Will eucalyptus trees balance environment and economic interests?

By Gilbert Kidimu

Two hours away from Kampala in Nabunga Village, Mukono; Daniel Abesiga gazes over his vast forest of eucalyptus trees with secure satisfaction. They are the reason a wealthy future is guaranteed.

“Think trees if you’re aiming for large investments lasting decades,” he declares emphatically. Abesiga will not spare a thought for food crops such as maize, which he sneers at as a short-term investment. Eucalyptus trees thus occupy his vast fertile land.

 Already, he has over 1.2 million eucalyptus trees on his roughly 400 hectares of land. He values his trees at over sh12b.

 “I sell three to four-year-old eucalyptus just to run the farm, but leave the bulk of them to mature,” he thoughtfully relates. Abesiga has already sold a lot of the eucalyptus trees to UMEME at sh120, 000 each and he still has a lot more.

In a few years, he just wants to sit back and earn from his trees.

Abesiga is not one but one among many eucalyptus tree farmers in Uganda.

The introduction of commercial eucalyptus tree planting in this country has without doubt registered multiple successes. The trees play a noteworthy role in providing fuel, construction material and timber for industrial use.

However, the same agricultural undertaking has been a deeply polarising topic, not just in Uganda but world over.

You see, the eucalyptus is a thirsty tree. The trees have such a high consumption of ground water that they can dry up water sources such as small rivers and springs. In fact, they are so effective at this that they are often used to help people reclaim swamps. Take a look at a school or commercial building located in a swampy area and you won’t miss a eucalyptus timberland around.

According to environment experts, the trees possess deep sinker roots that have extremely high rates of hydraulic conductivity, making them very effective in conducting water and soil nutrients.

As a result, they will not spare the trees or vegetation around them. They will dry up a garden and kill trees that are home to animals, birds and the bees.

In Uganda, there was a longstanding belief that prevented some people from planting trees in the country. They take too long to mature.

But eucalyptus tree farmers such as Abesiga have shattered this myth and are reaping a fortune.

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the eucalyptus tree, says Zainabu Kakungulu the technical services manager at SPGS, a project that supports private sector investors mostly small-medium landowners who are interested in growing trees commercially.

She says research reveals that the negative impact of eucalyptus trees is exaggerated.

‘Eucalyptus highly commercially viable, she says. “It is one of the fastest growing tree species in the world and looking at the demand for wood in the country, we lose 92 hectares of forest cover annually, we need to promote commercial tree planting,” she reasons adding: “Uganda originally depended on natural forests; most of them are gone now.”

She says eucalyptus is the ultimate crop for commercial foresters seeing that it is fast-growing and high yielding, and has multiple usages; it can be used for timber, fuel, poles, wood, and fencing.  There are 800 species of eucalyptus; some grow in cold areas, others warm.

Transmission poles take 8-10 years to mature, timber 15- 18 years growth. “In Uganda our growth conditions are better than say Europe.”

Farmers are faced with the decision to choose the right species for their climate and soils. “Environment degradation happens when the wrong species of tree is planted,” argues Kakungulu

She says considering that these trees grow fast, the high water and nutrient consumption is justified.

Some of the best species for Uganda are Grandis, which grows well in cooler parts of the country for example Fort Portal.

Kakungulu says breeding among tree species creates hybrid clones. An example is GC clones made from Grandis and Camall Dulensis. The other is the GU, a cross between Grandis and Urophyla.

“The two clones are doing very well in Uganda. The clones grow faster than the parents.”

Countries such as South Africa, Brazil, and Australia are some countries favouring the clones.

She says growing eucalyptus commercially isn’t a toll order. All you have to do is get the right species for the soils and climate, and if necessary add fertilizers to boost tree growth.
 
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