It was in Kigali, Rwanda, that the sensitization and training trailer of the FAO project named “National Monitoring System and Measurement, Notification and Verification (MNV) following a regional Approach” made a stop for the holding of the first national workshop from 28 to 29 May 2013 in Rwanda.

Co-organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and FAO, this workshop was primarily aimed at contributing to the ownership of the REDD+ process and of the national system of forest monitoring “SNSF”.This meeting mobilized about 25 participants from structures presented as stakeholders involved in the REDD+ implementation in Rwanda. They came from the administration, the private sector, tertiary education, the university, national and international CSOs and development agencies.

For two (02) days, participants were informed on the REDD+ process and its stakes in the sub-region. Specifically, this was done through presentations on the state of progress of the MNV project, the state of the environment and the forests and measures taken by the Rwandan Government (in terms of policies and strategies), the state of implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Rwanda, forest mapping in Rwanda and its role in the REDD+ context, the FONERWA (Rwanda Environment Fund), key climate change and REDD+ concepts, the National forest monitoring system, the R-PP development process and the lessons learnt from the REDD+ process in the DRC.

These presentations introduced the participants into a phase of group and plenary discussions on the following points:

♦ Identification of potential actors in the REDD+ process and their roles, deforestation and forest degradation causes and strategic options to contribute to the REDD+

♦ Identification of institutions and actors involved in inventories and satellite images processing/remote sensing for the construction of the National Forest Monitoring System and their roles.

Following plenary and group discussions, participants formulated major recommendations aiming at a better implementation of the MNV project in Rwanda, in four points:

♦ Improving the productivity of existing forests and promoting rational use of forests and wood  in all forms in order to meet the increasing wood demand,

♦ Establishing an inclusive legal institutional framework for coordination and follow-up,

♦ Prioritizing capacity building for the SNS implementation

♦ Prioritizing south-south cooperation in the conduct of the REDD+ process.

The participants ended the meeting on a note of satisfaction, hoping to see the REDD+ and the SMNV implementation improve forest management in Rwanda.

Final Communiqué available for download