Kanungu households embark on 100 acre afforestation journey
In celebration of World Environment Day, communities near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have launched an effort to afforest over 100 acres with indigenous trees.
Over 85 households in Mpungu and Kinabo sub-counties, Kanungu district in southwestern Uganda, have committed to a sustainable land use alternative to tea farming.
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Through their community-based organization "Change a Life Bwindi," the residents have planted 20,000 out of the 50,000 trees targeted for planting by the end of 2024.
Christine Katushabe, the founder of the community- based organisation explained that the initiative aims at creating a conservancy and improving the Bwindi ecosystem using not only the indigenous tree species but also the knowledge and cultural science of the Batwa people who lived in the jungles for a long time.
"We first identified degraded areas within the buffer zone and approached respective owners of such land who bought the idea of afforestation," noted Katushabe.
Nursery beds of indigenous tree species were established from where tree seedlings have been transplanted to the slopes of rugged Bwindi terrain.
Christopher Byaruhanga and Philemon Tumwesigye, the area residents intimated that among the planted tree species include, Cordia Africana, Prunus Africana, Ficus Natalensis, Dodonia Viscosa, Aidia Coriaria, Beilschmedia Ugandesis, Carapa Procera, Galinier Saxiflaga and Musanga leo- errerae among others.
These, according to Byaruhanga, are of high significance to life, most of them being medicinal.
Donarta Tusiime of Rushasha village in Mpungu sub-county said community members were trained in sustainable land management practices with an inclination to the critical role of forest conservation in sustaining the environment and livelihoods.
"Utilising our pieces of land to plant trees will enable us to harvest fruits, firewood, medicine and purified sources of water as we ensure the protection of the environment," said Tusiime.
Justus Wamala gave up his 56 acres of land to plant indigenous trees, a move he optimistically claims is more sustainably rewarding.
According to community members, the initial stage of acquiring tree seedlings and planting was sponsored by Ecosia, an online search engine whose efforts are geared towards planting trees across the world.
"Whereas we can acquire funding and purchase land, we are trying to avoid a situation where community members sell off their land and become squatters with no employment and livelihood," remarked Katushabe.
While households allocate portions of their land for tree planting, they still retain sufficient land for cultivation and food production.
Katushabe mentions that they began their efforts with areas adjacent to the Bwindi forest, particularly focusing on degraded swampy regions, and are now expanding into other types of terrain.
