Tree Talk, May 2007

is funding Tree Talk and tree seed for schools countrwide as well as woodlots in 255 schools in the North and Karamoja in 2007

y 2007 o.1 Ma N 6 l. Vo

Caught on camera at night by Dr Babweteera: elephants eating the seed of Balinites tree in Kibale forest. Without elephants, who distribute its seed, this tree will die out. Tropical forests are fragile and complex. See page 3.

We can never plant a natural forest. It is too complex for humans. We do not know every living thing that grows in a forest like Budongo or Bwindi. A forest is like a community of people. Each

Kiswa PS pupils, Kampala, with their seedlings.

plant, animal or insect depends on the other inhabitants to grow successfully. These relationships are not well known.

The seeds of some trees only germinate when an animal or bird has eaten them. If we kill all those animals, then that tree will not reproduce. That is why we have to protect natural forests and their inhabitants in their entirety. Natural forests provide food, medicine, timber and firewood among other things. They also: •provide home for animals, birds, insects and many other living things. •improve soil fertility. •help rain to form. •catch and regulate water for rivers and lakes. •attract tourists and schoolchildren learn from them. As humans we can grow tree plantations or woodlots. These are very important but they are not the same as a natural forest.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Natural forests are very biodiverse. This means that they contain thousands of different types of trees, birds, animals, insects and other living things.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Protect our natural forests

Natural forest is an area where many local trees grow by themselves.

WONDEFUL TREE: This tree in Budongo Forest Reserve is thought to be the biggest and oldest mahogany remaining in Uganda. It is about 300 years old. Foresters say that there were bigger mahogany trees in the past but they have been cut to make furniture! Tourists pay about 1 millionUGX a month to see this tree. School children study about it. Local people use it for medicine for pain, cough and deworming. Private tree nurseries are now collecting its seed -- so it has become a mother tree for mahogany seed!

Woodlots and natural forests: different but both needed We need both plantations and natural forests. They are like millet and milk. Both are important. You cannot live only on millet or only on milk. You need both. If we do not plant tree plantations, we risk losing our natural forests. People will slowly but surely take all the trees for firewood and timber. If we do not protect and conserve our forests, we risk losing our

plantations due to drought and climate change. Woodlots are planted by humans and used directly by humans. Natural forests grow by themselves over thousands of years.

Tree plantatation

Natural forests are full of the songs of birds. Plantations do not have much bird life.

Woodlots look neat because they are organized by humans. Naturan forests are structured by nature. Typical plantations have one tree species of regulated ages and sizes.

Natural forests have hundreds of tree species of all ages and sizes. Old giant mahoganies are next to newborn trees struggling to reach the light.

Can you think of other differences?

Natural forest

Write to us about your local forest and send a photo. The best letters will

win a term's school fees for you or a member of your family.

WIN

a term's school fees! Document your local natural forest. Write to Tree Talk, PO Box 22366, Kampala.

2 Tree Talk, May 2007

Tree Talk: success in 2006

244,000 trees planted in 227 schools

2006 was Tree Talk's best year since it started in 2004. With support from World Food Programme (WFP), Tree Talk came out twice. We sent 300,000 copies to all schools in Uganda as well as NGOs, churches and prisons. We sent out seed of Lusambya and Mvule.

Every school needs a woodlot Thanks to all those who grew the seed. To all those who did not bother, we ask: "What are you waiting for?" Please do not let tree seed get wasted. Tree Talk and WFP also started a campaign to replant the Luo-north, Kumi and Karamoja, areas with the least tree cover in Uganda.

Nurseries Do you know that many districts do not have a tree nursery? Even if you want to grow trees, you may not find seedlings. So in 2006 Tree Talk started tree nurseries in Moroto, Kotido and Kumi and helped WFP to expand nurseries in Gulu, Kitgum, Lira and Pader.

Karamoja is hot, dry, insecure, and desperately in need of trees. Many people think you cannot grow trees there. But some of our best woodlots are in Karamoja. as rains start. It is all about catching the rain.

It is all about rain

We learnt that you have to set up your nursery so that your seedlings are ready before the start of rains. Clear your field early and plant as soon

Choose the right trees. Not all trees are happy everywhere. We had good success with certain tree species. But eucalyptus let us down. It was eaten by termites across the north.

Tree Talk's Gabriel Opio and a Karimojong parent show forester Bill Farmer a school woodlot of healthy Senna. In Karamoja pupils carried water from home for trees! You can not easily defeat termites with trenches or chemicals. So plant trees that termites do not like to eat. These include our star performers. Senna, Neem, Lusambya and Mvule which are resistant to termites.

