Today 2nd August 2023; 109 students from INES_Ruhengeri, department of land administration and management come to visit Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) to explore and learn from youth engaged in wildlife conservation. 

Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) as an organization lead by youth aim to save our planet by engaging our generation to love and protect flora and fauna with great pleasure welcomed students from INES_Ruhengeri at both office, plant nursery bed and at the buffer zone of Mukungwa river. 

At Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) office; SHEMA Serge, the Executive Director of Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) explained how shifting from humanitarian, tourism to wildlife conservation was done by passion and welcomed students from INES_Ruhengeri to think big, start small and start now. 

SHEMA Serge after explaining the mission of Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) as "Healthy biodiversity valued by societies", He summarized the current programs of Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI): -Restoration and conservation of flora and fauna, -Climate change mitigation, -Empowering local community, -Sustainable waste Management and Eco-Agriculture. 

After being aware on Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) programs, students from INES_Ruhengeri lead by Lecturer IDUKUNDA Clementine, PhD candidate at University of Namur went to visit a plant nursery bed of indigenous plants where Habarurema Theogene, WCI Project officer with students had a packing pot, sawing, watering, shading and grafting demonstration to enhance students knowledge on how to install a plant nursery bed to prepare the future land administrator and managers. 

A tour at plant nursery bed, SAFARI Claude, WCI Program Manager with students explored the following types of trees at plant nursery bed: Indigenous plants to be used in restoration and conservation of Mukungwa river:  Ficus toningii (Umuvumu), Ficus vallischoudae (Umurehe), Erythrina abysinica (Igiko), Polysias fulva (Umwungo), Vernomia amygdalina (Umubirizi) Tetradenia riparia (Umuravumba), Markamia lutea (Umusave), Clotonia megalopus, Maesopsis emunii, Spathodea campanulate. 

Agro forestry plants used to improve local community farming practices:
Alnus acuminate, Recena lecosefala, Cariandra species, Bambusa species. Fruits and vegetables plants to improve the wellbeing of local communities: Persea Americana.

  
After being learning from youth, engaged in wildlife conservation, students took action of planting 226 indigenous trees aim to restore and conserve the buffer zone of Mukungwa River to improve its water quality, reduce erosion and improve local community livelihoods. 

The field visit helps INES_Ruhengeri students to hands on skills on environment and natural resources management for future land administrators & managers. Students made engagement posters and aim to take action to save flora and fauna.

Class representatives of land administration and management namely: IRADUKUNDA Jeannette, UWEMEYE Cerena, DUSENGIMANA Mugisha Pacifique and SHEMA Francis thank both Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) and  INES_Ruhengeri   for great opportunity to learn from fellow youth, being engaged and take action to restore and conserve wildlife and wild places. 

IDUKUNDA Clemence, INES_Ruhengeri representatives thank Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) to welcome, engage and help students to take action aim to restore and conserve the buffer zone of Mukungwa river. 

Wildlife conservation initiative (WCI) welcomes inbound and outbound partners for restoration and conservation of the buffer zone of Mukungwa River. Thank you.