By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE
Uganda’s forest cover has increased to 13% according to National Forestry Authority (NFA).
This was revealed by Juliet Mubi, the Public Relations Officer NFA during the planting of two hundred indigenous tree seedlings at Nabumali High school in Mbale district on Friday 25th March 2022.
Mubi says that according to the national biomass report of 2015, the forestry cover in Uganda was at 9% but basing on the latest one released in 2020, it has increased to 13%.
She adds that the percentage has increased because of government and non-governmental organization emphasis on encouraging people to plant trees and donating free tree seedlings.
Mubi also says that they are giving free seedlings of indigenous tree species to people such that by 2025 they will hit their target of planting 60 million trees across the country bringing the cover to 15%.
Juanita Mbabazi, the Public Relation Officer of Mt Elgon tree planting non-governmental organization urged people to plant bamboo plants such that they can be used for fuel rather than cutting trees.
She adds that they also have a target of distributing 25 million indigenous tree seedlings freely in the Elgon region for people to plant by 2025.
Periz Nambafu, the Board Member at Nabumali high school expressed his happiness with the exercise urging other schools, health centers and people to get these free tree seedlings such that they can avoid climatic changes which will be caused by deforestation.
