Nakasongola takes on reafforestation for charcoal
Jul 04, 2005
THE high demand for charcoal from Nakasongola district has put a lot of pressure on the forests in Nabiswera, Nakitoma and Lwabyata sub-counties.
By John Kasozi
THE high demand for charcoal from Nakasongola district has put a lot of pressure on the forests in Nabiswera, Nakitoma and Lwabyata sub-counties.
Over 70% of the households are engaged in the charcoal business either at production or commercial level as it is the major source of income.
The most demanded tree species are combretum, terminalia, tedea nobilis and albizia species because they yield high quality charcoal.
“Lwampanga sub-county is void of these species except in the Wabisi-wajala forest reserves and part of the degazetted Luweero industries,†Nakasongola environmental officer, Jamesbond Kubonere says.
In 2002, Nakasongola launched System Charcoal Production, Licensing and harvesting (SCPLMS) to have sustainable harvesting.
Its objective was to look at sustainable methods of using forests. That is re-afforestation and improvement of charcoal production techniques.
The project was to train charcoal producers how to increase the quality and quantity of charcoal from 10 to 20%.
However, Kunobere says the project lacked funding. So, the district council agreed 35% of the revenue collected from charcoal be ploughed back into re-afforestation.
Four tree nurseries with 120,000 seedlings were set up in Nabiswera, Kalongo, Kalungi and Lwampanga sub-counties in 2003.
So far eight community-based organisations have been trained in tree nursery establishment, management and sustainable charcoal production techniques.
THE high demand for charcoal from Nakasongola district has put a lot of pressure on the forests in Nabiswera, Nakitoma and Lwabyata sub-counties.
Over 70% of the households are engaged in the charcoal business either at production or commercial level as it is the major source of income.
The most demanded tree species are combretum, terminalia, tedea nobilis and albizia species because they yield high quality charcoal.
“Lwampanga sub-county is void of these species except in the Wabisi-wajala forest reserves and part of the degazetted Luweero industries,†Nakasongola environmental officer, Jamesbond Kubonere says.
In 2002, Nakasongola launched System Charcoal Production, Licensing and harvesting (SCPLMS) to have sustainable harvesting.
Its objective was to look at sustainable methods of using forests. That is re-afforestation and improvement of charcoal production techniques.
The project was to train charcoal producers how to increase the quality and quantity of charcoal from 10 to 20%.
However, Kunobere says the project lacked funding. So, the district council agreed 35% of the revenue collected from charcoal be ploughed back into re-afforestation.
Four tree nurseries with 120,000 seedlings were set up in Nabiswera, Kalongo, Kalungi and Lwampanga sub-counties in 2003.
So far eight community-based organisations have been trained in tree nursery establishment, management and sustainable charcoal production techniques.