For the 2025/2026 fiscal year, Rwanda has set an ambitious target of planting 60 million trees.
The Eastern Province leads the country in tree planting, with nearly 17 million trees planted in the last three months. It is followed by the Southern Province, which has planted 10.77 million trees. The Western Province has planted 10.31 million trees, the Northern Province 5.45 million, and Kigali City 490,865 trees.
Dr. Concorde Nsengumuremyi, Director General of the Rwanda Forestry Authority, explained that Rwanda is prioritising indigenous trees because they are naturally adapted to local conditions and can withstand heavy rains and rising temperatures.
'Indigenous trees can endure climate change and continue to thrive. They are also more resistant to diseases compared to exotic species such as eucalyptus and grevillea, which are often affected by forest diseases,' he said.
Dr. Nsengumuremyi explained that indigenous trees are superior for ecosystem health because they have co-evolved with local wildlife, supporting greater biodiversity than exotic species. Unlike many non-native trees that can degrade soil quality or suppress undergrowth through chemical inhibition, indigenous varieties produce nutrient-rich leaf litter that fosters fertile soil and healthy grass growth.
Furthermore, while exotic trees often grow faster, the dense wood of indigenous species provides more stable, long-term carbon storage, making them a more effective tool for mitigating climate change.
Under the government's accelerated development program, Rwanda plans to plant over 300 million trees by 2029.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-plants-over-43-million-trees-in-just-three-months
