Over 60 participants from academia, local government officials, the private sector, and civil society organizations met on 2nd December 2021 at Muni University to discuss the status of forests and biodiversity in the West Nile region of Uganda.
The policy dialogue was organized by the EfD-Mak center in collaboration with the Muni University and Arua district local government under the theme, “ Forestry and Biodiversity: Addressing the challenges of Forest Degradation and enhancing Environment Management in Uganda”.
Arua is threatened by the refugee influx
The Acting Director of the EfD-Mak center Fred Kasalirwe said Arua was selected because of atrocities committed on nature in the region the Arua Local Government has been at the forefront of this because it is the mother district for all.
“There is also an influx of refugees in the region who affect nature directly because they lack alternative sources. Most of the charcoal and firewood supplied in Kampala and other towns come from West Nile and this has led to the loss of indigenous tree cover. Attempts to replace it with eucalyptus and pine also impact the flora and fauna,” he said.
“The voices gathered from the discussions will be summarized in policy briefs. Then we organize a national level dialogue with voices from all districts visited, identify policy gaps and engage the ministers and advocates who are in the parliamentary committees on the environment, natural resources, and agriculture,” said Kasalirwe
Higher rate of forest depletion in West Nile region
Prof. Robert Kajobe who is the Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences said the degradation of the environment and forests in the region is higher than the national rate.
“We have over 40 years of degradation which has worsened. Before the refugee problem, the tobacco growing in the West Nile depleted the soil in the region for a long time. When they were curing tobacco they were using indigenous trees for fuelwood leaving the ground bear,” he reported.
The West Nile region used to have two rainy seasons, March to May and July to November, but in the last three years, the region has had one season of drought from December to May.
The scarcity of construction materials and fuelwood forces women and girls to take long and dangerous walks looking for fuelwood.
The region he reported is experiencing food insecurity due to soil depletion caused by the clearance of the forests and because of the drought, annual crops are decreasing while perennial crops like tea cocoa, banana, and coffee have ceased.
Muni university pilots alternative fuel sources and revises curriculum
The Muni University has according to Robert Kajobe embarked on several research projects on sustainable and alternative use of the environment including a pilot project on biogas from fecal sludge as a main source of fuel for homes and institutions to reduce pressure on forest cutting using sludge.
“The university is designing courses in environment and natural resources to bring on the Masters, Bachelors, and Diploma level. We are also partnering with organizations to provide information to many local and international NGOs, create awareness and talk to the local communities.”
Compares forest depletion with COVID-19 outbreak
The District Chairman (LCV) Alfred Okwonzi called upon the district leadership to defend, identify and promote a conservation culture.
The Chairman noted that a lot has been written and said but all have remained on paper due to lack of exemplary.
“With the outbreak of COVID 19, we saw vehicles and financial assistance flow to districts. But when trees are cut nothing is done. We need special funding to green the region. If we continue interfering with the environment supporting our livelihoods, the pattern of rains will continue to be distorted, agricultural production will continue to be affected leading to malnutrition and poor performance in schools,” he said.
He said the district plans to spend resources on individual leaders and homesteads to ensure they plant trees, change people’s mindset and promote forest management. The district he said is engaging the National Forestry Authority to include the district forest office in all the activities.
The Chairman said plans are underway to work with the Uganda National Roads Authority to provide seedlings to plant trees while the next two years will be dedicated to restoring Arua district.
While closing the workshop, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner Ocen Robert stressed the need for subsidies on alternative sources of energy such as electricity and solar, and gas to make it more accessible and affordable, to promote alternative building materials, and the need to speak to residents since the protection of the forests begins at the community level.
Compiled by
Jane Anyango
Communication Officer, EfD-Mak Centre Uganda