The department is mandatedto enforce the implementation of national policies, regulations and Council ordinances on sustainable utilization of natural resources, provision of extension services, appraising technical proposals in regard to environment Impact assessment (EIA), preparing and submitting work plans and Budgets to Council and to manage issues of land tenure The District is endowed with a number of potential resources as shown below;

Central Forest Reserves
Only five forest reserves are found in Rubanda District. These are Mafuga, Kiirima, Muko, Echuya and Bwindi. The plantations are indicated below.

Reserve	County	Type of Forest	Total Area(ha)
Mafuga	Rubanda/Kanungu	Coniferous plantation	2,670
Kirima	Rubanda	Coniferous plantation	1,028
Echuya	Rubanda/Bufumbira	Bamboo	3,405
Muuko	Rubanda	Coniferous plantation	168
Bwindi	Rubanda/Bufumbira	Impenetrable

The Coniferous/industrial plantations are mainly softwood plantations for pines and Cypress. Timber is being produced from the industrial plantations by both saw millers and pit sawyers. The only significant existent Natural forest is in Bwindi National Park in the north west of the District and Echuya. It should be noted that increased population pressure on land has led to disappearance of almost all the original natural vegetation in the District. It should be noted that the District does not possess any gazetted Local forest reserves.

The status of wetlands in the District

S/N	Name of wetland	Location	Status	App. Size (sq.km)
3	Kanyambogo-Karukara	Muko	Partially intact	0.1
6	Murago-Kinyarushengye	Bufundi	Intact	0.3
9	Echuya	Muko	Intact	2
10	Lake Bunyonyi system	Muko, Bufundi,	Partially intact	5
11	Kihorongwa	Ruhija	Intact	0.13
12	Iyamuriro	Muko	Partially intact	5

Minerals
The District has a number of minerals. Over 200 million tons (MT) of iron ore reserves at Muko but other places with iron ore include Hamurwa. Wolfram in Muko, and other minerals such as Native Bismuth, Speculite hematite, etc.

Lakes
The District has only one small lake, Lake Bunyonyi that is shared with Kabale District and has a very rich potential of tourism.