One million trees in the north are just the start!

Sector Performance Report estimates Uganda’s timber needs at 750,000m3 per year (a very big muvule can have

only 2m3 of wood). The report says that sustainable harvesting of timber from Central Forest Reserves can only provide 53,000m3

per year for the next 30 years.

Less trees means less water in form of rain, poor soils, less water in our wells, lakes and rivers, no firewood, less fish. This will make life for people, animals and plants almost impossible to live.

To have enough rain, firewood and good climate, we need to plant trees and not cut natural forests.

Vol. 10 No.2 August 2010

Muge PS in Masaka

grew 80 eucalyptus

trees from Tree Talk

seed. They prune them

three times a year for

school meals. GREAT

WORK!

Write to Tree Talk PO

Box 22366, K'la for tree

seed so you can grow

trees. We have seed

for Musizi, Lusambya,

Grevillea, Mahogany,

and more.

Uganda’s forests and woodlands are disappearing. The Ministry of Water and Environment says trees on private land are likely to be exhausted within three to five years. This is very bad for humans and animals.

The Kampala, Wakiso and Entebbe forests have been replaced with houses. And, because city people need charcoal, trees are being cleared in nearby districts like Mubende, Nakasongola and Masindi.

In Eastern Uganda, bush has been replaced with crops.

On 10 August, 2010, Tree Talk joyously celebrated its

1,000,000th tree under WILD, a project of Wildlife Conservation

Society and USAID. Schools, communities and dignitaries

.

Birds are spreaders of tree seed. Many

types of seeds will not germinate

unless they have passed through the

gut of a bird. Forests are created by the

interaction between birds, animals and

seed. Let birds live to do their work.

Mayuge district has lost 100% of its tree cover. All forest land is cultivated. In Bududa, a family has just 0.5acres (half a football pitch) to live on. So people have to cut trees to dig on Mt Elgon. This caused a terrible landslide, in which many people died.

In western Uganda, woodlands are being turned into land for subsistence agriculture.

We need treesUganda’s forests support the livelihood of both the towns and villages. Trees or forests provide clean and healthy environmental conditions, helping to form rain, preventing floods, refilling underground water and providing support for wildlife which is good for tourism.

The Water and Environment

"We no longer have enough firewood. We fetch it from far. My mother says we used to have a forest where we would collect it but it was cut. Now they are growing crops on that land, I am raising these trees for firewood." Owori Ernest, 13, St James Boarding PS, Tororo

Trees for greener Uganda

The search for firewood is tiring for women and girls. We need small woodlots for firewood around our homes.

(L) Gershom Onyango, Director for Environment in the Ministry of Water and Environment, plants a mahogany, tree number 1,000,000 helped by forester Lucy Edea.

R) War against climate change: Performance of Otole dance at the event. Otole is a war dance.

A couple leaves with seedlings of Afezelia africana, a precious northern hardwood. Tree Talk gave out 9,460 seedlings from its central nursery at Paloga PS during the event.

Tree Talk, August 20102

Tree Talk 2002-10: good work, more to come

The Trees are Alive documents

Tree Talk's work since 2002. If

you would like a copy, please write

to PO Box 22366, Kampala, E-

mail: info@treetalk.or.ug for an

electronic copy of the book.

responsible for the growing of about 2.3 million trees mostly in northern Uganda -- from Yumbe to Pader -- and in Karamoja.

In total, Tree Talk has worked with over 1,000 schools to grow woodlots. About

Trees against global warming Let wildlings grow

If you want to restore an area that has lost trees, you do not always have to plant new trees. Raising seedlings, transporting them and protecting them as they establish themselves is expensive.

There is a cheaper and faster method called farmer-managed

natural regeneration

(FMNR). With this method, farmers allow trees that have seeded themselves on their land to grow. Such seedlings are called wildlings. Farmers also allow tree stumps to regenerate. Trees may also sprout from roots from a tree

that has been cut.Lophira alata is a valuable tree in northern Uganda, where it is called Oteng in Luo or Iku in Lugbara. It has dense timber which is good for heavy construction. It resists fungi, termites and wood boring insects.

