Supply and demand restoration in Uganda for people and biodiversity is a forest landscape restoration project implemented in 4 agroecological zones of Uganda which include, Afromontane high-altitude landscapes, Lake Victoria crescent, Western mid altitude landscapes and south western rangelands. Implemented by Tooro Botanical Gardens (TBG), Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in partnership with National Forestry Authority (NFA), Ministry of water and
Environment (MWE), Ibanda District Local Government (IDLG) and Local communities in the project areas. This 3-year project (2018-2021) was supported by the UK government’s Darwin Initiative enabling more native trees to be planted
in Uganda.
THE FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION (FLR)
FLR is an ongoing tree planting process to regain ecological functionality and enhance human well-being across deforested or degraded forest landscape.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF FLR PLEDGES;
Restoration pledges represent a huge opportunity for delivering;
- Species conservation
- Increase biodiversity on farms
- Delivering genetically and taxonomically diverse restoration that benefits
people and wildlife.
KEY PROJECT DRIVERS. - Little understanding of the benefits of delivering genetically biodiverse FLR
(and the risks of not doing so). - High demand for, and availability of, exotic tree species.
- Limited availability of native seeds and seedlings due to a lack of knowledge about how to propagate native species among community nurseries, farmers and government.
- No up-to-date forest policy, and hence, no mandate for planting indigenous
species.
PROJECT GOALS - Supporting the delivery of restoration commitments
- Supplying the driving demand of native tree species.
- Employing people from rural areas
- Sustainability of 4 project native tree nurseries
PROJECT OUTPUTS:
Establishment of four high diversity native tree nurseries and demonstration plots (close too high priority areas for forest restoration) identified by the Ugandan government.
The nurseries are in Mbale, Lwamunda, Kagadi-Kagombe and Ibanda. The nurseries offer tailored tree planting to meet the needs of forest restoration projects, corporates, individuals and foundations. The initiative matches tree
species with sites ensuring the right tree is planted in the right place. Trees can be selected for biodiversity, carbon, or any combination of these. Improved information generated on more than 150 native tree species, including improved information on distribution, wild populations, seed availability and propagation protocols improved / developed. Genetically diverse seedlings of 320,582 of 103 native tree species including 8 that are globally threatened and 12 that are threatened in Uganda available for purchase from the four nurseries established in high priority restoration areas.
Increased demand for genetically and species diverse seedlings. By the end of the project, a total of 23,183 seedlings from 67 species were sold and 16,200 seedlings donated to institutions. 18 hectares of forests were planted with indigenous trees and four community plots were planted with 8,276 seedlings 119 people were trained and employed in the four tree nurseries, 51% of them women and this is improving household livelihoods. Establishment of a network seed of collectors and collection calendars for 101 tree species. The project contributed to the publication of ten golden rules for reforestation to
optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits
CURRENT STATUS:
Forest landscape restoration work is ongoing, community members are managing the established native tree nurseries through their associations and Tooro Botanical Gardens and the National Forestry Authority continues to guide and support them to ensure sustainability.