Kigali — Seventeen Rwandans have been trained in ecotourism marketing and wetland management. The training provided by Kitabi College of Conservation and Environmental Management (KCCEM) from July 26 to August 26, aimed at equipping trainees on ecotourism and wetland management.

The training was funded by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA). They were trained to train others in districts where they live. Fourteen trainees come from the Northern Province near Rugezi Wetland while the rest live near Kamiranzovu wetland, Nyamagabe District, Southern Province.

The two wetlands have been encroached by human activities especially growing of foodstuffs and the government wants them restored and reserved because of their utmost importance for environmental conservation, according to the Director General Rwanda Environment Management Authority, Rose Mukankomeje.

KCCEM, a public institution in the southern province run by the Rwanda Tourism and Conservation arm of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), is a new training centre with a vision to become a mid level college of conservation and environmental management of choice in the Albertine Rift. It offers short and long term courses.

It started as a project in June 2006 and it will be officially opened before end of this year. It has so far trained more than 340 Rwandans.