One of our larger projects takes place in the in the village of Ruboni (Uganda), in the Kasese district. Together with Kraft Heinz and the Ruboni Community Conservation & Development Program we are planting trees to bring back the forests.
We are working with local farmers and the communities that live in the Rwenzori Mountain region, which is the area that has been most affected by deforestation. The Ruboni Community and Conservation & development Program runs a tree nursery and works at the heart of the community, ensuring the involvement and inclusion of the local people.
Trees planted by Kraft Heinz:
- Trees planted in 2022: 3230 trees (that will take up 923 tonnes of CO2 in 20 years)
- Trees planted in 2023: 1458 trees (that will take up 416 tonnes of CO2 in 20 years)
Trees planted with donations in 2022-2023
65
Trees sponsored in 2024
(last update 18-03-2024)
Our joint impact
Ecological challenges
Deforestation & floodings
Communities living in the Rwenzori mountain region face many difficulties due to the deforestation of the mountain slopes:
- Floods have become more severe and damaging, washing away houses and infrastructure and also killing people.
- The large amounts of rain water runoff also increase soil erosion. This decreases the fertility of the soil, and thus the vitality of the land.
- Deforestation also greatly impacts the water cycle: where there were once wide rivers, protected by trees along their banks, there are now only small streams that are slowly drying up.
Planting trees on the high slopes and tops of the mountains is key to prevent further erosion and floods. Urban Street Forest partners with local farmers to find practical solutions that also work for them economically.
For more details, watch the video below that we made on the ecological challenges caused by deforestation in the region.
Community activities
Ruboni Community Centre
This particular planting project takes place in the Ruboni village (Kasese district). The Ruboni Community Conservation & Development Program is our local partner, ensuring the involvement of the farmers and the communities most affected.
The Ruboni Community Conservation & Development Program runs a tree nursery and works at the heart of the community, enabling the involvement and inclusion of the local people. All the tree seedlings are grown in the local tree nursery, where education and training related to trees and tree planting are also provided.
Monoculture
Monoculture has had a large impact in the Kasese region. Eucalyptus and pine are common monoculture species that have high economic value as they are used for wood-production, but they also have negative ecological and social side-effects that threaten the local food security. Eucalyptus and pine species also tend to dry and acidify the soil, making it impossible for crops to grow.
Food security
Food security
The combined effects of erosion, and the drying and acidification of the soil, mean that crops don’t grow well, thus affecting the food security of the entire community. In order to ensure a sustainable amount of fertile arable land Uganda needs to gradually reforest the bare mountain slopes and replace the existing eucalyptus and pine forests, with fruit trees that contribute to landscape restoration and food security for this, and for future generations.
Planting a mix of local trees, of which some are fruit trees, means that the soil can absorb more water, which helps increase fertility. It is also is the quickest way to raise yearly incomes and the improve livelihood of the local people. Thus, food security is important to both sustain the community and to ensure the protection of the trees planted as they provide both, income and food.
