THE IGIHOHO PROJECT ECO-FRIENDLY SEED BAGS MADE FROM BANANA BARKS

Red Rocks Initiatives
Publié: 28 février 2022
Dernière modification: 07 novembre 2022
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Résumé

Rwanda’s ecosystems are increasingly at risk from climate change. Some of Rwanda’s land surface is estimated to be degraded because of soil erosion, salinization, pollution, and loss of vegetation or soil fertility. This is a result of factors including deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, overgrazing, uncontrolled mining activities, invasive alien species, and, increasingly, climate change.

Simultaneously, plastic waste continues to be a major challenge in the region. If not managed well, it contributes to environmental pollution impacting livelihoods and public health. It is in this regard that Red Rocks Initiatives for Sustainable Development initiated the idea of making eco-friendly seed bags made from banana barks due to the fact that it is illegal to import, produce, use or sell plastic bags and plastic packaging except within specific industries like hospitals and pharmaceuticals. 

Classifications

Région
Afrique de l'Est et du Sud
Ampleur de la mise en œuvre
Multinational
Ecosystème
Prairie tempérée, savane, maquis
Écosystémes des prairies
Thème
Atténuation du changement climatique
Conservation des espèces et interventions axées sur l’approche « Une seule santé »
Conservation génétique
Défis
Dégradation des terres et des forêts
Perte de biodiversité
Perte de l'écosystème
Manque d'accès au financement à long terme
Changements dans le contexte socio-culturel
Objectifs de développement durable
ODD 13 - Mesures relatives à la lutte contre les changements climatiques
Cadre de Sendai
5: Augmenter nettement, d’ici à 2020, le nombre de pays dotés de stratégies nationales et locales de réduction des risques de catastrophe.
Approches pour l’engagement des entreprises
Engagement direct avec des associations
Soumission (I)NDC
Red Rocks Initiatives

Emplacement

Musanze, Northern, Rwanda

Impacts

The project falls within the framework of environmental protection and soil conservation. Initially, we trained 20 women who have impacted over 200 other women through our monthly workshops at the center. Over the years, they produced over 15,000 seed bags, managing to sell over 70% of the igihoho seed bags to nursery bed businesses in the region. We employed 20 women of whom we had trained to make eco-friendly banana seed bags.

To ensure the sustainable use of the resource it is shown that there should be a benefit-sharing mechanism, which would also improve collaboration. Furthermore, most members of the communities are interested in participating in activities like peeling the banana barks, making the igihoho seed bags which they wish to showcase to tourists as a way of enhancing soil and environmental protection. The communities around Red Rocks need more education as to the areas in which they can participate in order to reduce poverty and ensure sustainable use of the biodegradable seed bag to educational institutions and beyond. We have long believed that helping local people is a crucial part of conservation and we have initiated major programs in education, training, health, and related areas in recent decades.

Contribué par

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Gregory Bakunzi Red Rocks Initiatives for sustainable development