Deep-Rooted Ambition: Rwanda to Plant 65 Million Trees🌳

Rwanda is going green in a big way this October! 🌳 As part of the 2024-2025 National Tree Planting Season, the country is setting out to plant a whopping 65.2 million trees. This massive effort targets ten districts, including Kayonza, Bugesera, and Nyagatare, aiming to bring life back to degraded lands, protect ecosystems, and boost climate resilience. By combining native and exotic tree species, Rwanda is taking a balanced approach to rejuvenate its landscapes. It’s a clear sign of the country's commitment to both nature and sustainable development. 🌱

Learn more about Rwanda’s reforestation commitments by visiting the Bonn Challenge website.

This tree-planting initiative is not just about restoring landscapes—it’s about reversing the costly impacts of deforestation, like those seen in the Eastern Province, where soil erosion has led to significant agricultural losses.

Rwanda's forests have seen tough times, with deforestation hitting soil health hard. The consequences? 🌧️ Massive soil erosion and drops in agricultural productivity. This is especially true in the Eastern Province, where trees were cleared for agriculture and fuel, leading to a loss of 25 tonnes of topsoil per hectare each year. The economic impact? A staggering Rwf 37.9 billion in losses per season. Rwanda’s 2024 tree-planting initiative aims to reverse these trends, focusing on the most erosion-prone areas to bring back balance and secure the future of local communities. 🌾

The green journey kicks off on October 26 in Rwamagana District during Umuganda—Rwanda’s monthly community work event. 💪 With over 43.5 million seedlings ready to go and more set for planting by April, the campaign adapts to the rhythm of Rwanda’s rainy seasons. The ten districts were carefully chosen based on their need for land restoration. Once blessed with abundant forest cover, many of these areas now look to reforestation for a return to their natural resilience. This is more than planting trees—it's about rebuilding a green legacy! 🌳

To ensure the success of such an ambitious reforestation plan, Rwanda is leveraging technology through new innovations, streamlining efforts for a greener future. 🚀

Rwanda is not just planting trees—it's bringing innovation to the process with the Plantation Tree Tracker, a digital tool developed alongside GovStack and the Ministry of Environment. 🌿 This web-based platform allows real-time tracking of tree nurseries across the country, making it easier to manage and monitor the planting of millions of seedlings. Gone are the days of manual paperwork! Now, district officers can register tree species, track nursery growth, and manage seedling requests with just a few clicks. 📲 This tech-driven approach means better coordination, improved seed quality, and a brighter, greener future for Rwanda. 🌍

Learn more about forest cover in Rwanda—including where trees are planted since 2000—by checking out the open geospatial data from Global Forest Watch.

Fun fact: According to the open data from Global Forest Watch, 69% of all planting in Rwanda has occurred outside of plantations.