Schools warned on tree cutting
Jun 26, 2011
CLIMATE experts have appealed to the Government to enact bylaws compelling schools to use energy saving stoves to reduce on tree cutting.
By Paul Watala
CLIMATE experts have appealed to the Government to enact bylaws compelling schools to use energy saving stoves to reduce on tree cutting.
Abubakhali Wandela, the Global Environment Facility programme manager, made the appeal during a stakeholders meeting held at Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale recently.
The workshop was aimed at discussing ways of adapting and mitigating climate change.
It also aimed at enabling Mbale region to conserve the environment.
“Using energy-saving stoves, saves about 75% of trees. If schools have been using five lorryfuls of firewood per term, they will reduce consumption to just one,†Wandela said.
Wandela urged the works ministry and district local governments to ensure that road contractors plant trees along roads before handing them over.
“We have cut down all the traditional Mivule trees that Semei Kakungulu planted in the early 1900s, especially in Eastern Uganda,†Wandela said.
He also said prolonged drought had caused water shortage, especially in cattle corridors and had led to low food production.
Wandela added that climate change in Uganda was likely to increase drought, floods, landslides and heat waves.
He also lashed out at the Government for not coming up with a clear policy on climatic change, adding that it had scattered baseline survey information.
Wandela, however, said most women in the villages had abandoned energy-saving stoves because they are expensive and do not produce enough warmth.
CLIMATE experts have appealed to the Government to enact bylaws compelling schools to use energy saving stoves to reduce on tree cutting.
Abubakhali Wandela, the Global Environment Facility programme manager, made the appeal during a stakeholders meeting held at Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale recently.
The workshop was aimed at discussing ways of adapting and mitigating climate change.
It also aimed at enabling Mbale region to conserve the environment.
“Using energy-saving stoves, saves about 75% of trees. If schools have been using five lorryfuls of firewood per term, they will reduce consumption to just one,†Wandela said.
Wandela urged the works ministry and district local governments to ensure that road contractors plant trees along roads before handing them over.
“We have cut down all the traditional Mivule trees that Semei Kakungulu planted in the early 1900s, especially in Eastern Uganda,†Wandela said.
He also said prolonged drought had caused water shortage, especially in cattle corridors and had led to low food production.
Wandela added that climate change in Uganda was likely to increase drought, floods, landslides and heat waves.
He also lashed out at the Government for not coming up with a clear policy on climatic change, adding that it had scattered baseline survey information.
Wandela, however, said most women in the villages had abandoned energy-saving stoves because they are expensive and do not produce enough warmth.