Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and the Ministry of Environment have launched the use of drones in combating environmental crimes.
“The drones will help to respond to and control activities that damage our environment including land degradation, water pollution, and illegal logging in protected areas,” said Minister for Environment Jean d’Arc Mujawamariya.
She said reports found that commonly degrading activities are in illegal mining, communities that encroach the protected areas, especially parks, riverbanks, and water pollution as well.
The minister said the partnership with RIB will learn from the existing good partnership between Rwanda National Police and Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in order to set up joint teams along with security forces at the district level and other concerned institutions to take appropriate measures to curb environmental degrading activities.
Rwanda has a long-term Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy and an ambitious climate action plan to reduce emissions by 38 per cent by 2030.
The environmental degrading activities to be investigated include land degradation, water pollution, and illegal logging, especially in protected areas.
