Farmer Initiated Pine Tree Planting (乌干达)

Farmer owned initiated pine tree planting approach is an individual initiative promoted by a farmer with the aim of establishing modern tree nurseries for raising seedlings for other farmers and communal learning

A farmer started the approach locally and later obtained training and approval to operate as certified tree nursery bed operator by the national forestry authority (NFA) to promote quality tree seedlings promotion. Northern Uganda normally experiences devastating fire outbreaks during dry seasons (November-March) which usually destroy vegetation covers. This leaves the land bare resulting in persistent soil erosion, low soil fertility, low production and low incomes. This is the reason to promote tree nurseries as an alternative source of income. The approach promotes environmental conservation through tree planting, triggers saw-log production, sustainable land utilization and increases household income from the sale of tree seedlings.

The nursery bed project was linked to a saw log production scheme Grant (SPGS) by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) who have supported and trained the farmer with grants/money for procuring the tree seeds from countries like Australia, Brazil and South Africa. This individual farmer together with SPGS and partners first developed guidelines (similar to a community’s constitution) informing on how to establish and manage tree nurseries plantations including marketing products for value addition. The guidelines highlight that:
(1) Prospective beneficiaries must be organized individuals operating a tree nursery bed
(2) The nursery bed should be certified resp. approved by the forestry authority (NFA)
(3) Nursery owners must train other community members on tree nursery bed establishment and tree planting
(4) Nursery owners must provide tree seedlings to other community members for purchase
(5) Beneficiaries must be in position to plant tree seedling in own fields which would, in turn, act as a demonstration site
(6) Beneficiaries should have willingness and ability to perform according to the guidelines (https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/37755510/spgs-tree-planting-guidelines for-Uganda-all-chapters-low).

Trees seedling procured by interested farmers are planted into the established seedbed at the onset of the rains under the supervision of the nursery bed owner. The community performs plantation planning meetings and training / exchange visits to empower other farmers to mobilize resources for environmental conservation. Up to now, participating farmers have been involved in raising over 350000 tree seedlings for timber and other tree species per year from 2007.

Benefits linked to this approach include the presence of the leadership committee supported by the guidelines/constitution to guide the farmers' activities, farmer-to-farmer learning, demonstration plots, and access to information and decision support on commercial forest plantation establishment.

The sale of products as well as environmental services has enabled the farmers’ community to extend its networks and partnerships beyond SPGS. Farmer communities also supply tree seedlings to churches, schools and other private clients. They do demonstrations and give advice to farmers so that their seedlings survive.