United Nations agencies in Rwanda Thursday joined residents of Kamony District in Southern Province for a tree-planting exercise in which some 1600 seedlings were planted.

The event was part of celebrations to mark the 74th anniversary of the United Nations.

Marked annually on October 24, the UN Day is an occasion to commemorate the UN Charter’s entry into force in 1945.

The day is marked across all member states of the United Nations and serves as an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the United Nations family.

It is also an opportunity for stakeholders to interact on varied topics around the annual theme, officials said.

In Mbayaya Village, Nyamiyaga Sector, Kamonyi District, UN and government officials joined local residents for a special ‘Umuganda’ (community work) that saw up to 1600 trees planted on two hectares.

Earlier, UN staff had donated blood.

Fode Ndiaye, the UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, said they chose to plant trees in line with the Sustainable Development Goal number 13 which encourages the global community to help lower greenhouse emissions, integrate climate change measures into national policies, and improve education and awareness-raising on climate change.

"This is exactly what we have to do now, taking action to help planet Earth and checking drastic effects of climate change in the future. We aren’t planting trees just to be poetic, it is a practical solution,” he said.

Ndiaye hailed Rwanda for its great reforestation effort especially considering the country’s size and population density.

Kamonyi Mayor Alice Kayitesi said the district was looking to increase tree cover, which she said will be achieved through engaging the young generation.

She cited a school-based initiative dubbed ‘one tree per classroom’.

"We thank One UN Rwanda for joining us in this tree-planting exercise, which is part of our ongoing effort to fight drought in this region,” she said.

She said the immediate target is planting 5000 trees on five hectares adding that the exercise will continue on Saturday, the day when Rwandans across the country carry out Umuganda.

Kamonyi is situated at the heart of a drought-prone region previously known as Amayaga and Kayitesi said they are banking on afforestation to not only address environmental concerns but also help boost agriculture.

The Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that around 129 million hectares of forest were lost worldwide between 1990 and 2015, adding that currently tropical forests emit more carbon than they capture.  

Today, Ndiaye said, the situation is quite critical. However, he pointed out that recent studies have found that restoring forests may be one of the most powerful weapons in fighting climate change.

"From healing to protection, trees have played a key role in our history and they have been given deep meaning through the ages: they are seen as powerful symbols of growth, resurrection and peace.

"Forests continue to be vulnerable to intense competition from industry and agriculture: that’s why it’s so important to showcase the valuable service they give to humanity,” he added.

Rwanda is close to attaining its target of reaching 30 per cent of forest cover.