Star performers: the trees that grew so well

Neem (Azadirachta indica) in Moroto

Cassia (Senna siamea) in Kotido

Lusambya (Markhamia lutea) in Kitgum

Mvule (Milicia excelsa ) in Lira

Goats, cattle and termites are trouble for trees! • Always fence your woodlot. • The biggest threat to young trees in East Africa is livestock. • Live fences are best. They last longer than poles. Use stems of trees that termites do not like to eat. • In your woodlot plant species of trees that resist termites. Termites are the second biggest challenge to young trees.

Here a woodlot has been well fenced but termites are destroying the fence. Try a live fence instead.

In the dryness of the North and Karamoja, termites destroy eucalyptus. Neem, Senna, Lusambya and Mvule are termite-resistant and a better choice of trees for schools.

3 Tree Talk, May 2007

You need a woodlot because schools use a lot of firewood. A school with 400 pupils needs about six to eight Dyna pickups of fuelwood a term. This can cost up to 400,000 UGX. Most schools cannot afford that much money so the pupils simply do not eat. But if that same school had a woodlot with 4 acres of trees, it could grow enough fuelwood to be self-sufficient. There would be no spending on fuelwood, and pupils would eat.

A housewife in Kitgum: collecting firewood drains the time and energy of women and children. They will be stronger and healthier if there are fuelwood trees planted around the home.

We hope that in 2007

Remember you can collect more seed from local Lusambya trees. Special support for North and North east In 2007 in Kitgum, Pader, Lira, Kotido, Moroto and Nakapiripirit, our Tree Talk foresters will continue their work. If you live in one of those

Use a watering can with a nozzle. Water evenly. Too little water is stressful for the seedlings. Too much water increases attack by fungi. Check before watering. If the soil is wet, don’t water.

Reduce the shade gradually to allow seedlings to get used to field conditions before planting. This is hardening off.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

After germination, transplant the seedlings from the germination beds into pots filled with soil. This is called pricking out.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Weed the nursery beds. Weeds compete with seedlings.

Seedlings are sensitive to full light and high temperatures when they are young and must be protected with shade. Pests and diseases can kill seedlings so remove infected plants and destroy them.Remember to trim the roots growing out of the bottom of the pot from time to time. This is root pruning. Lusambya is very easy to germinate.

Mammals needed for forest trees Chrysophyllum (Mululu or Nkalate).

Director of the Budongo Forest Project, Dr Fred Babweteera is a man who has made a discovery. He spent 29 months in Budongo, Mabira and Kibale, researching how big mammals help trees. He found that big animals like elephants, civet cats and antelope are needed if trees are to spread their fruit and new trees to grow. These photos show animals eating the fruit of a big forest tree called

In forests such as Mabira where animals are few, this tree is disappearing. This is a pity. Not only is this a loss of biodiversity, but its wood is useful and its fruit is delicious for humans.

Feel free to contact them. • Kitgum: Angeyo Irene 078-2-600002 • Pader: John Oryem 0712-510211 • Lira: Denis Sidonyi 078-2-538569 • Kotido: Gabriel Agiro 077-2-902575 • Moroto: Joseph Angobu 077-2-988936

Schools in towns can grow trees too

Many town schools think they cannot grow trees. But most town schools have some land. You can plant trees around your school boundary or sports field. Kiswa PS in Kampala won an Environmental Alert prize for planting many trees. The school has a tree nursery. Pupils are not allowed to destroy trees.

Fred found that another tree, Balinites, depends on elephants to spread its seed. In Kibale which has 280 elephants, there are many young Balinites. But in Mabira and Budongo, where there are no elephants, Balinites is dying out. Fred's valuable research shows how fragile forests are and also why we need to protect animals.

districts, you can visit them in their nurseries. They will help 255 schools plant another 255 acres of woodlot.

A school in Karamoja: heavy use of fuelwood.

Start your school tree nursery

Locate your nursery near water and a supply of nursery soil, on a slightly sloping site (never on a hilltop or along a river). Make a raised bed lined on the sides with broken bricks, poles or timber. Build a shade over the bed. Get your tree seed and sow it by broadcasting gently over the nursery bed. Big seeds can be sown directly into the pots. Water twice a day untill when germination is complete.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Imagine 16,000 woodlots!

every school will make a nursery, germinate the seed and start their own woodlot.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

With this newspaper, about 16,000 schools across Uganda will receive seed for Lusambya.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Tree Talk 2007: addressing the crisis of fuel

The school now has a small forest where they harvest wood. Pieces are used for cooking and construction of poultry houses for the teachers. Dr Babweteera photographed elephants, bush pigs, civet cats and duikers eating the Nkalate fruit at night. They then spread its seed, allowing new Nakalate trees to grow. Children also love the fruit of Nakalate.

