NYAMASHEKE- The Rwanda Development Board -Tourism and Conservation (RDB-TC) on Wednesday rewarded winners of a conservation competition held in schools from 18 sectors neighbouring the Nyungwe National Park.

The competition held under the theme: ‘The contribution of students in the conservation of Nyungwe National Park’ attracted entries in songs, poems and drawings categories.

Speaking at the event, Chantal Rugamba, the RDB deputy CEO said that youth education and conservation efforts have the same goal of providing for a better sustainable future.

Rugamba called upon students in schools’ environmental clubs to play leading conservation roles by sensitising their peers and local communities.

The Nyungwe Park has in the past been threatened by encroachers and wild fires which have considerably reduced the amount of forest cover of the country’s biggest natural forest.

Rugamba noted that Nyungwe National Park is an important natural resource with diverse benefits to the local population and the country hence the need for its protection.

"Apart from the environmental benefits, many of you earn a living from the National Park where you work as guides, the country also earns the much-needed foreign exchange from tourism activities,” said Rugamba.

She revealed that conservation competitions this year will feature various categories of people; from communities neighbouring the park.

Faustin Ntirenganya, a teacher from EAV Ntedenzi said that environmental conservation clubs have played an important role in conservation efforts within the community.

"Through these clubs, students have come to understand why they need to protect natural resources, especially the neighbouring Nyungwe forest. With this knowledge they have worked as agents of change in their communities,” he said.

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