Executive management
The main missions of the General Directorate of the Burundian Office for the Protection of the Environment are as follows:
1. Ensure compliance with the Water Code, the Forest Code, the Environment Code and other texts related to the Protection of the Environment;
2. Establish and monitor international trade and exchange mechanisms for species of fauna and flora;
3. Enforce environmental standards and propose all safeguard and nature protection measures;
4. Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of development programs to ensure compliance with environmental standards in the planning and execution of all development projects, likely to have a negative impact on the environment;
5. Ensure the implementation of obligations arising from international conventions and agreements relating to the environment to which Burundi is a party;
6. Identify and propose new areas for protection and other areas rich in biodiversity requiring special protection measures;
7. Undertake and encourage research and accompanying measures for the maintenance of biological diversity;
8. Establish quality standards for forest species;
9. Put in place climate change mitigation and adaptation mechanisms;
10. Prepare technical files for the National Environment Commission.
Directorate of Forests
Its mission is to:
1. Ensuring the execution and monitoring of Government policies on the development and management of forest resources;
2. Centralize data on forests and protected areas in collaboration with the technical services concerned;
3. Put in place mechanisms to monitor and manage protected areas;
4. Develop management and development plans for protected areas;
5. Prepare reports on the state of forest resources in Burundi;
6. Implement national forest policies;
7. Promote activities for the protection, safeguarding and management of forests and protected areas;
8. Produce an annual national report on the state of health of protected areas;
9. Create connecting corridors of protected areas within a national and regional framework to ensure the survival of a large maximum of biodiversity;
10. Put in place mechanisms for the rational enhancement of the biological resources of protected areas;
11. Promote ex-situ conservation through the creation of botanical gardens, arboretums, zoos and other vivariums;
12. Develop and develop a structuring and pricing policy and strategy for the timber industry;
13. Ensure the availability and quality of Forest and agro-forestry seeds adapted to the water balance (climate-soil-vegetation interaction);
14. Develop a forest management master plan;
15. Make the extension of the wooded space on the lands of reforestation of bare ridges, agroforestry
16. Maintain and protect forest resources
17. Promote the active participation of the population in community management and the development of the forest heritage through agroforestry and rural forestry.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change is responsible for:
1. Ensure the coordination of interventions in the field of climate change;
2. Analyze Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA);
3. Monitor the protection of green spaces and safeguard areas; Monitor on a daily basis the implementation of the policy, the national strategy and the Action Plan on climate change by the various stakeholders;
4. Monitor invasive species and put in place mechanisms for their eradication;
5. Promote research and development on climate change;
6. Prepare reports on the state of the environment in Burundi;
7. Implement your national environment and climate change policies;
8. Promote your environmental protection, nature conservation and restoration activities;
9. Put in place measures to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change;
10. Develop a national strategy on air pollution;
11. Develop a national strategy on persistent organic pollutants.
The Administrative and Financial Department is responsible for:
1. Ensure the management of human and material resources of the Office;
2. Establish the provisional budget, revise and execute it;
3. Control cash and accounting entries;
4. Produce financial reports;
5. Draw up the balance sheet at the end of the financial year.