Degraded landscapes in Uganda to be planted with indigenous trees
SEMBABULE – Uganda has been selected among the seven countries in Eastern and Southern Africa to implement a five-year project for the restoration of degraded landscapes in communities that are most at risk from the effects of climate change.
This is a farmer-project funded by Evergreen Global Alliance to the tune of US$ 160mln with the objective of planting trees, sequestering carbon to mitigate climate change, and improving the livelihoods of the affected communities.
The programme to plant trees on degraded landscapes is also being implemented in Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya. Uganda has received US$ 24 million [Shs 88,8 billion] to implement the project.
It has been observed that many communities in these countries including Uganda are experiencing rising temperatures, pro-longed dry seasons, unpredictable rainfall, intense storms, and strong winds due to increasing deforestation.
Technical country manager for Restore Africa project under Catholic Relief Services [CRS] in Uganda, Tomson Okot-Chono said under the programme, Uganda will restore 560,000 hectares of degraded landscapes in 34 districts by encouraging farmers to plant indigenous trees and shrubs for carbon capture.
”We are focusing on indigenous trees of musizi [maesopsis eminii], Musambya [markhamia lutea], grevillea rubosta, mvule [milicia excelsa], mahogany and albizia coriaria that would sequester carbon and support diverse landscapes” he said adding that trees with widespread thick canopies and shrubs cultivated by farmers will be able generate carbon credit at least every five years.
Research studies have indicated that land restoration, regeneration, and carbon sequestration contribute more to increased resilient to climate extremes.
Okot-Chono said the programme will run from 2023 to 2027and it will improve livelihoods of the target 352,500 small-scale farming and pastoral households in the regions of Uganda’s cattle corridor, Karamoja, Mount Elgon and Rwenzori regions.
Meanwhile, CRS has partnered with Uganda Land Care Network [ULN]to implement the tree initiative in the cattle corridor districts of Sembabule, Lyantonde, Mubende, Kassanda, Kiboga which are in dire need of re-forestation. High demand for tree products, industries and the existing gold mines in Mubende district have led to severe environmental degradation as landscapes have been left bare.
During the launch of the tree planting project in Sembabule and Lyantonde, Mathias Wakulira the Uganda Land care network extension officer said they have started mobilising farmer communities and scale up the use of indigenous trees within farming system. ”We have started providing suitable drought-resistant trees which are adapted to the local climate and that would help to reduce green house gas emissions and promote biodiversity,” he said.
Wakulira said the trees when planted on degraded landscape will strengthen the local environment against the effects of climate change, improve food security and diversify livelihoods.
He said ULN will promote agro-forestry and work closely with small-scale and medium-scale tree seed suppliers and nursery operators to provide varieties of indigenous tree species.
Wakulira said they want a farmer to at least dedicate 40 trees on 2 acres of land, adding that every farmer will be given a small monetary incentive.
He noted that forests are important natural carbon sinks and comprise nearly three-quarters of the mitigation potential of natural climate solutions.
Wakulira said they plan to plant about 950,000 tree species of musizi Musambya grevillea rubosta, mvule, mahogany and albizia coriaria in Lyantonde district on 21,504 hectares targeting over 13,536 households in the subcounties of Kaliiro, Kunuuka, Mpumudde and Lyantonde rural. He said the trees on different farmlands will act as windbreaks, soil stabilisers, reduce top soil loss.
Lyantonde district production officer, Kenneth Twesigomwe urged farmers to desist from deforestation and continue planting trees, saying they contribute to rain formation.
He said some small-scale farmers have already planted shrubs with leguminous trees that fix nitrogen in the soils and that this will reduce dependence on inorganic fertilisers.
Sembabule district forest officer, Henry Bukenya said the district’s natural grassland and woodland have been depleted of their grasses and trees due to charcoal burning, especially in the sub-counties of Lugusuulu, Lwebitakuli, Mijwala and part of Mateete Sub-county.
He said they plan to plant trees which are climate-smart and pro-environment. “These trees will provide leaves for livestock fodder and branches for firewood,” he said.
He said that indigenous trees provide crucial ecosystem services for agriculture, including protection against soil erosion, micro-climate control, nitrogen fixation and they also act as habitat for bees as pollinators.
However, farmers have been warned against planting trees which reduce yields by competing with food crops for important resources such as sun, water, soil nutrients, and pollination services. 2
“They should stick to trees and forests that would help to mitigate and adapt to climate change and provide nutrient-rich foods.”
https://thecooperator.news/mitigating-climate-partners-launch-campaign-to-plant-trees-in-nebbi/
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