Burundi Launches a Law to Protect Biodiversity of the Nile Basin

Addis Ababa January 29/2019 The Government of Burundi has launched a law prohibiting planting of tree species that use a lot of water around Nile water sources in order to preserve water, Nile Basin Initiative reported yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of 2019 as the ‘Year of the Nile Basin’ in Bujumbura, Dr Deo-Guide Rurema, the Chairman of the Nile Council of Ministers and Burundi Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock said his government was on the right track in protecting the common heritage  of the River Nile.

He added that “the decree prohibiting the use of plastic bags is being implemented to ensure quality of water, reduce micro plastics in lakes and rivers, and to protect the biodiversity of these ecosystems,” he said.

The Burundi countryside is covered with eucalyptus trees, which cause decline of groundwater level, and decrease of biodiversity.

Nile Basin countries have about the present and future regional development on ensuring equitable utilization and win-win benefits for society and the environment that will contribute to maintain regional peace and security,” Rurema explained.

Deputy Executive Director of the Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat, Abdulkarim Seid on his part called on Nile Basin countries to work together to overcome the ever growing challenges of increasing water variability, ever-growing water demand and multiple impacts of climate change.

Over the last 20 years, the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) has helped to nurture the culture of water cooperation in the Nile Basin by providing a neutral platform for countries to discuss how to jointly take care of and utilize the shared water resources for the benefit of all.