In West Africa, it is considered the most durable timber. It is

stronger, harder and heavier than teak. In Uganda it grows in high rainfall wooded grassland, often in association with the Shea Nut tree.

Acholi people use the wood to make stools and chairs. People in the Lugbara-Aringa area use the seed for making oil for soap and lighting lamps. Lophira is also an insecticide although scientists

have not yet found the active ingredient.Allowing such important but neglected indigenous trees to regenerate from stumps or roots or to grow from wildlings will improve the lives of people.

A Lophira alata wildling: no

tree from outside Uganda

has as many good qualities

as Lophira.

Tree Talk started in 2002 as a newspaper. Straight Talk Foundation (STF) sent it to every school in the country --about 18,000 institutions -- with a sachet of tree seed, usually 5-10g depending upon the size of the seed.

Over the years, Tree Talk has sent out seed for many tree species, including Mahogany, Tamarind, Lusambya, Mvule, Senna, Balinites aegyptica, Musizi and Podocarpus. Not every school grew the seed and some seed was lost in transit. But many schools did grow the seed. Some of their inspiring stories and acheivements are described on page 4.

In all, Tree Talk estimates that about 200,000 trees have been grown from Tree Talk seed. This conservative figure is based on just 10% of schools growing the seed. Tree Talk is grateful to all the schools that utilised the seed and is looking forward to more intense interactions on tree growing with more schools. Please see our seed offer on page 4.

In 2006, Tree Talk moved into a new style of working. Uganda faces rapid loss of forests and trees with serious effect, yet schools and communities have an enormous need for wood. Worried that its seed model was not leading to the growing of enough trees to make a difference, Tree Talk started its first "on the ground" effort with trees.Since that time, Tree Talk has been

groups and farmers will receive "carbon credits" for their trees.

Tree Talk has large tree nurseries in Moyo, Adjumani, Gulu, Amuru, Kitgum/Lamwo and Pader. In peak potting seasons, they employ hundreds of people, mostly vulnerable single mothers and young people and extremely vulnerable people still living in IDP camps. It buys tree seed locally, thereby putting money into communities.

Tree Talk invites all interested parties to contact info@treetalk.or.ug or call 031-2-262030, 0312266148. There is a lot we can do together.

The

trees

are

alive

. Working for people and trees .

in Uganda

3,600 acres have been planted. Tree Talk is very grateful to the 1,400 teachers it trained who then spearheaded the woodlot planting.

Tree Talk is also currently working with 138 community groups. Some schools,

Global warming is the increase in the world's average surface temperature. In Africa global warming is increasing the number of droughts, floods and famines.

Africa is the most vulnerable continent to the effects of global warming but you can protect you and your family by planting trees.

One expert described global warming as a “threat multiplier”. It intensifies already existing problems such as water shortages and conflict.

It is predicted that by 2030 East Africa will suffer from some of the highest death rates from climate change in the world.

Tree growing can make Uganda a leader in the battle against global warming. One of the greatest fighters against global warming in

East Africa is Wangari Maathai.

She is a Kenyan environmental activist and founded the Green Belt Movement,

which has planted over 40 million trees on farms, school and church land in Kenya.

She has won many awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, for her

amazing work. She has loved

planting trees since she was a child.

You can be a tree-planting leader like Wangari Maathai.

She says: “One of the most important things we can and should do to fight global warming is protect and rehabilitate our forests."

Left: a Shea n ut tree

regenerating from a stump

Wangari Maathai

says: "The cost

of doing nothing

will be too

high for future

generations. The

time for forests is

now.”

Tree Talk 2002-10: good work, more to come

Tree Talk, August 20103

Telecommunication

companies can plant

trees around masts.

The trees will reduce

effects of climate

change.

Every year Uganda loses 88,000 – 92,000 hectares of forest. To regain our natural forests, we have to plant twice the number we lose. Schools, prisons, road reserves, hilltops are ideal places for planting trees.

Schools Since 2006 Tree Talk has

helped 901 schools in West

Nile, the North, Karamoja and

Kumi to plant almost 2 million

trees on almost 3500 acres of

land. The aim is for each school

in Uganda to have a woodlot,

ideally about 3-4 acres.

Children do not learn well in hot, dry,

windy schools.

