Refugee Welfare Committee (RWCs) and host community representatives, undergo a practical training on forest fire suppression; wild fires is one of the leading causes of degradation in the area.

25/03/2024

Yumbe - In Romogi sub-county, Yumbe district, Waiga Adinan, 77, remembers a time when the land was covered with thick trees, a time when nature thrived abundantly. However, deforestation swept through the region, leaving barren lands. Waiga emerged as a beacon of hope, offering his 70 acres of land for restoration, envisioning a future where people and nature live in harmony.

"I am using my land to help bring back trees for food, firewood, and protection," Waiga says, emphasizing the diverse benefits of forest restoration.

Waiga's dedication reflects the resilience of communities worldwide grappling with climate change and its impacts and underscores the need for more transformative initiatives such as the restoration efforts in Bidi Bidi being championed the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and other partners.

FAO's commitment to combating climate change and restoring degraded ecosystems in Uganda is evident through its comprehensive approach to woodland restoration. This approach encompasses support for the development of guidelines, standards, and a pool of certified professional service providers (forest contractors and tree nurseries) to inspire and strengthen the actions of all partners. Through practical training programs, FAO empowers communities with the knowledge and skills of best practices and modern-age tools necessary to reclaim and revitalize their natural heritage.

"Before the restoration training, I didn't know which trees to plant or that the quality of the materials mattered," Waiga reflected. “Thanks to the training, I can easily identify them. Previously, my trees would often die after planting; now I have learned how to handle and care for them to ensure they survive and thrive."

In Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, FAO in close collaboration with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and Kijani Forestry a local non-governmental organization (NGO) is piloting a training program aimed at equipping communities, Refugees and host communities and District Forest Service operating partners under refugee response energy and environment sector with skills and knowledge of restoration in woodlands. Guided by the Forest Landscape Management Plan (FLMP) for the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, these trainings address in-depth context-appropriate restoration strategies inclusive of assisted natural regeneration and agroforestry with emphasis on forest protection from wildfires, wildfires being one of the leading causes of degradation in Yumbe.

The training, based on the Bidibidi FLMP (2023/2028) developed by FAO and UNHCR, aimed to raise awareness of draft standards for restoring woodlands in Uganda, improve skills in forestry practices, and demonstrate the value of woodlands to promote sustainable use by both refugees and host communities, and alleviate pressure on the environment and natural resources in a displacement context.

The impact of FAO's work extends far beyond the training sessions themselves, as evidenced by individuals like Kidin Gabriel, a South Sudanese refugee who has embraced newfound knowledge to plant trees and safeguard the environment. This will amplify refugees' relevance to emerging opportunities for restoration in Bidibidi to strengthen forest-based green jobs as sustainable livelihood streams.

"After the training, I am ready to plant trees," Kidin Gabriel affirmed. "I have learned proper planting techniques and land preparation, and I am eager to put it into practice."

Moreover, FAO's interventions prioritize environmental sustainability and social equity, engaging diverse stakeholders and ensuring inclusivity and impactfulness.

Ambaga Khemis Omar, the District Forest Officer of Yumbe district, expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration between the local government and the FAO team in addressing the environmental challenges posed by the influx of refugees.

He highlighted the importance of developing a forest landscape management plan for Bidibidi in response to the increased demand for forest-based resources due to the refugee population.

" FAO supported the development of the Forest Landscape Management Plan, which involved conducting inventory and assessments, mapping work, and community consultations. This plan is helping to address the degradation of hotspot areas identified in Bidibidi and restore the lost forest cover and products, especially firewood, which is vital for daily activities in the settlement and surrounding host communities,” he stated.

The FAO has committed to restoring 100 hectares of degraded woodland in Bidibidi as part of the FLMP's operationalization. The goal is to mitigate environmental impacts and promote sustainable resource management. However, the plan requires substantial resources to fully support its implementation.

Background:

Forest restoration is essential for sustainable natural resource management and climate change resilience. In Uganda, private forests, especially woodlands, are heavily degraded primarily due to unsustainable charcoal production practices and rural communities' heavy reliance on biomass energy. Efforts to restore degraded forests are closely linked to promoting alternative sources of energy for cooking and ensuring a gradual reduction of biomass utilization in the energy mix, in line with SDF7 related to access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This aligns with FAO's mandate and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) outcome of shared prosperity in a healthy environment.