Read the latest news from the environment sector in Rwanda and across the world.

Summary

• The New Times reports that communities and businesses will be able to play a greater role in wildlife conservation under a new law being considered by Parliament.
• Imvaho Nshya reports that rainfall will range between 60mm and 160mm in October.
• Kigali Today reports that agricultural production increased as a result of dam construction.
• Agro News reports that roofs should be strengthened in Karongi to prevent disasters.
• Cooling Post reports that Nicaragua ratified the Kigali Amendment.

Upcoming events

• 18 September–18 October 2020: African Mobility Month
• 12 October: 9th Environmental Science And Pollution Control Congress
• 31 October: 17th World Congress on Recycling and E-waste Management
• 5 November: World Tsunami Awareness Day
• 18 November: Global Summit on Climate Change

Rwanda

Nicaragua latest to ratify Kigali (Cooling Post - Friday, 2 October 2020) -- NICARAGUA: The Republic of Nicaragua has become the 105th country to ratify the Kigali Amendment in the global push to reduce the use of HFCs. Read More

East Africa Nations Are Fighting E-Waste With New Responsible Policies & Plans (Green Queen Team - Friday, 2 October 2020) -- As Uganda develops its e-waste policy, neighboring Rwanda establishes a broad-based plan involving incentives and high-tech facilities. Read More

Chimpanzees do not need smartphones to take efficient routes (Miracle - Friday, 2 October 2020) -- A team of scientists from The University of Western Australia have found the first evidence that chimpanzees remember the landscape of their rugged, mountainous habitat and use this recall to choose the best route to their next meal. Read More

Wildlife conservation to go commercial under new law (The New Times - Thursday, 1 October 2020) -- Private companies seeking to venture into wildlife conservation for commercial gain will now be allowed to do so, thanks to a new law that governs biological diversity and wildlife in Rwanda, whose draft was approved by the cabinet last week. Read More

Ukwakira 2020 hateganyijwe imvura iri hagati ya mirimetero 60-160 (Imvaho Nshya - Wednesday, 30 September 2020) -- Ikigo k’Igihugu gishinzwe Ubumenyi bw’Ikirere (Meteo Rwanda) cyashyize ahagaragara ikegeranyo k’ingano y’imvura mu kwezi k’Ukwakira 2020, mu Rwanda hateganyijwe imvura iri hagati ya mirimetero 60 na160 (60mm- 160mm). Read More

Gasogi: Imvura ivanze n’umuyaga itwaye ibisenge by’inzu yangiza n’imyaka (Kigali Today - Tuesday, 29 September 2020) -- Imvura iguye ku gicamunsi cyo kuri uyu wa Kabiri tariki 29 Nzeri 2020, isambuye inzu yangiza n’imyaka myinshi ku musozi wa Gasogi mu Karere ka Gasabo mu Mujyi wa Kigali. Read More

Rulindo: Umusaruro w’ubuhinzi wariyongereye kubera urugomero bubakiwe rubafasha kuhira (Kigali Today - Tuesday, 29 September 2020) -- Abahinzi bo mu karere ka Rulindo mu murenge wa Buyoga n’ituranye na wo, bavuga ko batangiye kubona umusaruro ndetse ko biteguye utubutse w’ibihingwa byoherezwa hanze kubera urugomero bubakiwe rutuma buhira imyaka yabo. Read More

Karongi: Bakangukiye kuzirika ibisenge by’inzu hagamijwe gukumira ibiza (Agro News - Monday, 28 September 2020) -- Abatuye Akarere ka Karongi bavuga ko bakangukiye kuzirika ibisenge by’inzu zabo kugira ngo barusheho guhangana n’ibiza byibasira ako Karere bitewe n’imvura nyinshi n’umuyaga. Read More

Rwanda: EAC to roll out tourism recovery strategies after the COVID-19 pandemic (Devdiscourse News Desk - Monday, 28 September 2020) -- The East African Community (EAC) is set to roll out tourism recovery strategies after the COVID-19 pandemic. These will include 'decisive measures' urgently needed to mitigate the economic losses, according to a news report by The Citizen. Read More

Domestic tourism to prop up Rwanda tourism sector (Anadolu Agency - Sunday, 27 September 2020) -- Rwanda’s tour operators are looking to domestic tourists to loosen the strain caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Read More

Sector Updates

GCF (NAP) National Adaptation Plan project on building flood resilience capacities in Rwanda (GGGI - Wednesday, 30 September 2020) -- The National Adaptation Readiness and Preparatory Support for Building Flood Resilience Capacities in Rwanda approved in January 2020, building on current measures, strategies and policies, will coordinate different government agencies and targeted multi-stakeholders for effective flood and landslide planning and prevention in Rwanda’s most vulnerable zones. Read More

Kuki U Rwanda rwashyize umukono ku masezerano Mpuzamahanga y'imihindagurikire y'ibihe? (Rwanda Environment - Sunday, 27 September 2020) -- The National Adaptation Readiness and Preparatory Support for Building Flood Resilience Capacities in Rwanda approved in January 2020, building on current measures, strategies and policies, will coordinate different government agencies and targeted multi-stakeholders for effective flood and landslide planning and prevention in Rwanda’s most vulnerable zones. Watch Video

Across Africa

Uganda fronts endangered golden monkeys as new tourist attraction (CGTN - Tuesday, 29 September 2020) -- Tucked on the common border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda's Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is host to the endangered golden monkeys, a new tourist attraction. Read More

Power to the mines: A finger on the pulse of power projects (Mining Review Africa - Monday, 28 September 2020) -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has enormous potential for the expansion of its current renewable energy sector within the mining industry. How can this potential be realized in a long-term sustainable methodology? Read More

AWF Virtual Safaris Bridge Gap in African Tourism Until International Travel Resumes (AWF - Monday, 28 September 2020) -- On World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27 African Wildlife Foundation detailed the ongoing challenges caused by the stoppage of wildlife tourism in conservation areas in African in an opinion piece in The Independent UK and another opinion piece on the fate of tourism after COVID in The East African Standard Newspaper. Read More

From Around the World

Brazil's Amazon rainforest suffers worst fires in a decade (The Guardian - Thursday, 1 October 2020) -- Fires in Brazil’s Amazon increased 13% in the first nine months of the year compared with a year ago, as the rainforest region experiences its worst rash of blazes in a decade, data from space research agency Inpe has shown. Read More

New British standard for biodegradable plastic introduced (The Guardian - Thursday, 1 October 2020) -- A new British standard for biodegradable plastic is being published which scientists say will cut through a jungle of classifications that leave consumers confused. Read More

LIVE: UN chief, Prince Charles, rally ‘coalition of the willing’ to end biodiversity destruction (UN News - Wednesday, 30 September 2020) -- Here's our special LIVE coverage of the UN Summit on Biodiversity, where activists and senior UN officials are calling for urgent action on biodiversity, to help ensure sustainable development for all. Read More

How investing in nature can help tackle the biodiversity and climate crises (World Economic Forum - 30 September 2020) -- This month, world leaders and experts convened for the UN General Assembly which is culminating in the UN Summit on Biodiversity today. Read More

Desert Locust situation update 29 September 2020 (FAO - Tuesday, 29 September 2020) -- While the Desert Locust situation continues to improve in Southwest Asia, it is deteriorating in parts of the Central Region due to swarm breeding in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. Read More

Food loss and waste must be reduced for greater food security and environmental sustainability (UNEP - Tuesday, 29 September 2020) -- At the global event marking today the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and their partners urged everyone to do more to reduce food loss and waste or risk an even greater drop in food security and natural resources. Read More