PrisonsIn northern Uganda Tree Talk is working

with 6 prisons. Most prisons in Uganda

have vast land that can be used for green-

ing the communities. Openzinzi Prison in

Adjumani is planting trees on its

5000 acres of land.

Patrick Ebong, Superintendent of

Prisons, Adjumani Prison Farm,

says; "Since we started planting

trees, our prison is beginning to ex-

perience a cool atmosphere. Birds

Planting trees along roads

Where and who to plant trees?

Uganda National Road Authority(UNRA) recognises the need to use road reserves for tree planting.

Plant trees on bare hills

Every school needs

four acres of woodlot

to have enough fuel-

wood and poles. You

can use your social re-

sponsibility program to

plant trees in schools

to offset your carbon

emissions. Tree Talk can help. Call Gaster

Kiyingi: 0772448110

Where and who to plant trees?

A pupil of Paloga PS holding a neem

seedling. Neem is a medicinal tree

species that cures ailments such as

malaria, cough and stomach ache.

Godfrey Acaye, the Director for Natural Forests at National Forest Authorty (NFA) says: "We expect individuals, communities and NGOs to take the lead in tree planting, joined by corporate companies."

Work with district local government to plant trees. Land should not be a problem. NFA has bare land in Central Forest Reserves (CFR).

Contact NFA for permission to plant trees in a CFR or on forest boundaries. Those allowed to grow trees in areas protected by NFA, will be given licenses.

The trees will belong to whoever plants them.

For more

information on

planting in CFR

reserves,

contact the

nearest NFA

office in your

district.

NFA forest reserves

There are many bare hills in the country where trees have to be planted. This explains why the Farm Income Project has a program of planting trees on bare hills in different parts of the country.

Margaret Athieno, Assistant Commissioner, Forest Sector Support Department, says: "We are planting trees to cover 49,500 hectares equivalent to 54 million trees, in 100 sub-counties located in 50 districts. We aim to cover bare hills, rehabilitate degraded forests and improve Uganda's watersheds".

Kitgum prison

wardens plant a

Mvule, the 999,982th

tree. Under Tree Talk,

prisons in northern

Uganda have planted

over 100,000 trees.

Organisations

Godfrey Acaye

The project also gives seedlings and advice to people interested in tree planting.

Alex Atuyamba of the Sawlog Production Grant Scheme (SPGS) says "Communities interested in tree planting can express their interest to the project, trained and given seedlings for planting"

Odeke Michahel, NFA, adds that the Authority has a number of initiatives from which communities can benefit. You can find out from the District Forest Officer, in your home district, on how to get seedlings from these opportunities.

It is working with National Forestry Authority and Forest Sector Support to develop guidelines on how best to plant trees along roadsides.

Trees planted along roadside beautify the scenery. They can also serve as a windbreak, control erosion and runoff.

To plant trees by the roadside, or a rest stop along the road, get permission from your local leaders.

There may be rules about not growing certain types of trees and regulations regarding planting height or what types of flowers and grasses to plant. Even if you own the land, there may still be rules about how close to the roadside you may plant trees.

When you plant trees, look after them until they grow. Protect trees using baskets to guard against animals.

For more information

about planting

trees along national

roads, contact:UNRA

Environmental Officer,

Patrick Kamanda:

patrick.kamanda@unra.

go.ug

Tree Talk, August 20104

Your letters Write to PO Box 22366, Kampala.

Every letter published wins a T-shirt.

Forestry Inspection Division, National Forestry Authority and National Tree Seed Centre.

The last Tree Talk asked you what your school did with its Tree Talk

seed. Wabwire Moses of Batula Tree Talk Club, Busia wrote: “We germinated it in a nursery bed and shared the seedlings among members to plant in our homes. Some of our trees are now big enough to make shade, timber and poles.”

Byebirooha Francis of Lhuhiri PS, Kasese wrote: “We grew the seed and now have shade. Recently we sold mature trees and earned money to renovate our buildings. Our parents are copying our school. Some now grow trees and sell poles.” Thanks, boys, you win T-shirts!

