Rubavu, July 18, 2025, The Executive Chairperson of the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), Eng. Richard Nyirishema, and the Governor of the Western Province, Mr. Jean Bosco Ntibitura, jointly presided over a high-level stakeholder meeting aimed at sustaining the achievements of the Sebeya Landscape Restoration Pilot Project (SLRPP).

Held at Rubavu District Headquarters, the meeting convened key stakeholders to reflect on the impact of the five-year SLRPP and to define a strategic direction for its long-term sustainability.

Implemented between 2018 and 2023, the SLRPP was carried out in four districts; Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, and Ngororero, under the broader framework of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 

The project aimed to strengthen landscape management for climate-resilient and sustainable socio-economic development. Its key interventions included the restoration of degraded landscapes, implementation of environmental protection measures, and the development of flood control infrastructure across the Sebeya catchment.

In his remarks, Eng. Richard Nyirishema emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts and sustained partnerships in advancing effective environmental restoration. “The restoration of the Sebeya catchment demonstrates the transformative power of collaboration. To sustain and scale these efforts, we must prioritize joint planning, consistent investment, and active engagement from all sectors,” he noted, highlighting the need for a community-centered and integrated approach to conservation.

Governor Jean Bosco Ntibitura commended the progress achieved through the project and underscored the critical role of local leadership in preserving its outcomes. “The Sebeya Landscape Restoration Pilot Project has delivered remarkable results, but sustaining these achievements requires strong participation from citizens, local leaders, and all stakeholders. Environmental protection is a shared responsibility,” he said.

The meeting served as a platform to reflect on the project’s achievement and reinforce strategies for sustaining its outcomes which had already been handed over to the respective district authorities.

Discussions focused on practical approaches to ensure that the established infrastructure and community-based interventions continue to generate long-term benefits through coordinated local ownership and active engagement.

Participants stressed the continued need for collaboration among national institutions, local governments, and communities to safeguard restored landscapes, mitigate disaster risks, and strengthen climate resilience.

As the lead agency for national water resource and catchment management, the Rwanda Water Resources Board reiterated its continued commitment to providing technical guidance, fostering partnerships, and supporting the replication of the Sebeya model in other priority landscapes across the country.