Blame NFA over eucalyptus trees

I read a story in the media where a senior National Forest Authority (NFA) manager was blaming society for planting eucalyptus trees. Many huge chunks of these woodlots are owned by people who know what this manager was talking about. On a small scale, society mistakenly plants eucalyptus trees as a “copy cat” practice.

As we continue to embrace eucalyptus species on our woodlots, the mandated organisation, NFA, should do credible research for alternative species to replace eucalyptus. If NFA had done research on indigenous and traditional tree species that give comparable advantages of use to society, then acclimatised tree species, in this sense the exotics, would not be cherished by tree farmers, particularly those with small pieces of land.

Imagine the enormous advantages presented by eucalyptus trees to poor communities in this country where energy in the rural areas is a very big challenge and hard to access commodity! Look at areas with massive land fragmentation and overpopulation in Rwenzori, Kabale, Elgon and greater Ankole. Look at the business opportunities from power poles and the many tea factories in search of fuel wood!

Although climate change has come and resilient tree species that continue to escalate and erode weather conditions stand to remain profitable, NFA and other research institutions should carry out vigorous investigation to avert and change or reduce the damage caused by eucalyptus with alternative tree species.

Rwanda government has taken a stand on exotic plant species, South African government did the same, so NFA is late overdue on its key mandate.

Finally, it is high time all stakeholders came together to debate and help society rather than blaming it as common people look upon executives for wisdom, answers to challenges and problems known and unknown to them in a simple way if we could compare them to parishioners looking to the priest for blessings.

As senior society researchers and academicians let us own the problem and look at the means and ways to avert and solve it immediately.