleared.
(b) Air pollution
The carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere pollutes the air. Due to lack of forests, the carbon dioxide is not absorbed and therefore stays on in the atmosphere further polluting the air.
 (c) Interference with the hydrological cycle
 Deforestation leaves large quantities of trees cut. This interferes with the hydrological cycle. Trees absorb the rain water that infiltrates into the soils and loses it through evapotranspiration. This enables the water to go back into the atmosphere condensing and falling as rain again. This explains why deforestation leads to absence or reduction of rainfall in an area.
 (d) Loss of valuable tree species
The clearance of trees and other vegetation when felling trees has led to disappearance of some species of both flora and fauna. It is important to note that 70% of fauna and flora are found in forested areas. Clearing them puts some of them at a risk of extinction.
(e) Severe soil erosion
Trees play a great role in binding the soils together thus reducing the impact of soil erosion. Some tree branches also break the force of falling raindrops hence reducing erosion. When trees are cut, the soils are left bare and exposed to agents of erosion. Erosion degrades the soil by reducing its fertility and productivity.
(f) Reduction of the natural evaporation cooling system
 The clearing and cutting of forested areas has limited the effectiveness of the natural evaporation cooling system. This system naturally regulates the temperatures in the areas where evaporation takes place. The moisture found above the ground within the canopies of trees protects the ground from the in-coming sun’s rays by creating cool air. When the trees are cut, the air heats up and this has effects on the eco-system within the area.
(g) Acidification of water bodies
The excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to lack of trees is eventually absorbed by water bodies. This acidifies the water making it unfit for human consumption.
Negative effects on the quality of life
 Deforestation exposes soils to the agents of erosion. The top soils are washed and deposited into the rivers and lakes. This pollutes the water making it unfit for human consumption.
(i) Increased government expenditure
The government spends a lot of money dealing with the effects of deforestation. For example, billions of francs are spent in constructing terraces in areas where soil erosion is a problem as a result of deforestation. These funds would be used to develop other sectors of the economy.
(j) Imbalance in the eco-system
 Deforestation causes an imbalance in the ecosystem in the areas were it occurs. For example, the silt deposited into water bodies threatens the aquatic animals.
(k) Floods
Deforestation leads to severe soil erosion. The river channels are made shallow thus reducing their capacity. When the water volume increases, it ends up causing floods. The floods have negative effects on humans, animals and the environment.

Task 12.4
1. Define deforestation.
2. Give two effects of deforestation in Rwanda.

Forest conservation and the management (policy measures) in Rwanda
Case study
Read the newspaper extract provided below and answer the questions that follow.

punishments that range from six months to three years,” he said. All the 13 suspects are expected to appear before the court today.
 (a) From the newspaper extract, point out the measures put in place by the government of Rwanda to prevent illegal exploitation of trees and to conserve forests.
 (b) Apart from the legal actions taken against those who cause deforestation, suggest other measures that the leaders in the above district should take to solve the problem.
(c) Do you think forest conservation and management is important in Rwanda?
(d) Write down your findings and present them in a class discussion.

Forest conservation is the practice of planning and maintaining forested areas for the benefit and sustainability of future generations.
Forest management is concerned with the administrative, economic, legal and social aspects of forest protection and regulation. It mainly aims at maintaining the quality and standards of the forests.
Rwanda has joined other nations of the world to address the issues concerning conservation and management of forests. The government of Rwanda is a signatory member of the Kyoto Protocol, Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CITES and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. All these have contributed to the conservation and management of forests and the environment of Rwanda. Their contributions have been through the provision of funds, technical personnel and sharing of research findings.
Locally, Rwanda has carried out various campaign programmes aimed at conserving and managing the forests of the country. The programs aim at enabling sustainable utilisation of forests and forest resources.
The government has enacted laws and established guidelines on forest conservation and management in the country. It has also come up with other non-legal measures that are aimed at conserving and managing forests. The measures include the following:

