Care for your

climate! With
this Tree Talk,
18,000 schools
countrywide are
receiving tree seed.
Start your nursery
and woodlot
British High Commission now.Right: Brenda
This special Tree Talk on climate
change was produced with the Uganda
08
of the Twogere Kaati
Carbon Bureau. It is sponsored by the
pril 20
No.1 A Radio Program with
Vol. 6
British High Commission in Kampala.
The British Government is committed
to a low carbon global economy. her mvule seedlings

The climate is changing!

But we can fight climate change with trees

Trees naturally trap also has one of the it releases the areas, accounts for
carbon dioxide, best climates in the carbon dioxide that 20% of man-made

Save ts
which they use world for growing was stored. This greenhouse gas
during photo- trees. But more and contributes to global emissions each

fores
synthesis. At the more trees are being warming. Cutting year. You can fight
same time they emit cut down for down forests also this by protecting

w
oxygen, which we charcoal, firewood means that there the forests that are

Gro s
need to breathe. and timber and to are fewer trees to left and by growing
Uganda is lucky, it clear land for

tree
produce oxygen. more new trees.
still has some agriculture. When Deforestation,
natural forests. It the wood is burned, especially in tropical

What are greenhouse gases, global warming?

Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide. They naturally

encircle the earth. But too many greenhouse gases
cause the earth to heat up. This is global warming.

Is the weather in your The atmosphere (the air

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area changing? Is there we breathe) is naturally

dry land where it was made up of different There are
once wet, or floods where gases, including carbon now more
it was once dry? dioxide. Some of these floods and
gases are called
"greenhouse gases". droughts in
Does your favourite Uganda due
wetland for swimming Why do they have this
name? to global
now have little water?
Is the temperature
warming.
They are called
hotter than before? "greenhouse gases" Greenhouse gases carbon dioxide to be greenhouse gases come
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because they trap the sun's naturally act like a blanket released. from the destruction of
All over the world, the heat like the plastic and keep the Earth warm. Cars, planes and factories forests.
weather is changing: sheeting that is used to This is good: without burn fuel, releasing carbon
this is called climate make greenhouses. them, the Earth would be dioxide into the To reduce the carbon
change. Climate change Have you seen such very cold! atmosphere. When forests dioxide in the atmosphere
is dangerous because it greenhouses near Entebbe are burnt, they also release and thereby fight climate
disturbs our crops, water that are used for growing Unfortunately humans carbon dioxide. change, we can grow trees
and health. flowers and vegetables? have caused too much Today 20% of all man-made and protect forests.
2 Tree Talk, April 2008

What happens when the Earth heats up?

Global warming is already
changing the Earth's By reducing bush burning
temperature. In the last 100 and clearance of forests to
years, the Earth’s temperature make way for land for
has risen by 0.75°C. This might
seem little, but climate change agriculture, Uganda can
is already happening. reduce the amount of
carbon it contributes to
Drought the earth's atmosphere.
There are more droughts. In 2004-
2005, drought caused the water Protecting forests will help
levels in Lake Victoria and the River to stabilise Uganda's
Nile to go down. With less water to weather.
run through the dam at Jinja, there
were electricity shortages. The
drought in 1999-2000 created big
water shortages: many animals
died, and food became scarce and
expensive.

