| World
Environment Day & Annual Kwita Izina Rwanda is enthusiastic and honored to host the World Environment Day (WED) which is commemorated every year on 5th June. The WED was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The UN dedicated this day to appreciate and celebrate the benefits, roles and resources that come with raising global awareness of the environment. It is the foremost vehicle through which worldwide awareness of the environment is stimulated. Celebration of this day is an opportunity to generate political, economic and social attention and prompt action. In line with celebration to mark the WED, Rwanda is thus privileged
to host internationally WED in conjunction with the celebration
of the annual Kwita Izina Ceremony (which means giving names to
baby gorillas) under the theme “Many Species, One Planet,
One Future” WED is designed to give a human face to environmental issues, empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development, promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and people enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. Rwanda has for the last consecutive 16years been dedicating a National Environmental Week which normally begins from 31st May to 5th June on annual basis. During the Week, that starts with the community work commonly known as ‘Umuganda’ to announce activities that mark the week, all districts of the country carry out environmental restoration activities while guided by the international theme for WED. 2010 will be the 38th year Rwanda celebrates WED and the 17th time Rwanda commemorates the National Environment Week. Kwita Izina, the uniquely Rwandan event, was introduced in 2005 with the aim of creating awareness for the conservation of the endangered mountain Gorillas, which is line with this year’s theme of WED “Many Species, One Planet, One Future” The Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony has received thousands of international, regional and local visitors to its Virunga mountain ranges to visit the endangered mountain gorillas. For decades, international conservation organizations, donors and concerned individuals have made substantial resources available to the gorilla conservation cause and continue to do so. Each year the new born gorillas are celebrated in an exciting event at the foot of the Virunga Mountains.
The remaining home range of the endangered mountain gorillas is limited to the Virunga Massif, a chain of volcanic mountains shared by Rwanda, DRC and Uganda. Rwanda is home to about one third of the 750 mountain gorillas left in the wild. The remaining population of mountain gorillas has only survived thanks to the renewed efforts of national conservation authorities and the local populations and the support they have received from the international community. In 2005 the inaugural Gorilla Naming Ceremony was launched and since then 103 baby gorillas have been named. And during this sixth annual Kwita Izina names will be given to eleven (11) mountain baby gorillas at the foot of the Virunga Mountains in Kinigi. This year’s event will be held on June 5th 2010 on World Environment Day. “Raising global awareness of biodiversity conservation as we give names to our baby gorillas” On Saturday, June 5th 2010, Rwanda will host the World Environment Day as well as celebrate the sixth Kwita Izina Ceremony through her agencies REMA and RDB respectively. 2010 being the International Year of Biodiversity, attention of the international community, public and funding agencies will be drawn to the plight of the environment. As a country that has been at the forefront of environmental management and gorilla conservation we heartily welcome the proclamation of the International Year of the Biodiversity as it creates an opportunity for Rwanda to showcase our achievements in promotion of sustainable tourism and environmental management effortsThe national theme for this year is “Raising global awareness
on biodiversity conservation as we give names to our baby gorillas”.
Under this theme, we shall celebrate the efforts of all those that
are contributing to the sustainable use of our environment and to
the welfare of our wildlife. We are expecting over 500 key personalities
in environmental protection, management, wildlife conservation and
business to attend the event. Related links: There is : 1 visitor online |
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| Comments of the Prime Minister |
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"...The tourism sector is one of the high revenue sectors in Rwanda, let's get involved in its development...", said the Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, Guest of Honor, as he acknowledged the Kwitizina milestones at this 4th event... | Event Program | |
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 Jack Hanna - renowned conservationist and emeritus of the Columbus Zoo USA. |