Uganda advances forest conservation with public awareness and tech

Summary:

• Uganda has made strides in forest conservation through public awareness and technology. Forest cover has increased, but deforestation remains a challenge. Efforts include pledges for land restoration and tree planting campaigns. Collaboration with China and adoption of technology aid conservation.

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In recent times, Uganda has made remarkable progress in promoting forest conservation, propelled by intensified public awareness campaigns and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. These endeavors are now yielding encouraging outcomes.

Over the years, Uganda has witnessed a notable increase in forest cover, rising from 9 percent in 2015 to 13 percent in 2021, with projections indicating a further increase to 15 percent by 2025, as per data from the National Forest Authority, the nation’s state-run forest conservation body. This positive trajectory comes after a significant decline in forest cover, plummeting from 25 percent of the country’s landmass in 1990 to approximately 9 percent in 2015.

Despite these strides, Uganda is confronted with the urgent challenge of fulfilling its national and global commitments to forest protection and restoration, primarily due to rampant deforestation. The country has been losing around 122,000 hectares of forests annually since 1990, raising concerns that without intervention, Uganda risks losing all its forests by 2030, largely driven by the burgeoning human population.

To tackle these pressing issues, Uganda pledged during the 2014 Climate Change Summit to restore 2.5 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and launched a campaign to plant 40 million trees annually, prioritizing indigenous species. These initiatives underscore Uganda’s dedication to sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation.

Leveraging contributions from private individuals, governmental bodies, and development partners, Uganda has embarked on various initiatives, harnessing technology to bolster forest conservation efforts.

Zainabu Kakungulu, a program officer for capacity development at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, underscored the escalating significance of technology in forest management and conservation. She emphasized that technology facilitates a deeper understanding of forest dynamics, enabling more effective protection measures. In Uganda, Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing technologies, including drones, are deployed for forest surveying and mapping.

“Technology allows us to swiftly gather vital information on forest health, losses, and gains, crucial for effective conservation endeavors,” Kakungulu remarked.

In addition to digital innovations, Uganda is embracing bioscience. Charles Bukuwa, director of Bukuwa Nurseries SMC Ltd, a private tree nursery operator, utilizes biotechnology to cultivate fast-growing, drought-resistant, and pest-resistant trees.

“If we aim to harvest more while planting less, we need technology that can provide us with stock or trees capable of rapid growth to bridge this gap. Tree biotechnology is the path forward,” Bukuwa explained.

Operating across three different regions, Bukuwa’s nurseries produce between 600,000 to 800,000 eucalyptus tree seedlings per two seasons annually.

With heightened public awareness regarding the escalating demand for timber and the diminishing supply due to deforestation, many individuals are now venturing into tree planting as a viable business endeavor.

Bukuwa believes that with this increased awareness, augmenting forest cover to surpass the rate of destruction would become more feasible.

Bukuwa isn’t alone in his efforts; thousands of other tree nursery operators nationwide are meeting the escalating demand for tree seedlings.

According to the National Forest Authority, an average of approximately 7,000 hectares of planted forests have been established annually over the last 15 years.

As part of its forest conservation initiatives, Uganda has strengthened its collaboration with China in recent years.

Both Kakungulu and Bukuwa underscored that, alongside national-level campaigns initiated by the central government, Chinese citizens are encouraged to adopt or nurture trees, contribute funds, and participate in volunteer activities related to tree conservation.

Kakungulu stressed the necessity for Ugandans to embrace a culture of tree care to safeguard forest conservation.

In 2023, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China reported significant accomplishments in afforestation, with the country planting approximately 8.33 million hectares of trees and grass.

Bukuwa noted that Chinese children are instilled with the importance of trees from an early age, suggesting that education regarding tree conservation and environmental awareness should be integrated into Uganda’s school curriculum for lower learning levels, mirroring China’s approach.

“China has imparted invaluable lessons. Some of the technology originated from China, and many tree planting schemes draw inspiration from China. You can even witness bamboo growth,” Bukuwa remarked.

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