Giulio Napolitano

It is an uphill task, but in the highlands and the lowlands, Rwanda is slowly but surely restoring the slopes of its thousand hills. Many of them are green once more, but still in poor condition due to environmental degradation, mainly caused by human activity and the ravages of the war and genocide of 1994.

Marshes, lakes, rivers and peatlands are all wetlands that need some or extensive protection. They constitute valuable reservoirs of water and biodiversity, as well as energy sources. Marshlands, in particular, account for six percent of the national territory in Rwanda, or 165 000 hectares (ha), of which more than 90 000 are cultivated with traditional methods and 5 000 using water management practices.

On sites declared to be ‘protected areas’, the marshlands have been restored and crop production has increased two or three-fold on the slopes of the hill sides, according to officials of the marshland and hill sides management committees. Water from the marshland is resurfacing after a dry period of more than three years.

Wetland ecosystems provide food, clean water, pharmaceutical products and spiritual and recreational opportunities to human beings across the planet. Thus, their conservation and sustainable use are key elements in the attainment of global food and water security.

Photos ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano