Overview of Social and Environmental Issues
25% of Uganda’s surface area is covered by water. Most of Uganda’s land area is 1,000 meters above sea level. Semi-arid desert takes up the northeast, while the rest of country is dominated by forests and savannas.

Deforestation caused by increasing uses in firewood is causing many problems. With only 25% of Uganda’s land arable, there are increasing population pressures on available land. Overgrazing has become a growing problem.

The shrinking amount of available land for farmers is forcing many farmers to produce the same amount of food on less land. Agroforestry can improve soil fertility and agricultural output.

Our Response
The Uganda Program has projects spread throughout Uganda and focuses primarily on providing trees to local communities for the production of firewood and livestock fodder. Trees for the Future is also working with several local and international NGO's to develop and implement training workshops on tree nursery management and agroforestry techniques. Trees for the Future has distributed 200,000 seeds.

November 2009
The Uganda Program for Trees for the Future is currently working with over 45 organizations, individuals, and schools to implement tree planting and agroforestry projects. The school component of the tree planting program includes the sensitization of 300 students per workshop. The workshop includes a demonstration tree nursery, which allows for each student to receive 5 seedlings to plant in each of their homes. The school program has been a great success with over 90 percent of students planting seedlings in their homes.

The Uganda Program is also working closely with the Peace Corps, and are currently providing support and training materials to 8 Peace Corps Volunteers throughout Uganda. The Vlunteers have been very enthusiastic to begin tree planting projects and are very eager to work with Trees for the Future and promote knowledge transfer to rural Uganda Communities.

So far this year, the Uganda Program has distributed 500,000 seedlings throughout Uganda, with an additional 250,000 seedlings in nurseries. Organizations are constantly asking for seeds and support, as the Uganda Program continues to expand.

April 2009
The first trimester for 2009 in Uganda has demonstrated the great potential that Trees for the Future has in implementing tree planting projects with local NGO's and Community-Based Organizations (CBO's). There is real potential that the Uganda Program will be the most successful program in the East Africa Region in terms of number of trees planted. There is a growing interest by Ugandans to plant trees that help provide firewood and livestock fodder in rural communities.