Regional environmental experts, last week, met in Kigali to discuss means of strengthening their field as well as creating links with governments to enable decision makers access information.

The meeting was organised by the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS), a regional organisation focusing on the conservation of the Albertine Rift biodiversity, which stretches from the north of Lake Albert in Uganda to the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.

Participants argued that when decision makers get access to research findings, it becomes a basis on which to make informed decisions for both the population and the environment.

"As a team, we want to make sure that our findings from the works or research we conduct can be accessible to policymakers as this will greatly enable our efforts make positive impact in the lives of our people," Sam Kanyamibwa, the executive director of ARCOS, said.

Prior to the meeting, the team visited Nyungwe National Park to assess environmental conservation practices in the park.

Chemist Gumbie, a participant who represented Zimbabwe, said there was need for decision makers to consider coming up with mechanisms through which ecosystems can be protected.