Ephraim Kasozi
15 August 2008
Mbarara — A total of 100,000 species of tree seedlings have been planted in six districts countrywide in a move to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The Ministry of Water and Environment contributed Shs43.8 million under Farm Income Enhancement Project to purchase the seedlings from the National Forestry Authority and transport them to districts. They include; Mbarara, Bushenyi, Gulu, Lira, Soroti and Kitgum.
State Minister for Environment Jesca Eriyo said on Tuesday that the initiative was launched with planting of 3,300 trees at Katyazo Parish, Rwanyamahembe Sub- county in Mbarara District. Ms Eriyo led three other ministers to the planting of trees during celebrations of the International and National Youth Day on Tuesday in Mbarara.
She said the other days are World Forestry day (June 5), World Environment day (March 23), International Women's Day (March 8) and International Labour day (May 1) all aimed at massive tree planting to curtail increasing desertification.
Ms Eriyo said 20 per cent of the environment degradation is a result of deforestation and wetland encroachment leading to floods, soil erosion and water-borne diseases among others. Forests provide firewood, timber, shelter, control of desertification, windbreakers, fruits and food among others.
"Mitigation efforts against climate change require activities that contribute towards restoration of vegetation, control of floods and siltation of water bodies and soil fertility restoration to absorb carbondioxide, reduce droughts and control disease," Ms Eriyo said.
Presiding over the main youth celebrations, President Yoweri Museveni attributed the cause of pollution to poverty among the local people.
"When you are poor, you use firewood, engage in traditional agriculture that causes soil erosion and environmental degradation through over grazing," Mr Museveni said.
Speaking about "Youth and Climate Change; Time for Action", the day's theme, Mr Museveni said climate change can be controlled by bringing development to Africa particularly in Uganda.
"That is why the government is building dams in Bujagali and others at Karuma and Hoima to get rid of using firewood and resort to electricity," President Museveni said "We must also modernise agriculture to avoid degradation of the environment."
He asked the youth to participate in family activities to improve farming for better income and environment improvement. Acting Commissioner in charge of Environment Support Services Rachel Musoke said the government would work with local authorities to ensure implementation of tree planting in all districts.
"We have arrangements with the districts to buy their own seedlings and sensitise them on the benefits of the project. But we also ask the individual families to plant their own because community forests may not be theirs," Ms Musoke told Daily Monitor.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
