The Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Infrastructure, together with partners and affiliated agencies will celebrate World Water Day, the International Day of Forests, and World Meteorological Day 2019 together in recognition of the interconnections and interdependencies between our water and forest resources and our climate. The three global events will be marked in Rwanda by a set of activities including a media tour, water resources management conference, a “Walk for Water” in the City of Kigali and the launch of landscape restoration activities in Upper Nyabarongo catchment. These initiatives will raise awareness and highlight the importance of water, forests and climate in our daily lives and the need to protect them for health and well-being.

With the theme of “Forest and Education”, the 2019 International Day of Forest will take place on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of learning about forests and the benefits they provide to all living things. The day will be marked by various activities including planting bamboo on Mt Rebero for soil conservation and erosion control. The celebration aims to raise awareness of the importance of forests and trees in our lives, call on Rwandans and other stakeholders to take part in efficient forest management and use, and the protection of forest biodiversity.

Themed “Leaving no one behind” the World Water Day 2019, which will take place on 22 March, is an opportunity for Rwandans to reflect on the progress made on water access and supply and how to improve water management. World Water Day 2019 will raise awareness of the need to protect water resources and water infrastructure and improve flood mitigation strategies. It will also share inspiring practices and experience in water management and launch water resources protection and water supply projects.

To mark World Water Day, an Integrated Water Resources Management Conference will be held in Kigali to share inspiring practises and new understandings. As part of the conference, the National Water Account prepared by the Natural Capital Accounting programme will be launched.

The official celebration of World Water Day will take place in the Upper Nyabarongo catchment, Ngororero District, where the Ministry of Environment together with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will officiate the launch of a project to rehabilitate Secoko Sub-catchment, which currently contributes to the siltation of Nyabarongo River.

Following this, the celebration of World Meteorological Day will take place on 23 March under the theme “The Sun, the Earth and the Weather”. Meteo Rwanda will use this opportunity to increase awareness of the role of weather and climate information in our daily lives. As part of the day’s celebrations, Cyril Ndegeya, World Meteorological Organisation Photo Competition winner, will be invited to encourage young people to take interest in weather and climate data. Meteo Rwanda will carry out additional activities such as a secondary schools tour, and exhibition during Rwanda Water Week and the presentation of weather forecasting in Rwanda.

Partners

This year’s Water, Forests and Meteo days are being organised in collaboration with valued partners including the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Water for Growth Rwanda Programme, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and its Isuku Iwacu project as well as US AID.

Additional Information

• To download the concept note for these events, click here.
• For more information, visit www.environment.gov.rw or www.mininfra.gov.rw   and follow @EnvironmentRw  @RwandaInfra on Twitter.

Media Enquiries

• Umubyeyi Marie Josée, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Ministry of Environment, on +250 788 455 198 or at jumubyeyi@environment.gov.rw.

Jean Paul Nyirindekwe, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Ministry of Infrastructure on +250 788 352030 or at jpaul.nyirindekwe@mininfra.gov.rw