APA – Kigali (Rwanda) – Rwandan officials on Friday launched a first drone dedicated to collect information, conduct inspections for prevention and support investigations of environmental crimes.
The drone named “Inganji I”. aims to help relevant enforcement agencies to track people responsible for environmental crimes, ”whenever we have a case we investigate it thoroughly and follow the legal procedures\\ says the Rwandan Environment ministry in a statement.
Since November 2015, a specialised unit from Rwanda National Police charged with conserving the environment has been established to conduct a countrywide systematic mapping of environmental crimes to effectively conduct investigations aimed at combating threats to the ecosystem.
The Police Environment Protection Unit is operational in all districts, having liaison officers. It makes spontaneous checks at porous borders, has periodical joint operation with park managers in national parks and conducts periodical training of Police officers and game rangers on a series of environmental conservation.
The unit protects the environment in all its aspects including air space, forestry and biodiversity, as well as the enforcement of different legal instruments, it said.
The illicit trade and laundering of illegally mined non-renewables are significant for Rwanda, and commonly believed to be one of the drivers of the country’s growth.
Rwanda is a source and transit country for birds traded on the exotic pet market such as the grey crowned crane, which has had a significant reduction in population.
A high degree of deforestation can be observed in Rwanda, as people exploit bamboo or firewood for fuel.
CU/as/APA