Celebrating the International Day of Forests – March 21st

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By Linnea Pasquier

As we mark the International Day of Forests, policymakers, conservationists, and the private sector must recognize agroforestry as a key solution to Uganda’s environmental and food security challenges.

By investing in agroforestry we are not just planting trees, we are planting the edible forests of the future – diverse, productive and resilient landscapes that nourish both people and the planet.

Forests are often seen as untouched wilderness, but they have long been a source of food and livelihood for millions of people. This year’s International Day of Forests, under the theme “Forests and Foods”, highlights the critical role forests play in global food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.

In Uganda, with a rapidly growing population and unsustainable land use, deforestation rates are accelerating - 2.6% of forests are lost annually due to tree-cutting for fuelwood, overgrazing, and monocropping.

This degradation leaves land vulnerable and unsustainable for future generations. A shift in land management is urgently needed - one that increases the economic value of forests beyond timber and ecotourism. Agroforestry provides a solution, blending food production with conservation, ensuring forests remain productive landscapes with a vast biodiversity.

Agroforestry is a farming approach that integrates trees, crops, and livestock within the same land unit. Unlike conventional agriculture, which often leads to deforestation and land degradation, agroforestry mimics natural ecosystems with several layers of multi-purpose plants – a 3D farming system. Forest gardens also provide a wide variety of marketable products, making farmers less vulnerable to market fluctuations.

We must rethink the economic value of forests

Conservation alone is not enough, forests must provide economic benefits to local communities. When forests are seen only as timber sources, clearing becomes inevitable to get quick income from the land. Instead, forests must be recognized as multi-functional landscapes that provide food, fodder, medicine, and ecosystem services. Scaling up agroforestry is not just an option - it’s a necessity. By growing food within tree-based systems, farmers can improve yields, adapt to climate change, and rebuild soil health - all while maintaining forest cover.

Why agroforestry is key to Uganda’s food security

Trees as Food Producers – Fruit and nut trees like mango, jackfruit, and avocado provide essential vitamins and diversify income streams for smallholder farmers.

Soil Regeneration – Trees help retain moisture, prevent erosion, and improve soil fertility by providing organic mulch and nitrogen fixation, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers which deplete the soil of other essential nutrients.

Pollinators and Biodiversity – Agroforestry landscapes have a higher variety of plants, compared to monocultural plantations, with species that support pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are crucial for sustainable crop production.

Climate Resilience – Trees act as windbreaks, provide shade, and help regulate rainfall patterns, making farms more resistant to droughts and extreme weather.

Layered Food Production – In agroforestry systems, staple crops like bananas, coffee, and beans thrive alongside trees, maximizing productivity per square meter and ensuring year-round harvests for consumption or market revenue!

Trees for biomass production – Integrating trees on farmland for fuelwood reduces deforestation pressure on nearby forests and also saves households time spent collecting firewood for cooking.

A call for Agroforestry integration in policy

For Uganda to achieve sustainable development goals related to zero hunger, climate action, and biodiversity conservation, agroforestry must be mainstreamed into national policies that bridge both the forestry and agricultural sector. This requires:

Stronger incentives for farmers to integrate trees into their farming systems through subsidies, training, and access to markets for non-timber forest products.

Research and indigenous community driven innovations to determine the best tree-crop-livestock combinations for Uganda’s diverse landscapes that enhances both food production and ecological benefits.

Regulations to curb deforestation, while promoting sustainable land use, farmer-managed natural regeneration and agroforestry expansion.

Agroforestry and forest restoration is not just about planting trees - it’s about growing entire ecosystems that sustain communities, restore nature, and secure future food supplies.

This March 21st, let take action whether by planting multi-purpose trees, supporting agroforestry initiatives, or advocating for better policies, every step brings us closer to a more food-secure and resilient Uganda. Let’s pave the way for others to follow.

The writer is the Environment, Climate Change and Resilience Advisor at Vi Agroforestry, Uganda.