Farmers across Rwanda are growing increasingly worried as a disease attacks eucalyptus trees, threatening forests that communities rely on for timber, water, and soil protection.
The culprit is a tiny insect, known as the eucalyptus lice, which sucks moisture from leaves, causing them to yellow, curl, and eventually dry. First detected in Rwanda in 2013, the pest has now spread nationwide, affecting almost all eucalyptus species except for a few resistant varieties.
In Bushenge sector, Theophile Nkurizabo watches helplessly as his family’s eucalyptus trees wither. “These trees have been part of our land for decades. Now I see them drying, and I fear losing my whole forest,” he said. His neighbor, Daniel Haryohumuco, shared the same concerns: “If nothing is done, Rwanda risks losing its eucalyptus forests.”
Experts trace the insects back to Australia. After spreading through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Uganda, the pests reached Rwanda and have thrived, especially during dry seasons and in poorly managed forests.
“The insects weaken the trees and spread quickly, particularly when soil water is low,” explained Dismas Bakundukize, director of Forestry Management at the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority (RNRA). “Currently, there is no effective insecticide. Research is ongoing, but chemical treatments could harm other living things and the environment.”
While the insects do not harm humans directly, they threaten forests that provide livelihoods, fuelwood, and water protection. In response, RNRA and district forest officers are running awareness campaigns to teach farmers proper forest management techniques, such as terracing, conserving soil moisture, and reporting unusual tree conditions.
The outbreak comes as Rwanda is expanding its climate and forest restoration efforts. In 2020, the government launched the Green Amayaga Project, a six-year, Rwf31.9 billion initiative to restore degraded forests in Southern Province. The project aims to rehabilitate 550 hectares, benefit 1.3 million people, create 150,000 green jobs, and reduce millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades.
Bakundukize described the project as “more than planting trees. Restoring forests strengthens our resilience to climate change, supports livelihoods, and demonstrates that nature is our best ally against global warming.”
So far, the Green Amayaga initiative has planted hundreds of thousands of trees, restored riverbanks, and implemented erosion control measures across thousands of hectares. Thousands of families have received clean cooking stoves and livestock, improving both income and food security.
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), praised Rwanda’s efforts, noting that restoring forests is vital for climate adaptation and biodiversity protection. “But invasive pests like eucalyptus lice show that ecosystems remain fragile and require constant care,” he said.
For farmers like Nkurizabo, time is of the essence. “We depend on these trees for our land, our water, and our future. We hope scientists find a solution soon. Until then, we must protect what we can and manage our forests carefully.”
The eucalyptus crisis serves as a stark reminder that while Rwanda has made significant progress in forest restoration, challenges remain. Protecting the country’s green cover will require science, community action, and vigilance against emerging threats to its ecosystems.
