Background

The United Nations declared a UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021 – 2030) which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. It can help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent a mass extinction. However, it will only succeed if everyone plays a part.

Uganda is also a signatory to the Bonn Challenge which has a goal of restoring 350 million hectares of degraded land globally by 2030. Of this total, African countries pledged to restore 100 million hectares (www.afri100.org).

NBI’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative is designed to contribute to these global ecosystem restoration programs as well as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. Any participation under NBI’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative will be recorded and reported for national and global recognition.

Why Are We Fundraising for Trees?

Uganda will have no forest cover in 2040, (NFA, UNDP). About 90% of total energy demand is derived from biomass – largely in form of charcoal and firewood, (NDP III). As the population increases (population growth rate stands at 3% per year – UBOS), the demand for tree biomass also rises. With time it may be easier to find food than to find the charcoal or firewood which you need to cook your food. Imagine going on an empty stomach when you have food but you have nothing to cook it with!!

We need a joint effort to restore the ecosystem by planting as many trees as possible.

Our Project Goal

Nile Bioeconomic Innovations Ltd (NBI) is working with communities in Uganda towards the goal of planting ONE MILLION HECTARES of INDIGENOUS TREES by 2030.

To achieve this goal, NBI needs to mobilize communities to plant at least 50 million trees every year.

Our Approach

NBI raises seedlings at its nurseries and distributes them to registered farmers who have land but cannot afford to pay for the seedlings. NBI has started with communities in Eastern Uganda which is a hot spot for various climate risks including long droughts, floods, landslides, among others.

Our Strategy

We have computed that it costs approximately shs.4,000 (four thousand shillings only) to raise a tree seedling at out nurseries, deliver it to a farmer and actually get it planted.

NBI registers tree seedlings donors for a minimum of shs.4,000  (one tree seedling) per week. There is no upper limit to the number of seedlings one can donate every week. One can make single payments on monthly or quarterly basis if they so wish, based on the weekly number of seedlings they sign up for.

When one consistently maintains their seedlings donation program for two calendar years, they qualify to become Certified Tree Seedlings donors. If a Certified Tree Seedlings donor chooses to plant trees on their land, they are entitled to free seedlings obtained from the nearest NBI nursery, transportation of the seedlings to the site and the labour for getting the seedlings planted at no extra fee. Depending on their seedlings donation program, Certified Tree Seedlings donors can get allocation of free seedlings and services sufficient for planting up to 25 acres (10 hectares) of plantation.  If a Certified Tree Seedlings donor does not have land available for planting trees, they can pass their free seedlings allocation to a relative or friend who should also be registered on the program.

Corporate programs can be arranged on request.

Why Indigenous Tree Species?

NBI is specifically promoting the growing of indigenous trees and bamboo which can effectively be of value for sustainable agro-forestry. They are also more useful for production of timber and wood fuel.

The indigenous trees can be intercropped with crops grown for food or income generation.

Examples of Indigenous Tree species:-

Also to be prioritized are the fruit trees such as Avocado, Jackfruit and Mango trees. These will not only give the other functions of trees but also provide a source of food.