Environment teacher Lookman Katambira

Write to PO Box 22366, Kampala. Every letter published wins a T-shirt.

Teacher and pupils of Kotido Army PS preparing to plant their seedlings. Our new slogan is “plant more trees”. Every morning during assembly we chant “More trees, more rainfall” This is also written on school walls to remind us and our parents. We collect indigenous tree seeds to raise seedlings for our woodlot. We feel like ambassadors in saving our environment. Tree Talk encourages us! Lukoda D, P7, and Naigaga M, P6, Katala PS, Bugiri Our school has a mvule tree where pelicans birds and marabou storks stay. To preserve the natural habitats for these birds, we are planting more mvules. I urge all schools to plant more trees for a better Uganda. Nuwamanya K. (Envt teacher), Kakooge CU PS, Nakasongola The seeds sent to us was timely. It helped us expand our woodlots. The woodlot gives fencing post where we now get; fuel wood, oxygen and the school is potected

We have gained skills in nursery preparation, live fencing and agroforestry. We planted many trees that give us shade, money,

Teachers and pupils of Nyakatare PS fruits and timber. We are making more nursery beds because we have known the benefits of trees. M Atukunda, Nyamiko PS, Bushenyi Thank you for teaching us environment protection and income generation by planting

trees. Tree Talk has helped our pupils to plant trees on their own. Send us more tree seeds. We are determined and we shall succeed in tree planting. Nayebare M, Wambabya PS, Hoima We appreciate Tree Talk for sending us seeds that helped us plant two acres of trees. Our teachers have taught pupils and the surrounding community how to plant trees. Our environment is now good. Give us training in nursery management. Babughirana N, Kihungu PS, Kasese. We are proud of you and thank you for encouraging tree planting in schools. We now have woodlots of eucalyptus trees bordering school land. Teak and neem were planted for their medicinal value to the community. Owayi PS, Arua We appreciate Tree Talk for checking on our activities. This gave us morale to expand the woodlot. We have planted trees like Grevillea, Eucalyptus, Umbrella trees, Lusambya, Mvule, Cyprus, Mangoes, Moringa and pine. They protect our school from intruders. Juma G, Busitema PS, Busia.

Pupils of Palisa Township PS working in their tree nursery

This wonderful tree grows in Nakasongola and up through Lira, the Acholi districts and West Nile. Its Acholi name is Yaa. Its Langi name is Imuru. Its Lugbara name is Kamiro. Do you know it? Shea butter is extracted from the kernel of its seed. It is good as a body lotion or for eating. The tree takes 30 years to bear fruit. So do not cut it down for charcoal. Grow a woodlot and leave the Shea butter trees to grow.

Tree Talk wins Environmental Alert award 2006 In November 2006, Tree Talk was voted best initiative for promoting environmental communication and preservation in Uganda.

Left to right: Environmental Alert Director; STF Director; Tree Talk National Coordinator; and FAO Country Representative at the ceremony.

This was during the annual Environmental Alert Award at Grand Imperial Hotel, an event conducted each year to recognize the best contributors towards environment management.

2003 it won the Wildlife Clubs of Uganda prize.

Straight Talk Foundation, 4 Acacia Ave, Kololo PO Box 22366, Kampala Tel. 0312-262030/1

The “tree cry”

Oh man! Be kind to me as I am to you. Remember that when you were sick, you exposed my main roots and chewed them, so you survived. Don’t forget that I saved your crops when they were withering to death. I sweated and cried for you. My tears went to the sky and dropped down as rain, your crops survived.

Shea butter tree: unique and valuable

TREE TALK is a project of:

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Your letters

from wind. We also get income by selling seedlings from our tree nursery. The money helps us buy scholastic materials. Other seedlings are given to “Tree Talkers” to plant at home. Nyakatare PS, Kanungu

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Tree Talk, May 2007 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

4

In 2005 Tree Talk came joint second at the St Andrew's Prize for the Environment, Scotland. In World Food Programme, KAMPAL A, UGANDA. TEL: 0312-242000

Thanks for the recognition. We promise that we will not let you down! Forestry Inspection Division, National Forestry Authority and National Tree Seed Centre.

You and your animals were suffocating to death. You sat under my big shade. You took my good breath and I took your bad one. You and your animals survived. Remember I recycle nutrients for your crops and you enjoy good harvest. Where we are many, the temperature is low. Where we are few, the temperature is high. The desert is expanding because you are cutting us mercilessly. Oh man! Let me multiply and you will enjoy real life on earth. I thank Tree Talk for emphasizing my multiplication. Isaac Obote, Gulonger PS, Kotido Editor: C Watson Writers: SP Amunau, J Abongowath, Reviewers: S Nsita, W Thomson Design: MeB. Kalanzi Printer: The New Vision