Adjumani District has surpassed its institutional woodlot establishment targets under a climate-smart development programme, as stakeholders planted 5,000 trees at Arinyapi Seed Secondary School to mark World Environment Day.
The tree-planting exercise, held last week, brought together students, district leaders, conservation experts and development partners in a joint effort to promote environmental restoration and climate resilience in one of the district's most climate-vulnerable areas.
The 5,000 clonal eucalyptus seedlings were planted on five acres of school land, with project implementers adopting recommended spacing standards to promote healthy growth and long-term sustainability.
The activity was conducted under the Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Project, a government initiative funded by the World Bank and implemented through a consortium comprising NIRAS International Consulting, the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST), Havilah Company Limited and Green Life International.
Project records show that Adjumani District has exceeded its institutional woodlot target of 368 hectares, establishing 601 hectares to date. The district has also surpassed its farmer enrollment target, registering 1,085 farmers against an initial target of 1,000.
ECOTRUST, which leads community engagement and farmer mobilization under the project, coordinated the tree-planting exercise and worked with local leaders, students and school administrators to establish the woodlot.
District officials said Arinyapi was selected because of its vulnerability to the effects of climate change, including prolonged dry spells and seasonal flooding.
Speaking during the event, Adjumani District Natural Resources Officer Charles Gayoyo said the initiative is intended to strengthen environmental protection and safeguard critical water catchment areas.
“Arinyapi is one of the areas most affected by climate change in Adjumani. During the dry season, it becomes extremely hot, and when it rains, the area experiences flooding. Our goal is to protect the Tete River catchment and River Nile. If we plant more trees, we will protect our water resources and strengthen our environment for future generations,” Gayoyo said.
School administrators welcomed the initiative, saying it would improve the learning environment while providing long-term environmental and economic benefits.
Deputy Head Teacher Dricih Festo Lahn said the school was grateful to have been selected for the exercise.
“We are grateful that our school has been selected for this important tree-planting exercise because it will help improve our environment and support future generations of learners,” he said.
To improve tree survival rates, project partners introduced aqua soil technology, which helps retain moisture around roots during dry periods.
Denis Emmanuel Oweka, ECOTRUST's Regional Coordinator for the West Nile North-East region, said the organization remains focused on helping communities appreciate the long-term value of conservation.
“ECOTRUST is leading community engagement, training and farmer enrollment to ensure communities understand the long-term value of environmental conservation. Today, we brought 5,000 seedlings provided by NIRAS to this school, and the students are actively participating. These learners will grow together with these trees and become future custodians of the environment,” Oweka said.
Local leaders urged students and residents to take ownership of the woodlot and ensure the trees are protected.
Adjumani District Vice Chairperson Geoffrey Obulejo said tree planting can contribute both to environmental protection and household incomes.
“The trees we are planting today will beautify the school and protect the buildings from strong winds. Trees can also become a source of income. Personally, tree planting changed my life and helped me generate income over the years. That is why I encourage the students and the school administration to protect these trees and ensure they grow,” Obulejo said.
NIRAS International Consulting, which manages the project on behalf of the Ministry of Water and Environment, attributed the programme's success to strong community participation and collaboration among implementing partners.
Speaking on behalf of NIRAS, Community Engagement Expert Deziderius Irumba said exceeding project targets demonstrates growing public commitment to conservation.
“NIRAS manages the project on behalf of the Ministry of Water and Environment, but conservation requires teamwork. We are pleased to see strong community participation and registration levels exceeding our targets. The trees belong to the community and the schools. They will contribute to livelihoods, environmental protection and long-term resilience,” Irumba said.
The IFPA-CD project is expected to conclude this month, leaving behind community and institutional woodlots aimed at supporting climate adaptation, environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods across participating districts.