Other lettersThank you, Tree Talk. You have helped me learn new important things about trees like regulating weather, and pre-venting landslides. Kabuye Ayat, Victory Border Point PS, Malaba

My father burns charcoal to raise our school fees. If charcoal was not there, we would not go to school or get what

to eat. These days trees are reducing in num-ber. The local leaders threaten to arrest those who burn charcoal but my father has not stopped. I pray that the government does not become serious about charcoal burners. Godwin M, P7, Lhuhiri PS, Kasese

Sorry, Godwin. This is

the crisis of charcoal!

Do you have land to

grow a woodlot and

diversify your family's

income? Readers, what should

Godwin's family do?

NEW QUIZ From where does your home or

-

lect from the bush or buy from

Tree Talk

What tree seed achieved for schools

Victoria PS and Orphanage Centre in Jinja has already harvested timber from trees grown from Tree Talk seed. Says director, Mrs Ndaula Annet: “When Tree Talk sent us seeds in 2005, we planted them so that we avoid incidences of storms that we suffered in 2003. We received

eucalyptus and Musizi seed. In 2007 we harvested part of our eucalyptus to roof our kraal. In 2008 we used the poles to fence the school. In March 2010, we cut one Musizi tree. The timber will help us make ten desks. We are also saving on firewood. We used to spend over UGX 300,000 on firewood per term but now we spend less! Our woodlot meets our firewood demands."

Kibedi Bylone, teacher, Iganga SDA Light PS says: "In 1999 there was a heavy storm that stripped our main classroom block roof. When we received eucalyptus, Leucaena and Senna seed through the post office in 2004, we established a nursery and raised over 2,000 seedlings. We gave some to the pupils to plant and planted others around the compound. We have so far cut ten trees. In 2008 we

Tree Talk is a project of Straight Talk Foundation, Plot 4, Acacia Avenue, Kololo PO Box 22366, Kampala. Tel. 0312-262030 or 0312-266148.

This issue was funded by DANIDA, with a contribution from the WILD project, supported by USAID and led by Wildlife Conservation Society. Editors: J Kisakye, G Kiyingi, C Watson, T Agutu; Design: G Turibamwe, M Kalanzi; Reviewer: S Amunau

Since 2002 Tree Talk has appeared 14 times. With each of these 14 editions, the newspaper sent sachets of tree seed to every school in the country. Schools that used the seed to grow trees have benefitted enormously.

announcement!

Director Ndaula of Victoria PS with her Musizi wood from Tree Talk seed. Headmaster Mwaya of Bugiri PS

with a Tree Talk eucalyptus.

describe.- protection from storms.- timber to roof buildings.- timber to build desks.

- poles for fencing.- income.

- cooler temperatures.- hiding places from tear gas.- shelter for classroom.

Mwaya Joshua, Headteacher, Bugiri Modern PS "Before we received Tree Talk seeds, we had been hit by serious storms in 1998 and 1999. One blew off the roof. The other brought down the walls. That is when we realized that we needed protection. We planted Senna and eucalyptus from Tree Talk around our school.

To make sure that our trees grew well, we gave each pupil the responsibility of taking care of a tree. So each tree belonged to a pupil. These children are in higher institutions now but they come back to check on their trees. We used to have a lot of heat in the afternoon but now it is cool here all through. Our school is a recreation centre. We are not planning to cut them soon."

harvested six eucalyptus, and made 30 desks. In 2009 we cut three trees that we donated to the church: they used them to make ten benches. In 2009 a similar storm destroyed a neighbouring school. We were saved by our trees."

Bishop West PS in Mukono grew a eucalyptus woodlot. Barakajira Wilson, P7, says “I was in P2 when the trees were planted. Now we have harvested several times for firewood and poles which we used to fence our school. Near our place there have been riots with tear gas twice. We hide in our woodlot from the chaos!”

"We received Mvule seed in 2007 and raised over 50 seedlings, I planted ten in my home and others on a street in Mbarara. Our Mvule is growing well and making the street look great. Baluku Benson, Teacher, Mbarara Prep School

Teacher Baluku with his Tree Talk Mvule -- just three years old and already taller than he is!

COOL SCHOOL: Pupils learn under tree shades at Iganga SDA Light PS.

Tree Talk

Tree Talk