In Terego district, butterflies, birds, and small animals have once again returned in full force to Okalaka Village after more than a decade of absence.
The reappearance of these indicator species, which help in pollination and seed dispersal among other roles, enhances biodiversity, supports ecosystem resilience, and improves the overall health of the environment.
Restoring and Conserving Degraded Fragile Ecosystems for Improved Community Livelihoods among Refugees and Host Communities in West Nile and Mid-Albertine Regions have been refunded by European Union (EU) programme which came through biodiversity restoration.
The project aims at supporting Uganda’s refugee response systems and is funded under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF for Africa).
“The village lost its biodiversity landscape more than ten years ago, mainly due to cutting trees for curing tobacco and other economic activities. The owner of more than 70 acres in the area says he dedicated all of them to the restoration project, adding that this land has been family property for many years because he inherited it from his father, who also had gotten it from his grandfather.” Ezati Robert (54), told a media evaluation tour of the project.
“He is practicing agroforestry on 20 of the 70 acres, and the rest are fully-fledged woodlands owned by the family.” He added.
He further stated that before this project, this area was bare, with just scattered trees, something which worries him because he knew how it used to be since he grew up in this area and he like trees
Ezati’s greatest joy, is that of all the other residents, are seeing the reoccurrence of birds, butterflies, and small animals like the red monkeys which had long disappeared, asserting that many of the young people are seeing these creatures for the first time. According to him he takes it upon himself, along with other village elders, to tell the younger ones, the names and behaviors of the different birds and animals, since many are seeing them for the first time.
After a long day’s work or long-distance traveling, people, especially passers-by and his family, now have a place where they can rest due to the reappearance of this biodiversity.
He continuously noted that there are many people from far who come and have a rest here. His now enjoying this place and his proud that this is his area. Right now, there is no hunger at his place because of these trees. Since they have helped to prevent soil erosion and increase fertility with to their falling leaves, now his inter-crop sorghum, cassava, maize, beans, and sesame, and they yields are better.
What are the implementation by a consortium of conservation CSOs project which ends this year?
- The Ecological Christian Organization (ECO).
- Uganda Biodiversity Fund (UBF).
- Nature Uganda.
- The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Tumushabe says the project has restored 355 hectares of Bugoma and Mount Kei central forest reserves, conserved 1,347 hectares of woodlands with indigenous tree species, planted and protected up to 248 hectares of wetland species, as well as supported landowners in the refugee-hosting communities, just like Ezati, to establish woodlots.Up to 598 hectares have so far been established.
What are challenges faced at the project?
- Labor because it is hard getting someone who knows the pure agronomy of the tree until the tree can sustain on its own.
- There is also a challenge of bush burning, which is rampant in this region, most of which is done maliciously, and some for hunting.
- During the dry spell, trees tend to dry up as they are scorched by the sun
- Then termites also eat up the trees
What are solutions to the challenges faced at the project?
- They have intensified community sensitization and awareness, especially about environmental protection.
- For human-based challenges that can be managed, they are working with local governments to strengthen bylaws to curb particular challenges like roaming animals and bush burning.
Annually, with one of the contributing factors being the influx of the refugees , who clear forests for agriculture and building materials, a development aid report of 2023 indicates that deforestation in Uganda occur at an estimated rate of 50,147 hectares
Human intervention can combat severe environmental degradation impacts demonstrates This breakthrough in biodiversity restoration experienced in Okalaka village
