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Experts oppose pine tree growing
The pine tree plantation at Bujawe Forest Reserve in Hoima District that was burnt recently. PHOTO BY martin ssebuyira
What you need to know:
The discouragement of the tree species by conservationalists follows a government programme promoting the planting of the trees as an income generating initiative and also supplementing high timber demands.
Wakiso
Conservationists from various parts of the country have come out to strongly oppose the on-going government programme encouraging pine and eucalyptus tree planting, which was geared at improving the wellbeing of Ugandans.
The conservationists say the tree species are monocultures and biological deserts that do not encourage other beings to co-exist with them.
“Pine and eucalyptus can lead to further desertification because when one cultivates where they were once planted, the crop won’t germinate. They are both good at evapo-transpiration - the loss of water to the atmosphere but are a threat to our natural forests,” Prof Oweyegha-Afunaduula, an environmentalist, said during an interview.
He added: “The plantations kill forests and everything associated with forests. Energy, water and food scarcity are linked with these plants.”
Mr Afunaduula says there is a campaign against plans to deplete Uganda’s natural forests with pine and eucalyptus, and that the campaign is being popularised at local, national, regional and continental levels.
Mr Allan Kalangi, a researcher at the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (Nape), says the trees can easily be razed by wild fires compared to natural forests and that it would be a great mistake to have them replace natural trees.
He says there is need to conserve the remaining natural forest cover because Uganda’s long-term survival is intertwined with them culturally, environmentally and biologically.
Mr Gonza Kaita Araali, the National Forestry Authority spokesperson, however, dismisses claims that they are encouraging the species over natural forests, saying NFA has not only promoted pine and eucalyptus, but has also enriched natural forests.
Mr Araali said NFA encourages planting of quick growing trees like pine and eucalyptus for eco-commercial reasons, such as meeting the high timber demands.
“Pine and eucalyptus are an alternatives to reducing pressure/over dependence on natural forests which are potentially capable of releasing toxic gases and supporting the existence of wild game,” he said.
He says NFA has so far planted more than 2,000 hectares of indigenous tree species in Ntoroko, Kamwenge and Luweero districts.
