Mt Elgon gives in to erosion
Jan 10, 2005
MOUNTAIN Elgon in Mbale district continues to experience soil erosion. The State of Environmental Report (SER) 2002 confirmed the 1991 district estimate that soil erosion was responsible for 80% of the land degradation.
By John Kasozi
MOUNTAIN Elgon in Mbale district continues to experience soil erosion. The State of Environmental Report (SER) 2002 confirmed the 1991 district estimate that soil erosion was responsible for 80% of the land degradation. The most affected areas include the steep slopes of Mt. Elgon that experience mass wasting.
Mary Wamimbi, Mbale district environmental officer, says landslides have been a problem for long. The heavy El Nino rains of 1997 and 1999 left 48 people dead and 10,000 displaced.
Landslides are a downward movement of rock material and soils by gravity. They are common in Bushiyi, Ulukusi, Budwale and Manjiya. Rainfall, steep slopes, loose soils and lack of vegetation cover contribute to landslides. Heavy erosion is evident in landslide-prone areas.
Rivers originating from the mountain top carry high sediment loads, especially during rainy season and have been polluted to brown colour.
According to Mbale district SER of 1998-99, soil erosion was 58%, deforestation 55%, loss of soil fertility 47%, pollution 37%, overgrazing 7%, riverbanks degradation 5% and wetlands degradation 3%.
Deforestation on the mountain has left the land open to erosion as more areas are being converted to agriculture. The water erodes the exposed soils on the steep slopes.
Mt. Elgon National Park occupies 21% of the district area (52,416 hectares) of gazetted forests and Mt. Elgon forest occupies 50,951 hectares. The forest outside the park comprises 0.6% of the district area. The wetland comprises 14.4% according to the Forest Department Biomass Survey of 1997.
The Population Secretariat, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, it was projected that the district would have 905,100 people by mid-1998. It is one of the districts with highest fertility rate of 7.0 children to every female.
Population density varies from a low of 20 people per square kilometre in insecure areas in the north of the district to over 450 people per square kilometre in the farmlands around Mbale town.
Currently, the Mbale rural area has a population growth of 1.9% and urbanisation is growing at 9.8% per annum. This is posing a strain on the district’s natural resource base.
Population explosion has led to scarcity of land. Farmers are forced to occupy fragmented pieces of land leading to soil degradation. Soil minerals have been depleted due to intensive farming in the mountain slopes, along Manafa riverbanks, over-cultivation, burning of mulching residue, vehicles trampling and overgrazing road reserves.
Farmers grow crops for home consumption. The harvest however, cannot sustain the family throughout the year. The district is endowed with rich volcanic soils.
Wamimbi says industries and institutions using wood products, have contributed to deforestation. The energy consumption in the district for firewood is 89%, charcoal 10.3% and gas/electricity 0.7%.
Mining is another cause of environment degradation. “This includes sand and minerals from the pits, which are not filled afterwards. These pits have become breeding sites for mosquitoes.â€
Wamimbi also says some farmers start drinking early and waste a lot of productive time. “This has stimulated the ‘Enguli’ distillers polluting rivers affecting the aquatic life.â€
Tree species like albizia, mangoes, muvule and mutuba are under threat of extinction as people cut them for charcoal and making herbs. The use of leguminous crop residues reduces crop yields. Colobus monkeys whose skin is used for circumcision ceremonies are also threatened.
The effects of soil erosion are themselves causes of further degradation. There are always strong links between measures for soil and water conservation. To break the cycle, one has to attack the causes of soil erosion.
The management of soil involves different approaches. Reduction of surface run-off by physical structures or changes in land management can reduce erosion.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) spokesperson, Wilfred Baanabakintu, says they have intervened by carrying out tree planting on the slopes and riverbanks. “Restoration of affected areas has been done and farmers cautioned against tilling on slopes during rainy season.â€
NEMA also provides the district with funds to facilitate environmental activities in the district. Eight plant nursery beds have been established and over 10,000 seedlings distributed in addition to supporting five environmental micro-projects.
To ensure a firm success of sustainable agriculture and meeting scarcity of wood fuel, Integrated Rural Development Initiative (IRDI) has carried out a number of technical trainings and facilitation of farmers. Seeds, potting polythene materials, watering cans, wheelbarrows and fencing materials have been given to farmers to manage their nurseries.
Soil and water conservation, crop husbandry, improved banana, fruits and vegetable growing, agro-forestry, pests and disease control have been addressed.
“There has been an increase in demand for agro-forestry trees,†says Andrew Yiga, Mbale IRDI project officer. We support the three demonstration community sub-county plant nurseries. Sunya Yetana Group is attached to Bushika, while Kaato is attached to Buwanyani Farmers Association and Bunamulunyi Community Farmers Association is attached to Buwabwala. Over 50 farmers have established nurseries and woodlots in their homes.
Cosmos Wamono, a farmer from Kaato has raised over 500 calliandra and 5,000 eucalyptus seedlings. Samson Magumba of Buwabwala has also cyprus, grevillia, moringa, eucalyptus and avocados seedlings.
Moringa and eucalyptus species are on high demand. Grevillea robusta, an agro-forestry tree and eucalyptus grow faster. They give timber in five to seven years.
Other agro-forestry tree species growing faster and adapted are sesbania, calliandra and leuceana lucocephela. They provide firewood, fodder for animal, soil fertility and conservation.
Fruits like pawpaws and passion fruits have been promoted. Passion fruits fetch a good income with one major harvest between September and December.
Farmers have been encouraged to plant 10 seedlings each. They don't need a bigger space. Sesbania trees planted along the contours support them.
