It is very hard to find tree species that are 60 years and more in the Elgon Region. That’s the main reason why some of the areas along the slopes of Mount Elgon are devastated by disasters such as landslides. People have deeply cultivated the slopes and cut down trees which would have helped in holding the soils together on the mountain slopes.
Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE), an NGO currently running a tree planting campaign in the districts that make up the Elgon Sub region, is encouraging planting of trees through giving people high-quality tree seedlings at no cost. This month, METGE hit the 15 million mark of trees planted in the region since 2010.
According to METGE Programs Manager, Mr Godfrey Natwaluma, their aim is to restore the indigenous tree species such as Albisia coriaria, Cordia Africana, Maesopsis emnii, Markhamia lutea, Local Muvule that are being threatened to extinct and have a high potential of absorbing atmospheric carbon. Speaking to our reporter about this milestone, he attributed the achievement partly to efforts from local communities.
“We are delighted to have hit the landmark of 15 million trees. It is a testament to the hard work of the communities and local organizations in Mbale and neighboring Districts who have worked tirelessly to make it happen” He said adding that their ultimate goal is 25 million trees by 2025.
“Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise has supported over 30,000 households in 7 districts to plant trees. Over the period, we are proud as Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise to have supported over 30,000 households in the districts of Manafwa, Sironko,Mbale, Namisindwa, Bulambuli and Bududa to plant trees.” He said. These districts have all previously experienced the devastating landslides.
Ms Joanita Mbabazi, the Communications Manager METGE, says the technical field teams through their implementing partners have been in position to monitor the production process of tree seedlings right away from a network of 45 community tree nursery beds (managed by the organization) and there are plans to expand the project to Teso sub-region by bringing Bukedea District on board.
She says, the target beneficiaries are always sensitized about tree planting and before they collect the seedlings from the nurseries to plant on their own land where they are monitored using Global Positioning System technology –GPS.
“About 60 per cent of the beneficiaries who plant trees every year are visited and the GPS locations of the farms where trees are planted are taken to ease the monitoring process and encourage nurturing of trees to maturity so as to be able to absorb atmospheric carbon,” Ms Mbabazi noted.
She thanked the Welsh Government and Size of Wales for supporting the tree planting camapaigns especially in the landslide devastated region Elgon sub-region. She attributed the 15 million milestone to the support from the Welsh Government.
Available statistics show that Uganda’s forest cover plummeted from 24 per cent of it’s total land area in 1990 to 9 per cent in 2015 and currently at about 9 per cent. According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, approximately 2 per cent (about 122,000 hectares) of the national forest cover is lost every year and indigenous tree species on private land mainly are the ones being affected. The ministry of environment says government is committed to planting and growing 40 million trees annually and mainly indigenous trees with at least about 200 million trees grown in the coming five years.
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