Environmental Cooperative members from Kamonyi, Nyanza, Ruhango and Gisagara Districts of the Southern Province were today trained on seedlings production to contribute to the implementation of the Forest Landscape Restoration in the Mayaga Region Project known as Green Amayaga Project.

The training was prepared by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) through Green Amayaga Project in Partnership with Action pour la Protection de l’Environment et la Promotion des Filieres Agricoles (APEFA) – a Non-Governmental Organization which is implementing the component of “Community capacity building in the areas of livelihood and agroforestry for Green Amayaga Project.

Launched in 2020, Green Amayaga is a six-year project designed to promote biodiversity, foster ecosystem services, increase agricultural productivity and reduce the vulnerability of people and ecosystems to the adverse effects of climate change in the south region of Rwanda.

At least 8,000,000 trees will be planted to restore degraded forests, and youth cooperatives were engaged in seedlings production so they contribute to the implementation of the project by producing and availing needed seedlings.

The project will improve the livelihoods of local communities, increase agricultural productivity and food security, promote gender equality, expand forest management knowledge as well as create at least 150,000 green jobs – mainly for women and young Rwandans – during the six years of implementation.

The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is being implemented by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in partnership with the Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA) and the districts of Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyanza and Gisagara.