Uganda Plant A Tree Campaign 2018
Greening Uganda on the 20th of September 2018, joined the Uganda government departments e.g. National Forest Authority & Uganda Revenue Authority in a National #PlantATreeCampaign aimed at planting 10,000,000 trees in one day. Greening Uganda under its Corporate Social Responsibility Docket donated and planted 15,000 trees in Schools, Hospitals, Police Barracks and Streets at a cost of .75,000,000 (Seventy Five Million Uganda Shillings) 20,380 US$. Cost per seedling of mature 1 minute long seedling is 5,000shs, the purpose for planting mature tree seedlings is to increase survival rate, young trees can easily be trampled or eaten by urban roaming animals.
Biomass studies by the National Forestry Authority of 2015 identified massive deforestation as one of the most critical environmental crises facing Uganda. Uganda’s forest cover across the country tremendously declined from 24% (4,933,271 hectares (Ha)) of land area in the 1990 to less than the current 9% (1,956,664Ha) in 2018. That Uganda has lost about 3,000,000 ha of forest cover in 25 years is very alarming. To reverse this loss by 2040, we need to restore at least 136,000 Ha annually.
More About Uganda Plant A Tree Campaign 2018
Forest loss has been driven by illegal logging to meet huge demands for timber, fuelwood including charcoal, carving, unsustainable agricultural practices, urbanization and unregulated livestock grazing.
The high rate of deforestation has led to habitat loss and species extinction, and soil degradation resulting in poor crop yield. Deforestation is also contributing to climate change effects and destabilizing water cycle leading to disappearance of local streams, frequent weather and climatic variability including droughts, interruptions of frequency and intensity of rains resulting into floods and landslides in the highland areas. This has affected crop and livestock yields hence livelihoods.
As you are aware, the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995, empowers Government to protect and preserve the environment from abuse, pollution and degradation; to manage the environment for sustainable development; and to promote environmental awareness.
The National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 2003 provides for tree planting and growing and also regulates sustainable utilization of forest products.
The National development Plan II (2015 – 2020) sets a target of restoring the forest cover from 9% to 18% by the year 2020. For this to be achieved, concerted efforts of all stakeholders is required. In this regard, Cabinet gazetted four National Tree Planting Days, i.e., 8th March, 1st May, 5th June and 12thAugust every year to coincide with International Women’s’ Day, Labour Day, World Environment Day and International Youth Day celebrations respectively.
To reverse deforestation, we must massively and progressively increase tree cover through tree planting and management of existing forests in a way that is sustainable, improves community livelihoods and supports income generation with the long-term vision of increased forest and tree cover and conserving the environment.
This Corporate Social Responsibility program targeting planting 10,000,000 trees (10,000 Hectares) is geared towards increasing the forest and tree cover in Uganda.