By Emmanuel Eumu
In a call to action aimed at restoring the environment, community leaders in Kaberamaido District have urged residents to adopt tree planting as a vital practice.
This initiative was championed by Mr. John Osidi, Managing Director of Arise Forestry Enterprises, in response to the prolonged drought affecting Kaberamaido and surrounding districts in Eastern Uganda.
The drought has been exacerbated by significant deforestation, primarily driven by charcoal burning and unsustainable agricultural practices.
Mr. Osidi highlighted the grim reality that local communities have severely damaged forests and swamps in their pursuit of charcoal production and agriculture, leading to barren lands devoid of trees.
“We must recognize the impact of our actions and work to restore our natural resources,” he stated.
The Kaberamaido District Local Government took a significant step in addressing this issue by banning commercial charcoal production as of 2021, particularly targeting the Ochero and Okile sub-counties, known for their extensive charcoal operations.
Founded in April 2018 and officially registered in September of the same year, Arise Forestry Enterprises is a social enterprise focused on enhancing community resilience through nature-based development and sustainable livelihoods.
The organization specializes in producing high-value tree seedlings that support climate change adaptation, carbon trading, green job creation, and the restoration of natural ecosystems within the region.
“Our community-managed tree nursery serves as an epicenter for agro-ecosystem development and management for rural smallholder farmers.
We provide agroforestry extension services and sustainably produce high-quality seedlings,” Mr. Osidi explained.
Despite the pressing issues of environmental degradation—from deforestation and wetland destruction to plastic pollution and poor farming practices—Mr. Osidi emphasized that it is not too late to reverse these negative trends.
“Tree growing is a powerful tool for restoring our landscape. At Arise Forestry Enterprises, we view ecosystem restoration through tree planting as a business that incentivizes restoration efforts.”
He also noted the economic potential of tree planting, identifying it not only as a means of restoration but also a significant investment opportunity.
“Environmental protection, conservation, and restoration require collective action. Climate change is a tangible threat that affects humanity in multiple ways, both directly and indirectly.”
To support this vital initiative, Mr. Osidi called on community members and stakeholders to contribute to the restoration efforts by donating seedlings and facilitating environmental education activities.
Arise Forestry Enterprises aims to support five schools and 50 vulnerable households in Kaberamaido and Kalaki districts by providing 2,000 fruit tree seedlings.
These seedlings will promote income generation, food security, and nutrition while also offering shade and timber, contributing to sustainable ecosystem services.
The project will focus on communities surrounding the depleted Angutawele and Atigo Central Forest Reserves.
Local leaders will help identify schools and households for participation in the project, which will include training on how to establish and manage orchards and woodlots of indigenous trees before delivering the seedlings for planting.
Together, the community can create a greener future through collective action and commitment to tree planting and environmental restoration.