In Karamoja, the herdsmen know

where to take their animals for crops like coffee. Coffee needs cool and more people got sick crane, is under threat!
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water. Twenty years ago, they used weather to grow: if temperatures with diarrhoea from
to have at least six months of keep increasing, areas suitable for drinking unclean water. Pests and diseases
pasture every year. Now they have growing coffee will shrink. Farmers Higher temperatures mean
to move are now planting trees to All over the world extreme pests can move into areas that
frequently to shade their coffee. weather is increasing with were too cold for them before.
find enough big storms, such as The tsetse belt in Uganda has
grass and water Flooding Hurricane Katrina in the grown, causing more live-
for their cows. Whereas some districts are not USA, causing terrible stock to die. In 2005
receiving enough rain, others damage. grasshopper plagues destroyed
Drought is are getting too much! In 2007, crops in Katakwi district.
affecting Teso suffered terrible floods. Loss of species
Uganda's cash Families lost crops and homes, Insects, plants, birds and animals Malaria will spread to parts of
are very sensitive to even small Uganda where it has never been
changes in temperature. Climate before, such as the cool highlands.
change, plus human Temperature changes mean
impacts like the disease-carrying
deforestation, make it mosquito can breed in the
difficult for species to live new warmer areas. In
in their natural Kabale this is already
environment. happening.Have you
1906 always had malaria in your
Many will have to move to area, or has it started to
a new home, but they come?
might be blocked by Melting glaciers
rivers or human The snow on the Rwenzori
Half of the weight of this settlements. Mountains is melting,
huge mahogany tree is Can you imagine life
carbon. As it grows, it without local trees and 2005 causing the Semliki River
to shift its course. This is
pulls even more carbon wildlife? Even Uganda's
dioxide from the disrupting peoples' lives and homes.
atmosphere.
national symbol, the crested

Trees capture and store carbon

Carbon naturally moves in our warming is taking place. •If we use charcoal, we can use a
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environment Trees are called fuel efficient stove. If we cook on

"carbon sinks" because they move In Uganda, most of the carbon wood, we can get a stove that
carbon from the atmosphere and dioxide going into the atmosphere burns it efficiently, not wasting
store it. comes from burning firewood, heat.
charcoal and bush. •We can start our own woodlot and
Trees also help because:
• They bind the soil with their use trees that we have planted
So what can we do since most of ourselves instead of cutting big
roots to stop it from washing us need to cook with firewood or
away. forest trees that already hold a lot
charcoal everyday? First, we can of carbon.
• They encourage cloud formation, all be more careful about how
which keeps the climate cooler. many trees we use: •We can protect forests.
• They bring more regular rainfall
and moisture, minimizing the
impacts of drought.
• Some trees keep the soil fertile
with nutrients that help crops to
grow well.

By cutting too many trees, humans

have disturbed the natural
movement of carbon: the exchange
of carbon is no longer balanced!
There is too much carbon dioxide A greenhouse: the plastic Collecting from the bush is hard
in the atmosphere. This excessive sheeting traps the sun's heat. That work and eventually destroys the
amount of greenhouse gases is is what greenhouse gases are environment. It is better to grow
making the world hotter: global doing to the world. your own woodlot!
 3 Tree Talk, April 2008

Tree growing easy, even in dry areas

These great mvule trees give protection from
wind, rain and sun to the inhabitants of this
IDP camp in Lokung, Kitgum. How much more
difficult would their lives be if they did not
have these trees? These trees were planted
by a human being just like you. You too can
plant trees that become permanent features
in your community.

Send photos
of your Tree Talk
nursery and trees
to PO Box 22366,
Kampala. Win a
residential
training in tree
growing!

With this Tree Talk, 12,600 schools are receiving a packet of mvule seed. For schools in extremely dry areas such as
Karamoja, Tree Talk is sending cassia seed. The rains have begun in Uganda. Do not delay. Now is the time to prepare your seed bed.
Plant your Tree Talk seeds as soon as you receive them! You can also collect seed from local trees. Start your nursery today.

