The delegation from the Chinese academy of sciences paid a four-day visit to Rwanda which aimed at sharing  their experience with the fellow Rwandan scientists in ecosystem restoration. The team of 7 experts is interested in exploring how they can cooperate with the Government of Rwanda in the ongoing ecosystem restoration countrywide.

The delegation assured that their first visit will help them to exchange with the fellow Rwandans on the  ecosystem restoration in Rwanda and therefore play their part.

“We have learnt that Rwanda is conducting ecosystem restoration program and we would like to play our part, like in research and other areas. From our first visit, we believe to learn from the best practices and start working relations with Rwandan scientific community in ecosystem restoration in Rwanda.” mentioned Professor Liu Yi, the head of delegation.

The collaboration with Rwanda will basically focus on conducting research about the ecosystem in Rwanda as well as the exchange of experts in the area according to the head of the delegation. Further, the project is open for Rwandan government to show the priority activities and projects where the scientists can help.

At the first day the delegation visited different regions within Kigali city specifically in the places where the ecosystem rehabilitation is being conducted. The places include Nyabugogo wetland where the human activities were stopped to protect the place. They visited also the Nyabarongo River, one of the sources of Akagera River. They further visited the Gikondo place where Rwandan Government recently decided to relocate industries and factories to another place in a bid to protect the biodiversity within the wetland.

Before visiting the Nyungwe national park, on their second day of visit to Rwanda, the delegation had a meeting with different officials having ecosystem management within their daily attributions. The meeting was officiated by the minister of Natural resources, Hon Stanislas Kamanzi.

While presenting their plan to work with Rwanda, the delegation emphasized that the initiative emanates from the available strong partnership between china and African countries in various disciplines. Rwanda as a country of the rich biodiversity was chosen to beneficiate from this initiative as the first country in Africa.

The minister of natural resources Hon Stanisla Kamazi welcomed the initiative and said it will contribute to Rwanda’s ecosystem restoration and the entire natural resources management effort by the country.

“This fits well in our plan to manage our natural resources. People need to rethink on how we can sustainably use our natural resources”. The minister said. He therefore pledged government support.

During the 4-day visit, the Chinese delegation will tour the country by visiting different sites.

The Chinese academy of sciences has built strong collaboration with UNEP and different countries around the globe. Rwanda becomes the first country to beneficiate from this collaboration on African continent.

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