The application of slurry from biogas plants, compost, mulching and liquid manure has also greatly improved crop production.
MOUNTAIN Elgon in Mbale district continues to experience soil erosion. The State of Environmental Report (SER) 2002 confirmed the 1991 district estimate that soil erosion was responsible for 80% of the land degradation. The most affected areas include the steep slopes of Mt. Elgon that experience mass wasting.
Mary Wamimbi, Mbale district environmental officer, says landslides have been a problem for long. The heavy El Nino rains of 1997 and 1999 left 48 people dead and 10,000 displaced.
Landslides are a downward movement of rock material and soils by gravity. They are common in Bushiyi, Ulukusi, Budwale and Manjiya. Rainfall, steep slopes, loose soils and lack of vegetation cover contribute to landslides. Heavy erosion is evident in landslide-prone areas.
Rivers originating from the mountain top carry high sediment loads, especially during rainy season and have been polluted to brown colour.
According to Mbale district SER of 1998-99, soil erosion was 58%, deforestation 55%, loss of soil fertility 47%, pollution 37%, overgrazing 7%, riverbanks degradation 5% and wetlands degradation 3%.
Deforestation on the mountain has left the land open to erosion as more areas are being converted to agriculture. The water erodes the exposed soils on the steep slopes.
Mt. Elgon National Park occupies 21% of the district area (52,416 hectares) of gazetted forests and Mt. Elgon forest occupies 50,951 hectares. The forest outside the park comprises 0.6% of the district area. The wetland comprises 14.4% according to the Forest Department Biomass Survey of 1997.
The Population Secretariat, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, it was projected that the district would have 905,100 people by mid-1998. It is one of the districts with highest fertility rate of 7.0 children to every female.
Population density varies from a low of 20 people per square kilometre in insecure areas in the north of the district to over 450 people per square kilometre in the farmlands around Mbale town.
Currently, the Mbale rural area has a population growth of 1.9% and urbanisation is growing at 9.8% per annum. This is posing a strain on the district’s natural resource base.
Population explosion has led to scarcity of land. Farmers are forced to occupy fragmented pieces of land leading to soil degradation. Soil minerals have been depleted due to intensive farming in the mountain slopes, along Manafa riverbanks, over-cultivation, burning of mulching residue, vehicles trampling and overgrazing road reserves.
Farmers grow crops for home consumption. The harvest however, cannot sustain the family throughout the year. The district is endowed with rich volcanic soils.
Wamimbi says industries and institutions using wood products, have contributed to deforestation. The energy consumption in the district for firewood is 89%, charcoal 10.3% and gas/electricity 0.7%.
Mining is another cause of environment degradation. “This includes sand and minerals from the pits, which are not filled afterwards. These pits have become breeding sites for mosquitoes.â€
Wamimbi also says some farmers start drinking early and waste a lot of productive time. “This has stimulated the ‘Enguli’ distillers polluting rivers affecting the aquatic life.â€
Tree species like albizia, mangoes, muvule and mutuba are under threat of extinction as people cut them for charcoal and making herbs. The use of leguminous crop residues reduces crop yields. Colobus monkeys whose skin is used for circumcision ceremonies are also threatened.
The effects of soil erosion are themselves causes of further degradation. There are always strong links between measures for soil and water conservation. To break the cycle, one has to attack the causes of soil erosion.
The management of soil involves different approaches. Reduction of surface run-off by physical structures or changes in land management can reduce erosion.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) spokesperson, Wilfred Baanabakintu, says they have intervened by carrying out tree planting on the slopes and riverbanks. “Restoration of affected areas has been done and farmers cautioned against tilling on slopes during rainy season.â€
NEMA also provides the district with funds to facilitate environmental activities in the district. Eight plant nursery beds have been established and over 10,000 seedlings distributed in addition to supporting five environmental micro-projects.
To ensure a firm success of sustainable agriculture and meeting scarcity of wood fuel, Integrated Rural Development Initiative (IRDI) has carried out a number of technical trainings and facilitation of farmers. Seeds, potting polythene materials, watering cans, wheelbarrows and fencing materials have been given to farmers to manage their nurseries.
Soil and water conservation, crop husbandry, improved banana, fruits and vegetable growing, agro-forestry, pests and disease control have been addressed.
“There has been an increase in demand for agro-forestry trees,†says Andrew Yiga, Mbale IRDI project officer. We support the three demonstration community sub-county plant nurseries. Sunya Yetana Group is attached to Bushika, while Kaato is attached to Buwanyani Farmers Association and Bunamulunyi Community Farmers Association is attached to Buwabwala. Over 50 farmers have established nurseries and woodlots in their homes.
Cosmos Wamono, a farmer from Kaato has raised over 500 calliandra and 5,000 eucalyptus seedlings. Samson Magumba of Buwabwala has also cyprus, grevillia, moringa, eucalyptus and avocados seedlings.
Moringa and eucalyptus species are on high demand. Grevillea robusta, an agro-forestry tree and eucalyptus grow faster. They give timber in five to seven years.
Other agro-forestry tree species growing faster and adapted are sesbania, calliandra and leuceana lucocephela. They provide firewood, fodder for animal, soil fertility and conservation.
Fruits like pawpaws and passion fruits have been promoted. Passion fruits fetch a good income with one major harvest between September and December.
Farmers have been encouraged to plant 10 seedlings each. They don't need a bigger space. Sesbania trees planted along the contours support them.
The application of slurry from biogas plants, compost, mulching and liquid manure has also greatly improved crop production.