Environment Day a time to embrace tree planting
YESTERDAY Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World Environment Day; a day the world focuses on the environment.
By Godwin Ayesiga
YESTERDAY Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World Environment Day; a day the world focuses on the environment.
This year’s theme has to do with conserving forests. When it comes to agriculture, forests play a vital role in agricultural ecosystems and consequently for the livelihoods of millions of farming families.
Unfortunately, the growing pressure from population growth and the resultant over-exploitation, clearing and deforestation represent a threat to our forest and agricultural ecosystems, and hence to human and animal habitats.
Raising more awareness of the urgent need to protect, preserve and plant more forests will brighten the future. We all have heard of the recent cases where residents have cut down hectares of newly planted trees.
A classic example is that which occurred in Masindi district, where a malicious person set ablaze 10 hectares of a private farmer’s pine plantation. This is an indicator that there is need to create awareness about unsustainable harvesting of forest products among Ugandans.
This year’s World Environment Day provides an opportunity for Ugandans to live our lives mindful of forest conservation.
It is unfortunate that some rural communities still view restriction to our natural forests as violation of their rights.
It thus goes without saying that continued and uncontrolled deforestation will not only have overwhelming consequences for the environment, the wildlife and communities, but for this country’s economy whose backbone is agriculture.
As a way forward, preserving our forests should be a collective responsibility that can be done through behavioural change. Take for instance; every Ugandan should shun buying timber and charcoal from forest encroachers.
Secondly, we need to continuously embrace all tree planting programmes that NFA has and will initiate in regard to reforestation.
The struggle against deforestation is a lifelong commitment rather than a one-off action. Let us be alert of the dangers of deforestation in all the choices we make.
The writer is an environmentalist
YESTERDAY Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World Environment Day; a day the world focuses on the environment.
This year’s theme has to do with conserving forests. When it comes to agriculture, forests play a vital role in agricultural ecosystems and consequently for the livelihoods of millions of farming families.
Unfortunately, the growing pressure from population growth and the resultant over-exploitation, clearing and deforestation represent a threat to our forest and agricultural ecosystems, and hence to human and animal habitats.
Raising more awareness of the urgent need to protect, preserve and plant more forests will brighten the future. We all have heard of the recent cases where residents have cut down hectares of newly planted trees.
A classic example is that which occurred in Masindi district, where a malicious person set ablaze 10 hectares of a private farmer’s pine plantation. This is an indicator that there is need to create awareness about unsustainable harvesting of forest products among Ugandans.
This year’s World Environment Day provides an opportunity for Ugandans to live our lives mindful of forest conservation.
It is unfortunate that some rural communities still view restriction to our natural forests as violation of their rights.
It thus goes without saying that continued and uncontrolled deforestation will not only have overwhelming consequences for the environment, the wildlife and communities, but for this country’s economy whose backbone is agriculture.
As a way forward, preserving our forests should be a collective responsibility that can be done through behavioural change. Take for instance; every Ugandan should shun buying timber and charcoal from forest encroachers.
Secondly, we need to continuously embrace all tree planting programmes that NFA has and will initiate in regard to reforestation.
The struggle against deforestation is a lifelong commitment rather than a one-off action. Let us be alert of the dangers of deforestation in all the choices we make.
The writer is an environmentalist