By Ange de la Victoire Dusabemungu
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS Network), Mr. Jean Pierre Mugabo, Director of the Rwanda Forestry Authority, on behalf of the Minister of Environment of Rwanda, commended the organization for its continued contribution to the protection of the environment, especially Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa, Executive Director and Founder of ARCOS Network for his tireless efforts through the organization in Nature Conservation activities taking place around Rwanda.
The 25th anniversary celebrations which took place on Friday, 11th December 2020, coincided with the official opening of ARCOS-purchased building located in Kimihurura Sector in the City of Kigali, which is now the main headquarter of this organization.
Also, at the same day the signing of official documents to seek legal status so that ARCOS Network becomes an International Rwandan Organization whose Main Office will be based in Rwanda with immediate shift from the United Kingdom where ARCOS was founded in 1995.
'25 years in the protection of Environment and Nature conservation, we realised the role played by ARCOS Network. We really can imagine how much Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa was sweating trying to create ARCOS in that time! 25 years ago!' Mugabo said.
'I was imagining the reason why ARCOS main Office is based in UK
'But I think it is because the organization started in that country. This means that while he (Kanyamibwa) was in the UK studying, he tried even to create an NGO which has served the country since that time!Â
'Maybe it was not easy to shift its Headquarter to Rwanda due to other legal perspectives but all the process has been concluded and now we have it here in Rwanda which is really very important.' Mugabo added.
He praised the activities of the ARCOS Network, including the reforestation programs, the conservation of the mountains and the biological ecosystems through the conservation of their havens.
'…ARCOS Network has positioned itself in that journey in that journey in the last 25 years, and that's why we have secured together in the last two years a project that is implemented by ARCOS but of course in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to support the carbon credit initiatives which is going to be implemented in five years of actions with other 15 years where we will be monitoring the Intervention made.' Mugabo explains
The secured project is known as 'Agroforestry for Livelihoods' aimed to improve the well-being of the citizens in Rulindo and Bugesera District.
The project will also help in the fight against air pollution where more than three tons of polluted carbon dioxide (CO2) will be filtered through trees and other activities including land conservation and sustainable agriculture within these 20 years starting from January 2020.
Mr. Mugabo said:' the Minister of Environment was not able to be here because of other responsibilities but she said that I have to make sure that the community around ARCOS knows that the Government of Rwanda is proud to have ARCOS in the Environment Sector where it is intervening in various aspects including water, forestry, protecting Biodiversity, that's why the Ministry will never miss the opportunity that raise hands and commit to always push ARCOS Network from one position to another.'
Speaking at the event, Mr John YONAZI SALEHE, ARCOS Network Executive Chair of the Board of Directors expressed special gratitude to the Government of Rwanda for having accepted ARCOS to establish its main Office within the City of Kigali.
'Let me congratulate the Rwandan Government for Hosting ARCOS since we are moving our office outside Rwanda because it is based in the UK. And the way Rwanda was hosting ARCOS, we saw that we should move the office all the way it is and bring it here.' Mr John YONAZI SALEHE said.
He revealed that as Board members they have decided to bring ARCOS Network Headquarter from the UK and establish it here in Rwanda and soon they are expecting to be registered as an International Organization operating from Rwanda.
In the meantime, ARCOS has branches in Uganda, Burundi, as well as the Kigali Office which is now the Main Headquarter replacing the UK based Office.
In an earlier Interview, Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa, Executive Director and Founder of ARCOS Network Organization told TOP AFRICANEWS website that 'ARCOS has right now 32 Community groups in the region and now since next year we are establishing over 900 community groups in Rwanda who are going to be involved in agroforestry, promoting sustainable livelihoods and this is part of the 20 years Project, which is part of Carbon finance.'
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