(a) Establishment of conservation and protected forested areas
The government of Rwanda passed a law No. 47/1988 of 5/12/1988 on the protection of forests. This law makes it illegal to cut trees from the protected forested areas.
(b) Reforestation
This is the planting of trees in areas that were once forested but were deforested. This practice is currently at the centre of forest conservation and management in Rwanda. The government encourages the planting of trees and has even set aside specific days for tree planting.
(c) Afforestation
This is the establishment of forests or tree stands in areas where there was none before. Currently, in Rwanda, trees are being planted in areas where they never existed before. This practice has increased the coverage area of forests in country.
(d) Introduction of improved tree species
The traditional eucalyptus trees are now being replaced with improved tree species that mature quickly and are able to yield better quality wood. The tree species include acacia mearnsii, acacia melanoxylon and a variety of modern eucalyptus trees of good species which include, Eucalyptus maidenii and Eucalyptus grandis.
(e) Agroforestry
The government of Rwanda through its agencies together with non-governmental organisations encourage its citizens to grow crops and trees at the same time. This is done to address the need of increasing the tree cover and to reduce the threatening risk of desertification especially in the Eastern Province.
(f) Strengthening institutions concerned with forestry
The government has provided full support to the Ministry of Forests and Natural Resources and the National Forestry Authority. These institutions are active at the grassroot levels. The institutions have qualified personnel whose role is to ensure that forests are protected , conserved and well managed. There is also rigorous mass education on the importance of forest conservation and management.
 (g) Improved lumbering methods
 The government encourages the people engaged in exploitation of forest resources to use better and improved tree felling methods.
Reduction of wastage
 The processing industries involved in furniture and saw milling are encouraged to utilise all the wood resources to minimise wastage of wood products.
 (i) Alternative sources of fuel
The government encourages its citizens to use alternatives sources of fuel such as biogas, solar energy and hydroelectric power. This will reduce the pressure put on the forest products especially firewood.
(j) Intensive research
The government has invested a lot of resources in research in relation to forests. The researches are aimed at solving the problems that affect forests and to improve forest conservation and management.
 (k) Development of human resources
The government of Rwanda has embarked on training foresters in order to equip them with all the required skills in forest conservation and management. They are given the technical and professional training so as to ensure that the forest resources are used sustainably.
 (l) Restricting the use of poles and timber in the construction industry
In 2003, the government passed a law restricting the use of timber poles in construction work. This was aimed at reducing the demand for forest products. The use of timber poles was to be replaced with the use of metallic bars. This has greatly assisted in decreasing the pressure on forest resources that was threatening to get out of hand.

Case study
Nyungwe Forest Nyungwe
Forest is one of the protected natural forests of Rwanda. It is situated in the south-western part of Rwanda. It neighbours Burundi. It is one of the successfully protected montane rainforests in East and Central Africa. It is located in the watershed between the basin of the river Congo to the west and the basin of the river Nile to the east. The source of river Nile is on from the east side of the Nyungwe Forest.
The Nyungwe Forest was established as a National Park in 2004. It covers a total area of about 970 km2 of rainforest, bamboo, grasslands, swamps and bogs. According to the report from the Rwanda Office of Tourism, the forest has more than 250 species of trees and shrubs and a wide variety of birds and wild animals. This makes Nyungwe one of the forests with an enriched biodiversity in the region. It is therefore a priority for conservation in Africa.
The park contains 13 different primate species (25% of Africa’s total), 275 bird species, 1068 plant species, 85 mammal species and 38 reptile species. Many of these animals are restricted-range species that are only found in the Albertine Rift montane forests eco-region in Africa. The forest is at an altitude of 3000 metres above sea level.
Nyungwe Forest is faced with a number of challenges. There is illegal lumbering that takes place in the forest and destruction of vegetation. The local beekeepers have their bee hives in the forests. However, during the dry season when honey is harvested, there are a lot of forest fires which burn many trees, threatening to destroy the forest

According to a Rwanda Environmental Management Authority(REMA) report, there is serious deforestation in the buffer zones of Nyungwe Forest. There is also illegal charcoal burning that has seriously affected the eco-system thus creating an imbalance in the biodiversity of the forest. Nyungwe Forest as a national park remains the most cherished natural resource of Rwanda. It must be protected.

Activity 12.10
 Your teacher will take you on a field visit to one of the forested areas in Rwanda. In groups of five;
1. Observe the forest exploitation activities that are carried out in the forest.
2. Record your observations.
3. Discuss your observations in your groups referring to the knowledge on forestry and forest exploitation that you have acquired.
4. Write a report of your findings for a class presentation.

Did you know?
 • Half of all the biodiversity in subSaharan Africa can be found in the Birunga Forest.
• About a third of the world’s approximately 800 remaining mountain gorillas live in Rwanda.
 • The Volcanoes National Park is one of Africa’s oldest parks, established to protect the mountain gorilla.
• Rwanda’s forests contain 39 million metric tonnes of carbon in living forest biomass.
• Rwanda envisions to have a 30% forest cover by 2020.

End of unit revision task
1. (a) Name any two natural forests of Rwanda.
(b) Assess the contribution of any of the forests mentioned in (a) above to the economic development of Rwanda.
 2. (a) Differentiate between forest conservation and forest management.
      (b) Describe the forest conservation and management measures put in place by the government of Rwanda to ensure sustainable utilisation of her forest resources.
3. To what extent have the physical factors influenced forest exploitation in Rwanda?
4. (a) With the help of a sketch map of Rwanda, identify and locate the forested areas.
     (b) Examine the problems affecting forest exploitation in Rwanda.
5. (a) Define lumbering.
    (b) Name areas in Rwanda where lumbering takes place.
     (c) Mention the products of lumbering in Rwanda.
 6. (a) Assess the causes and effects of deforestation in Rwanda.
      (b) Suggest measures taken by the Rwandan government to ensure conservation and management of the forests in the country.