Gerald Tenywa
12 July 2009
Kampala — THE European Union (EU) has funded a sh30b commercial tree planting exercise for the next four years. Syda Bbumba, the finance and economic planning minister, said the money would be given to private tree farmers through the Saw Log Production Grant Scheme, a government programme under the water and environment ministry.
The scheme provides financial support to private tree farmers. It covers 50% of the cost of establishing tree plantations.
Speaking during the signing of the grant agreement, Bbumba said farmers were becoming more interested in tree planting.
Also launched was the tree planting guidelines for Uganda aimed at promoting tree planting.
She said the EU and the Norwegian government would fund the scheme from 2010 to 2013.
"The package comprises 10m euros from the EU and 48million kroners from Norway," Bbumba said.
"The scheme has attracted private sector investment in the tree planting sector."
She also said the scheme had provided employment to many people and also stimulated interest in the commercial growing of trees.
The minister said natural forests were becoming extinct because of deforestation caused by the growing population and energy deficiencies.
"There has been virtually no serious tree planting for over 30 years," Bbumba added.
She said about 20,000 hectares of trees had been planted since 2004, adding that 75% of them were planted by the private sector.
The 2004 forestry status report by the EU indicates that Uganda's demand for timber is 80,000 hectares per year, and expected to rise to 150,000 hectares by 2025.
Environment minister Maria Mutagamba, said a Cabinet paper had been prepared to compels people to plant trees.
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