Shea butter tree seedlings in Nebbi (photo: Kimbowa Richard)
The Ugandan Government, through the Ministry of Water and Environment's Forestry Sector Support Department (FSSD), launched the Running Out Of Trees (ROOTs) Campaign —an ambitious public-private initiative aimed at restoring the country’s lost forest cover in 2019. This campaign, which focuses on reforestation, restoration, and forest conservation, has a goal: to plant 200 million trees by 2026, equivalent to 40 million trees annually, symbolising a tree for every Ugandan.This campaign addresses a pressing environmental crisis. Between 1990 and 2023, Uganda's forest cover decreased from 24% to 12.2%. Alarmingly, 65% of this deforestation occurs on private land, often due to the expansion of agriculture, industry, and settlements.
Forestry contributes 6% to Uganda’s GDP, and over 90% of the population depends on wood-based energy such as firewood and charcoal. The stakes are high, and the ROOTs campaign offers a path toward environmental and socio-economic renewal.
ROOTs Progress and Milestones
Launched in 2020 with only five private sector partners, the campaign has since grown significantly. By 2023, over 30 stakeholders, including companies, religious institutions, schools, government agencies, and development partners, had joined the effort.
ROOTS prioritises indigenous tree species, such as:
· Khaya anthotheca (African mahogany)
· Melicia excelsa (Muvule)
· Afzelia africana, Prunus africana, Shea-butter tree, Canarium schweinfurthii, Warburgia ugandensis, and fruit trees
At a recent meeting in Kampala, Dr Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment, noted that Uganda had slightly exceeded 50% of its tree-planting target, despite setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Tree Planting Day 2025: More Than Just a Gesture
The upcoming National Tree Planting Day, scheduled for October 3, 2025, will be launched at Busoga College Mwiri in Eastern Uganda and simultaneously observed across the country. Citizens will be encouraged to plant at least one tree each.
However, for this event to spark real transformation, it must be more than symbolic. Uganda can learn from tree-planting successes across the Global South—where nations have turned such efforts into mass movements combining climate action, livelihoods, and cultural identity.
Global Lessons Uganda Can Learn From
1. Make It a Movement, Not Just a Day
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is a stellar example. In 2019, Ethiopians planted over 353 million trees in a single day, contributing to over 40 billion trees planted since 2019 (Associated Press, 2025).
Lesson: Uganda could extend the planting into a National Tree Week, giving communities time to prepare, plant, and nurture seedlings—turning the campaign into a true national movement.
2. Focus on Survival, Not Just Numbers
The real success lies in the number of trees that survive, not just those planted. Ethiopia tracks survival rates and assigns caretaking responsibilities, though it has faced criticism for insufficient reporting and the use of non-native species.
Lesson: Uganda should adopt scientific monitoring, prioritise indigenous species, and ensure community-based stewardship.
3. Use Media & Influencers to Drive Awareness
Rwanda’s Umuganda initiative blends tree planting with national service, amplified through radio, social media, and mass mobilisation.
Lesson: Engage musicians, athletes, religious leaders, and media (for example, partnering with popular TV and FM radio station programmes) to inspire nationwide participation, backed by entertainment events, public walks, and sermons leading up to planting week.
4. Match Species to Ecology and Livelihoods
Kenya’s Tree Restoration Campaign aligns tree species with local ecosystems—using indigenous varieties for forests and fast-growing timber or fruit trees on farms.
Lesson: Uganda should tailor planting efforts to local environments and livelihood opportunities, ensuring ecological resilience, social acceptance and economic value.
5. Link Planting with Jobs and Income
Pakistan’s Ten Billion Tree Tsunami created green jobs, especially in rural areas, through nursery work, caretaking, and community forest management.
Lesson: Uganda can generate employment through the ROOTs campaign by empowering communities in tree production, monitoring, and care.
6. Celebrate Tree Planting as a Cultural Festival
India’s Van Mahotsav is a week-long “Great Forest Festival” held each July. Rooted in national history and spirituality, it mobilises schools, communities, and faith groups with music, storytelling, competitions, and education.
Lesson: Uganda can integrate tree planting with cultural expression—drawing from its 56 tribes (including vibrant and forward-looking traditional leaders) and diverse spiritual traditions to build a multi-generational, culturally resonant movement.
Conclusion: From Counting Trees to Cultivating Change
For Uganda, success must go beyond seedling counts. The ROOTs campaign must deliver measurable environmental impact, community ownership, and economic benefits. By embracing lessons from the Global South, Uganda can transform National Tree Planting Day into the beginning of a lasting restoration journey—one rooted in people, purpose, and planet.
References
· Associated Press (2025). Ethiopia to plant 700 million trees in a day | AP News: https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-prime-minister-tree-planting-campaign-6658d3c115738702a6a679b0eea43f30
· CGIAR (2020). Ethiopia to grow 5 billion trees in the Second Green Legacy Campaign https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/ethiopia-to-grow-5-billion-trees-in-the-second-green-legacy-campaign/
· Government of Kenya (2025). National tree growing restoration campaign hits 780 million mark | Kenya News Agency https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/national-tree-growing-restoration-campaign-hits-780-million-mark/
· ROOTs Campaign (2025). Running Out of Trees https://www.linkedin.com/company/running-out-of-trees/posts/?feedView=all
· TotalEnergies (2023). Uganda Is Running Out of Trees: Partners Target To Grow 40 Million Trees this Year https://totalenergies.ug/uganda-running-out-trees-partners-target-grow-40-million-trees-year
· UNEP (2022). Pakistan’s Ten Billion Tree Tsunami https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/pakistans-ten-billion-tree-tsunami
· Van Mahotsav 2021: History, significance, celebrations and quotes https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/van-mahotsav-2021-history-significance-celebrations-and-everything-you-need-to-know-1821532-2021-07-01?utm_source=global-search&utm_medium=global-search&utm_campaign=global-search
No comments:
Post a Comment