Environment Sector

Objective: Natural resources and shared environment better protected

Use of natural resources and shared environment needs constant attention

Given the Population pressure on land across the settlements, the age of the settlements (some since 1959) and the continued use of most of them, a lot is at stake in terms of forest cover, Soil and water conservation, lake shores (which are considered fertile) and plant bio-diversity as well as disruption of the ecosystems. Refugees and asylum seekers depend on the existing trees and shrubs for domestic demands including construction and charcoal burning. The soils have continuously been cropped with minimal or no inputs and in some cases the vulnerable parts of the land like hill slopes and lake shores have been used which have resulted into soil erosion and Lake siltation and water eutrophication. Environmental interventions have been minimal and inconsistent due to the limited and inconsistent resource investment over the years. Additionally there is no regional operational comprehensive environment intervention strategy that is being consistently followed. We however plan to carry out the following:

1. Raising of seedlings for planting in the settlement
2. Support to tree planting around refugee homes, institutions and community woodlots
3. Raising of tree seedlings for planting in refugee homes
4. Provision of tree seedlings for planting in community woodlots institutions schools and homes for agro-forestry and water conservation.
5. Awareness creation for environment conservation practices through sensitizations.

Pricking eucalyptus grandkid at Kisoro tree nursery bed-Rwamwanja Refugee settlement.



Pruning a woodlot at Kabahinda hill Nakivale Resettlement

 



Soil erosion is a common environmental issue in Isingiro District and Nakivale refugee settlement in particular. This arises from the many bare hills that have been totally depleted of vegetation cover. Further soil erosion is attributed to the high Population pressure on the land resulting from over cultivating on the land and over grazing of cattle. Many bare hills are shown here.

View of bare Rolling hills surrounding Isingiro Town



Totally bare hill in Karitima A, Rubondo Zone



Totally bare hill in Karitima A, Rubondo Zone



Nursery bed to provide tree seedlings has been maintained with various species: Acacia, Cassia, Pinus caribaea, Bambo, Grevillea, Jackfruit, Casuarina, ice cream bean, Eucalyptus Grandis e.t.c

Pinus Carribaea tree seedlings at the Nursery Bed at Kakoma Village



Grevillea Tree seedlings



Acacia Tree seedlings



Eucalyptus Grandis Tree woodlot at Kahirimbi Village



Grevillea woodlot along Isingiro Nakivale Road



Acacia woodlot along Isingiro Nakivale Road



Grevillea wood lot at Kakoma Village, Juru Zone



Pinus Carribaea woodlot at Nakivale Secondary School- Kabahinda Village



Bambo woodlot at Karitima A Rubondo Zone that supports agroforestry



Pinus Carribaea woodlot at Kityaza (24ha)



Mangoes, Citrus, Jackfruit, Avocados, and Pawpaw planted at Juru Zone Offices



Fruit trees planted along the avenues. These support the dietary requirements of the people



Grevillea woodlot planted to demarcate water catchment areas along showers of Lake Nakivale (planted 200m from the lake)



Digging of ditches around the buffer zone of the wetland catchment area of Lake Nakivale-Rubondo Zone



Wetland restored along Lake Nakivale as a result of the creation of the buffer zones



Overgrazing of the water catchment areas. There is a lot of pressure from cattle farmers who graze cattle in the buffer zones and destroy trees and crops