In May 2024, Fairventures Worldwide reached out to landowners across Uganda who are eager to plant native tree species in key operational areas. After receiving a strong response, 283 farmers with a total of 433.5 hectares of land were selected to participate in this season’s planting efforts. The targeted areas include 20 districts in Western, Eastern and Central Uganda.
The Right Plants: 475,735 Seedlings for Farmers
Together with the local community, we want to counteract the effects of climate change through reforestation. For the current planting season, an impressive 475,735 of seedlings have been procured.
Each species is carefully selected to match the individual preferences of the farmers and the specific conditions of their land. This approach, called site-species matching, is guided by Fairventures’ professional foresters, who take into account crucial factors such as soil type and local weather patterns to give each tree the best chance to thrive.
Positive Outcomes in Specific Areas
Isaac, our Forestry Field Coordinator, commented that the September to November 2024 planting season has kicked off successfully in regions like Hoima and Kirewa, where sufficient rainfall has created ideal conditions for tree planting.
“The soils were moist, making it easy to prepare the land, dig pits, and plant the seedlings,” Isaac said. “If all goes well, Hoima and Kirewa are likely to complete planting by the end of October 2024, with other areas finishing by the end of November,” he added.
Lack of Rainfall Creates Challenges
As climate change continues to alter traditional weather patterns, some regions have been forced to delay planting. Unpredictable rainfall has caused setbacks in the Kasese District. Edith, Fairventures Worldwide’s Farmer Training Facilitator for the district, describes the consequences as follows: “The planting team had to halt tree planting due to the lack of consistent rainfall.”
This situation shows the urgency of reforestation efforts as climate change continues to disrupt local ecosystems. While delays in planting due to insufficient rainfall serve as a reminder of the challenges ahead, communities stay optimistic and unite in the shared mission of planting more trees in Uganda.
Planting trees remains one of the most effective actions we can take to combat climate change, and every seedling planted contributes to a more resilient future for the people in Uganda and around the world. Don’t let us waste time!