Mvule (Milicia excelsis) seedlings into small pots. Cassia (Senna siamea)
Tree Talk woodlot in Panjira PS
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is Uganda's most famous Protect your seedlings is fast growing and good
hardwood. It grows in from animals and always for poles, charcoal, This cassia and neem
three-quarters of our remember to water. furniture, shade and soil woodlot at Panjira
districts. It grows very big conservation. It resists PS in Kitgum was
and keeps growing for a After 7 months, plant termites. To germinate its planted less than two
long time. Not only does it your seedlings out by seeds, soak them for two years ago. It is
absorb a lot of carbon digging big holes and days in cold water. Plant already providing
dioxide, but in two to three filling them with good the seeds in lines and shade and will soon
years you will have a tree topsoil and compost. cover with a thin layer of provide fuel. A
you can sit under! Continue to water and rough sand. school with 1000
pupils needs about
protect them. 4000 trees or four
Mvule seeds are very small Water until the seed bed acres of woodlot to
but are easy to grow. They Watering is especially is moist. After that, water be self-sufficient in
need no special treatment. important if it is the dry the seeds every day. wood.
Plant the mvule seeds in season. Build a shade to protect
your seedbed. Cover the the seeds. They will The kitchen at
seeds with a thin Every school germinate in 6 to 18 days. Panjira PS: all
layer of soil. needs big schools need big
trees like Transplant the small amounts of wood.
Then cover Mvule to seedlings into pots 3 days Children usually
after germination. Give carry sticks from
your nursery provide home.
bed with a perma- them water everyday.
shade and nent In deforested areas
keep the soil shade and windbreaks. Keep the pots under the where there is no
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shade for one month, then wood, pupils often do

moist. The seeds will Mvule is termite-resistant. not eat. Every school
germinate in 8-20 days. The wood is extremely remove. After 3 months, needs a woodlot!
After 2-3 weeks, move the hard. plant the seedlings.

Every school needs a woodlot: tips for successful woodlots

Good nursery When seedlings Keep young Lay manure in Fence the
practices are the key start to germinate, seedlings the bottom of woodlot or
Select a good site, make water in the shaded. Then the pit. Place the place protec-
a raised bed (1x2meters), mornings and gradually seedling together tion around
fill the top with loam soil evenings. Avoid remove shade. with its pot. the young
and sand mixed in equal too much Shaded Then remove the seedlings to
proportions. Make lines watering. It may woodlot pot and fill the prevent them
and sow seeds in the encourage fungal seedlings will pit with topsoil. from being
lines. Water regularly but growth. (Shade be ready for destroyed by
gently. Make a shade. not shown in this When seedlings transplanting animals!
picture!) are ready to put after 3 months. Prepare your
into pots, planting area by
transfer them digging holes 30 x
gently. Do not 30 cm deep and
pull seedlings by wide. Transport
their leaves! seedlings to the
planting area in a
good container.
4 Tree Talk, April 2008
We planted calliandra trees in our
Your letters

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school woodlot. We are caring for
them and they are very healthy.
Write to PO Box 22366, Tree Talk, keep sending us more
Kampala. Every letter tree seeds. Namugaya Bitaminsi,
published wins a T-shirt. P6, Katala PS, Bugiri
We appeal to other schools that Thank you for your publications. I
receive Tree Talk to practice am very glad that even my
afforestation, reforestation and grandmother has a woodlot, where
agroforestry so that we can chase we frequently get firewood, shade
away environmental degradation in P6 students at Kyangyenyi PS in
Bushenyi celebrate the Environment and poles for building our kitchen.
our country and the world at large. Please send Myco PS some
Headteacher Rukundo Robert, Day by planting seedlings.
publications from Tree Talk and
Rwanga PS, Kihihi, Kanungu seeds for our nursery beds.
We planted many trees in our
compound and they are doing very Nueamanya Timothy, P4, Myco
The Karimojong culture and PS, Masindi Keep your school gardens alive! At
tradition on the preservation of well, for example, musizi,
eucalyptus and cassia. Lumansi Iryango PS in Mbarara/Isingiro, the newly
trees is excellent for today’s Tree posted headmistress and some staff
Talk programmes in schools and Erinesta, P6, Busowa PS, Bugiri
members plant avocado trees in the
beyond. I want to encourage every
Karimojong pupil to grow and care Our teachers have been teaching school compound during the holiday.
for at least one tree in a school pupils and the community how to
where they learn. Let’s co-exist plant trees. Our demonstration
with trees to notice the value they garden has been fenced to avoid
give us. Locheng, P6, animals attacking it. And we also
Nakapelimoe PS, Kotido received seeds like senna, neem,
lusambya and eucalyptus.
Okeya Gideon Hoyte P7, Tree Talkers at Bumanya PS in Kaliro
Chairman Farm Talk Club, Orago prune their trees. They write, "Locally
we have collected mango seeds and
PS, Tororo planted at least 250 seedlings of
mangoes. Through sensitization dur-
ing parents' meetings, the community
has taken up tree planting as their
home projects."

