A ministerial order geared toward defending Rwanda’s oldest native and culturally important “legacy timber” is in its last stage, in keeping with the Director Common of the Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA), Concorde Nsengumuremyi.
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The proposed regulation is meant to strengthen the safety of historical timber thought of beneficial as a result of their age, ecological function, cultural which means, historic relevance, and rarity.
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Many are centuries outdated and are intently linked to Rwanda’s nationwide heritage and neighborhood id.
At the least 540 native legacy timber have been recognized throughout Rwanda underneath the nationwide legacy tree initiative launched in 2025, he mentioned.
Ngoma District recorded the very best variety of reported candidate legacy timber at 73, adopted by Kirehe District with 51 and Gasabo District with 48. Different districts with excessive numbers embody Gakenke District (46), Musanze District (43), Nyamagabe District (34), Nyamasheke District (28), Burera District (26), Ngororero District (24), and Rubavu District with 20 reported timber.
“These oldest native timber have cultural and historic significance in Rwanda. They retailer extra carbon, increase tourism and beautify the nation. They’re additionally resilient to local weather change and supply natural drugs,” Nsengumuremyi mentioned.
Among the many timber is Icubya, a 300-year-old sacred tree in Rutunga Sector, Gasabo District, believed to be Cordia africana and identified by a number of names, together with Umuvugangoma, Ikigumbashi, and Imana ya Nyakalima. Historically thought to be the “god of looking,” it was a gathering place for hunters and is surrounded by sturdy religious beliefs, with some communities believing that harming it brings misfortune or demise. Its standing is linked to long-standing religious practices reminiscent of divination (kuragura).
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The tree dates again to the seventeenth century in the course of the reign of King Cyilima II Rujugira. After his son Ndabarasa helped liberate Gasabo round 1695, the king ordered a tree to be planted there as an emblem of victory and safety.
In conventional Rwanda, households planted such timber at homesteads and alongside boundaries as dwelling markers of safety and id.
They had been additionally used to mark cemeteries and royal enclosures.
These timber supported biodiversity and beekeeping, and had been additionally vital in conventional drugs.
He additionally cited native species reminiscent of Inkungu, Umwumba, and Umunege, that are underneath menace of extinction.
“We did a survey in Jap Province and located that solely 12 Umunege timber had been remaining. We later multiplied seedlings and have to date planted 5,000 to revive such tree species,” he mentioned.
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At the least 17 native tree species vulnerable to disappearing have been recognized and documented for restoration efforts.
Citizen participation in figuring out threatened species
Citizen participation has been central to figuring out legacy timber. Stories had been submitted by communities throughout Rwanda who documented giant and culturally important native timber of their areas.
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The initiative combines scientific analysis with conventional information.
The undertaking has been recognised amongst main local weather motion initiatives of 2025.
It has now entered a verification stage, throughout which technical groups will go to every reported tree to substantiate whether or not it qualifies. The method is predicted to be accomplished by Might 2026.
As soon as verification is full, data on confirmed legacy timber can be shared with companions to help conservation.
Nsengumuremyi confirmed: “A ministerial order is in last levels to guard the recognized legacy timber.”
In Bugesera District, Genesta Ntawuzikurema, a resident of the world, mentioned firewood and charcoal assortment is endangering species reminiscent of Umunzenze and Umusagara.
One other resident, Theoneste Mpazihose. added that inhabitants strain is driving the disappearance of Umusave and Umuvumu timber.
Athanase Mukuralinda, a senior scientist on the Centre for Worldwide Forestry Analysis and World Agroforestry, mentioned native timber retailer extra carbon than unique species.
“For instance, the Umuvumu tree shops thrice extra carbon than timber reminiscent of Grevillea,” he famous.
1,400 probably timber species in danger
Panorama ecologist Fabio Pedercini mentioned the world has about 73,300 tree species, with round 9,200 but to be found.
“Africa hosts about 11,800 species, together with almost 1,400 probably in danger. About 30 per cent of Africa’s tree species are uncommon, making them particularly susceptible to disappearing,” he mentioned.
Venuste Nsengimana, Director of the College of Rwanda’s Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity and Pure Useful resource Administration (CoEB), mentioned urbanisation, agriculture, infrastructure improvement, and local weather change are eroding native timber.
“Such timber needs to be built-in and given area even in cities,” he mentioned.
The Minister of Setting, Bernadette Arakwiye, mentioned Rwanda is dedicated to restoring two million hectares of degraded land by 2030 underneath the Bonn Problem.
In October 2025, Rwanda launched the Nationwide Biodiversity Technique and Motion Plan for 2025-2030, with an estimated $500 million required for implementation.
