Environment & Sustainability Guide
Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies in Burundi
Air Quality Index
Air quality data for Burundi is limited, but deforestation and biomass burning for charcoal production contribute to air pollution. With 95% of households relying on firewood and charcoal, indoor and outdoor air quality is significantly impacted by smoke emissions from traditional energy sources.
Water Quality
Burundi's water quality is threatened by soil erosion and deforestation, which increase sediment and pollution in water systems. The country has abundant freshwater resources from lakes and rivers including the Ruzizi and Nyabarongo, but these are increasingly vulnerable to degradation from land erosion and agricultural runoff.
Recycling System
No comprehensive recycling infrastructure data is available for Burundi. The country's waste management systems are underdeveloped, with limited formal recycling programs. Efforts focus primarily on addressing deforestation and land degradation rather than circular economy initiatives.
Green Spaces
Burundi's forest cover has critically declined from 20% in 2000 to 10.8% in 2024, with natural forests experiencing severe pressure. Between 2021 and 2024, 95% of tree cover loss occurred in natural forests, totaling 9.56 kha. The country's biodiversity is rich with endemic species, but ecosystems are increasingly threatened by deforestation and soil erosion.
Environmental Policies
Burundi submitted its revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in October 2021, committing to reduce emissions by 3.04% unconditionally by 2030, or 12.61% with international support. The NDC includes expanded adaptation ambition and a logical framework for monitoring implementation. Environmental policies address deforestation, land degradation, and climate resilience, with participation from women, youth, indigenous communities, and civil society.
- •Revised NDC (2021) with emission reduction targets
- •National Development Plan targeting 16% restoration of degraded lands
- •Forest governance and sustainable energy transition initiatives
- •Climate resilience and landscape restoration programs
Natural Disaster Risk
HIGHBurundi faces escalating natural disaster risk driven by climate change and environmental degradation. Soil erosion is the primary concern, with sediment loss projected to increase 69% by 2030 and 200% by 2050 from 2020 levels. Floods and water-related disasters are increasing due to deforestation and land degradation. The country loses 5.2% of land area annually to soil degradation since 2020.
Sustainability Initiatives
The 'Ewe Burundi Urambaye' project aims to plant trees and strengthen the country's forest cover. The National Development Plan targets restoration of 16% of degraded lands to their former agricultural productivity. Youth-led groups like Greening Burundi are pushing for stronger community involvement in forest conservation and sustainable practices.
With 95% of households relying on firewood and charcoal, a shift to renewable energy is identified as crucial for reducing deforestation pressure. Initiatives focus on transitioning away from biomass energy dependence through sustainable energy alternatives, though specific renewable energy deployment programs are limited.
The World Bank-Government of Burundi joint initiative 'Tackling Climate Change, Land Degradation and Fragility' aims to scale up climate resilience and landscape restoration. The program identifies 118 collines as hotspots for soil erosion and develops multi-sector investment plans to address compounded climate, poverty, and conflict vulnerabilities.
Coffee supply chain actors in Burundi are working toward deforestation-free certification and EUDR (European Union Deforestation Regulation) compliance. Supply chains are being assessed, geotagged, and mapped to strengthen traceability and ensure sustainable practices, with collaboration between government bodies and NGOs.
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