Forest owners in Nyabihu concerned about leaf theft for oil extraction
Residents of several sectors in Nyabihu District are alarmed by thieves targeting their forests, stripping tree leaves to sell to investors operating factories that extract oil reportedly used for medicinal purposes.
This issue is said to be escalating, and forest owners fear falling into extreme poverty if these activities are not curtailed. They also warn of environmental consequences resulting from forest destruction.
A resident of Birembo Cell, Rambura Sector, said:
“These thieves invade our forests, climb trees, break branches, strip all the leaves, and pack them for sale to oil extraction factories. They damage the trees so much that they can no longer grow properly. We planted these trees hoping to sell them when mature or use them for timber, but now we’re facing huge losses. The government should step in and stop these people because they’re disrupting our livelihoods.”
The problem reportedly affects sectors such as Rambura, Jomba, Rurembo, and Muringa. However, forest owners claim they have little control over the culprits. Even when they report the issue to local authorities, solutions are either delayed or ineffective.
Another resident from Nyamitanzi Cell, Jomba Sector, added:
“Tree leaves have become valuable here. They use large tanks and machines set up in fields or forests to extract oil from the leaves. The thieves sell them at 20 Rwandan Francs per kilogram. If someone collects over 100 kilograms a day, they profit while the tree owners bear the losses.”
“These factories are growing in number, with at least two or three in every sector. We’re not against development, but the factory owners should verify the source of the leaves they purchase. Without intervention, we risk losing our forests entirely, leading to poverty and disasters.”
Nyabihu District Mayor, Mukandayisenga Antoinette, stated that the district was unaware of the issue but promised action. She said:
“We are going to investigate this matter. Anyone found responsible, whether investors or collaborating residents, will face the law. Residents should promptly report such incidents to local authorities for immediate intervention.”
She added:
“Our agreements with these investors require them to coordinate with forest owners before undertaking any activities. We’ll follow up to ensure compliance because we cannot tolerate the destruction of forests, which not only harms individuals but also has broader environmental consequences.”
Nyabihu District is prone to natural disasters, and reforestation efforts have been a critical strategy to mitigate the impact of soil erosion and landslides. Residents are encouraged to harvest trees only when mature and to plant two trees for every one cut down to protect the environment.
