Environmental awareness took center stage in the cultural scene on Saturday 27 June 2026 at the University of Goma (UNIGOM), on the Lac campus (formerly Kinyumba). Organized by Tayna Community Radio and Television (RTCT), a public broadcast of ‘Sauti ya Mazingira’ brought together around a hundred students from various faculties to discuss environmental protection issues, just a few days before the launch of Environment Month.

To kick off the discussions, the Inter-Community Cultural Group for Peace performed an intercultural dance highlighting the environmental challenges facing North Kivu province. Through choreography, songs and messages of social commitment, the artists encouraged young people to adopt responsible behavior to help preserve nature, thereby illustrating the role that culture can play in raising public awareness.

A guest on the program, Mr Jean-Pierre Katusele, who has been involved in reforestation activities in Goma for several years, reflected on the major environmental changes the city has undergone over the last three decades.

“Since 1994, the city of Goma has been experiencing profound environmental disruption. Deforestation in Virunga National Park, uncontrolled urbanization, mass population displacement and the volcanic eruptions of 2002 and 2021 have profoundly transformed our environment. Today, we are already feeling the effects of these changes, particularly through rising temperatures,” he explains.

Despite the reforestation efforts undertaken by various stakeholders, he believes the challenges remain considerable. “We are doing our best to reforest the city, but the needs are still immense. Young people must get more involved. We must not, under any circumstances, downplay this threat. We are only passing through this world, but we have a responsibility to preserve a healthy environment for present and future generations,” he says.

For his part, Timothée Buhashe, coordinator of the Ecological Brigade – an organization bringing together student environmentalists from various faculties at the University of Goma – emphasized the need to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and the realities experienced by communities.

“We generate a great deal of knowledge on environmental issues, but we have a problem with making it accessible to the public. All too often, this knowledge remains confined to universities rather than being used for the benefit of communities,” he laments.

In his view, sustainable solutions require collaboration between researchers and local people. “Communities also possess knowledge that we must listen to. By combining this with scientific knowledge, we can develop solutions tailored to our context. Together, we can slow down this environmental crisis,” he concludes.

The event concluded with artistic performances, serving as a reminder that the fight against climate change is not solely the responsibility of scientists or decision-makers, but can also be championed by artists, young people and cultural figures.

This initiative comes at a time when Goma is facing pressure on its vegetation cover. According to data from Global Forest Watch, the city lost 38 hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2025, representing a decrease of around 4 per cent compared with the level recorded in 2000. This decline is mainly linked to urban expansion, population pressure and deforestation.

Article and video edited by Victoire Katembo Mbuto