Tree Talk Club members at Bitare PS

Pupils at Oriyoi PS, Tororo, in their
Lusambya woodlot. They write, in Kisoro write, "We are planting tree
"Thank you Tree Talk for initiating seedlings of black wattle in the
the planting of trees in all schools! boundary of the school because of
This has added to the beauty of our the knowledge acquired from Tree
environment." Talk newspapers.
My school St. Comboni PS loves The life I have now is because trees
trees and this is why it is nice and Tree Talkers at Rubimbwa PS in
care. When I push out carbon
beautiful in Kotido Town Council. Kanungu have planted Musizi, Euca- Members of the Chawo Youths Asso- dioxide, they do not forget to
Long live Tree Talk, long live the lyptus and Pine trees. Here they are ciation in Busia build a thatch shel- organise for me oxygen.
ongoing rainfall. Oyugi Bill Brian, weeding their protected school ter to provide shade for their seed Opolot Masereka, teacher, Kasese
P5, St Comboni PS, Kotido garden. nursery. Junior PS, Kasese

Win!
Tree Talk in 2008: protecting biodiversity
In 2008, Tree Talk will send its Tree Talk will also train 360
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newspaper and seed to 18,000 teachers and 40 community groups

schools. Its field staff will also and work closely with Uganda
work on the ground in 330 Wildlife Clubs. Do you have a Send in photos and stories of
schools. wildlife club? what your school is doing to
fight climate change. The best
Under WILD, funded by USAID, UWC can help you if elephants or 20 responses will win a copy
Tree Talk will work with 180 other animals are disturbing your of the Pocket Issue on Global
schools in Adjumani, Moyo, school or village. Hunting is Warming.
Amuru and Kitgum. Each banned, and UWC knows kinder
school will have a nursery, ways to help animals stay inside This book explains the science
grow 2000 trees and plant their protected areas. behind climate change and
two-acre woodlots as well as the problems that the world
boundary trees. Elsewhere, Tree Talk is working in will face if climate change
45 schools with the National continues.
Once self-sufficient in fuel, Forestry Authority to protect
these schools will not need Yumbe's Mt Kei Central Forest Every
wood from the bush. This Reserve. In Kumi, Tree Talk is in 15 Member of
will protect biodiversity schools. In Gulu and Kabermaido, it Parliament
Protecting biodiversity in Murchison Falls is in 90 schools with FAO. has been
means conserving all Park, Madi and given a
plants, animals and Dufile Wildlife Tree Talk thanks all district and copy!
insects that naturally Reserves and the school authorities for the warm Win
Central Forest welcome you have given us. yours
occur in our habitat. today!
They are all there for a Reserves of Together we will grow over 500,000
Zoka, Mt Otzi trees this year to fight climate Write to
purpose. Biodiversity is and Agoro Agu. change, help pupils to feed, and PO Box
a safety net and a life protect biodiversity. So many 22366
support for us. Under WILD, benefits from trees! Kampala.
The seeds for this Tree Talk were collected by the National Tree Seed Centre. This issue was produced with
TREE TALK the Uganda Carbon Bureau, funded by the British High Commission. Costs for Northern Uganda were met by
is a project of: WILD, a partnership of Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Clubs of Uganda, Flora and Fauna International,
Straight Talk Foundation Jane Goodall institute and Tree Talk., supported by USAID.
4 Acacia Ave, Kololo Editor: C Watson; Writers: K Manchester, J Farmer, SP
PO Box 22366, Kampala Amunau; Reviewer: Bill Farmer; Design: G B Mukasa
Tel. 0312-262030/1 Printer: The New Vision