Preservation of Mt. Elgon Ecosystem, Uganda

Mbale is a region in Eastern Uganda, overlooked by the imposing Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano of the Great Rift Valley. Wagagai, its highest summit, is at an altitude of 4,321m and sprawls out over 4,000 kilometres squared, making it the largest volcanic base in the world! Within the last few decades, the environment around Mount Elgon has changed significantly. Rainforests have been cut down and populations have increased exponentially.

The once predictable weather has become irregular and the local soils, destabilised by the reduction of trees and heavy rainfall, causes flooding and landslides. Landslides have resulted in a loss of homes, schools, livestock and sometimes costs lives.

The Welsh Government has worked in this region since 2006 through its charity Size of Wales. Throughout these years Size of Wales with teams based in Wales and Africa has built strong relationships with Mbale's local population by funding a broad range of projects in education, healthcare, and the environment.

In 2008 Size of Wales started the very ambitious Mbale Trees Programme with a mission to enable individuals and communities to see the benefits of growing trees, mitigating the effects of climate change, providing sustainable supplies of fuel, shelter and food, and alleviating poverty for today and for future generations.

In 2017, a new approach was developed to establish a new structure for the tree planting organization in Uganda. Shortly after that the Mount Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE), was registered as a 'not for profit organization' in Mbale. METGE was set up to allow the Mbale Trees Programme to grow to the next level.

The project also partners with the local NGOs MEACCE (Mount Elgon Agroforestry Communities Cooperative Enterprise) and BRDC (Bungokho Rural Development Centre) to operate 39 nurseries and distribute free of charge over 3 million nursery-grown tree seedlings annually to local smallholder farmers, agricultural co-operatives, families, churches and schools, free of charge. Together, this team of over 100 people are able to reach tens of thousands of community members; providing not only free trees but also consistent training on agroforestry, bee-keeping, and installation of fuel-saving Lorena stoves.

Tree-Nation joined the Mbale Trees Programme as a partner in 2023.

The Mbale Trees Programme has a very ambitious mission: Plant, nurture and conserve 30 million trees until 2030.

Since 2008 more than 21 million trees have already been distributed to over 54.000 beneficiaries (farmers, schools, families, and land managers). The programme also provides direct employment to 116 employees. Roles include nursery bed operators (of the 39 existing nurseries), data clerks and community facilitators.

The approach with a focus on enhancing community resilience to climate change stands apart from many other tree planting initiatives by prioritizing community engagement over regimented mono-culture plantations aimed at carbon markets or timber production.

Due to land fragmentation (as families grow and split their farms) many farmers have less than one hectare to grow enough food for their family. Nevertheless, even these small plots of farmland can provide enough nutrition to secure the livelihood of these families if the farmland is managed carefully by applying innovative agroforestry techniques that secure the best nutrition for the local population:

- Food Quantity: Higher yields through better land management practices + more productive crop varieties.
- Food Quality: Healthier diet through greater variety of crops and vegetables.
- Food Security: Resilient crop varieties and soil protection (resist pests and natural disasters)

Other sustainable cash crops such as coffee, beans, or bananas can be grown alongside the family’s food. These cash crops and food surplus (food available above needs) allow farmers to earn additional income (instead of charcoal burning). Through this additional income parents have opportunity to release their children from farm work, send them to school and pay for their education, therefore breaking the everlasting circle of extreme poverty.

Higher and secure yields and additional income make local communities less dependent on the slash & burn of nearby native forests to increase yields through new farmland and to secure a minimum income through the burning of charcoal.

Tree nursery operators are other pivotal figures within this innovative agroforestry strategy. The careful selection of nursery sites involves consideration of community interests, the broader nursery network, and potential environmental and social benefits. Once a village is chosen, METGE collaborates with the district environmental officer to identify community members passionate about environmental causes. These individuals are then trained to operate tree nurseries, nurturing and distributing tree seedlings to local land managers and institutions for free, encouraging widespread tree planting on their respective lands.

All farmers which participate in this programme receive advisory about the best species mix for them, and are provided with training and other services to plant and maintain their trees properly.