Tree Use in Gulu, Uganda
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T REE USE IN GULU, UGANDA Research about the Tree-use of the local people of Gulu District Simeon Derksen - Student Tropical Forestry - Herveld - December 2011 1 2 T REE USE IN GULU, UGANDA Research about the Tree-use of the local people of Gulu District S. Derksen BNB, Major Tropical Forestry Wageningen University of Applied Science, Larenstein Velp Herveld, December 2011 Mentor: A. Hettema 3 Summary In this thesis the indigenous tree-use of the local population of Gulu district, Uganda, will be discussed. How do people use their natural surrounding? Which trees doe they use and for which purposes? The local population of Gulu is dependent on the natural recourses from the surrounding area. Yet forest and nature degrade at high speed due to population growth, bad agriculture methods, and over-exploitation. Tree Talk is a foundation promoting tree-planting all over Uganda but especially in the north. The north is developing at a high rate due to the fact that the area is no longer a warzone. For Tree Talk it is important to have knowledge about the mindset of the population on their natural surroundings. The research is mostly done by interviewing and Observation. Local farmers have been interviewed about their tree-use. Also 8 tree rankings were done to get a picture on which trees are most valued. A list of most important tree species has been made as a result. Local farmers are for a great deal dependent on the natural recourses such as firewood, building materials, and food. The indigenous tree species are still valued for many reasons. People do not know how to grow these species although in most cases they are interested in planting these indigenous trees. Spreading knowledge on these issues could be one of the strategies to improve the situation. 4 Table of Contents Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 5 List of figures ........................................................................................................................................... 8 List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................................ 9 Foreword ............................................................................................................................................... 10 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 11 1.1. Research subject.................................................................................................................... 11 1.2. Background of the research .................................................................................................. 11 1.3. Relevance of the research ..................................................................................................... 11 1.4. Frame and motive for the thesis subject............................................................................... 12 2. Problem description/ analysis ....................................................................................................... 13 2.1. Importance of forest ............................................................................................................. 13 2.2. Forest values and importance: .............................................................................................. 14 2.2.1. Forest products.............................................................................................................. 14 2.2.2. Subsistence needs ......................................................................................................... 14 2.2.3. Environmental services ................................................................................................. 15 2.3. Pressure from ........................................................................................................................ 16 2.3.1. Agriculture ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.2. Exploitation .................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.3. Bush burning .................................................................................................................. 16 2.3.4. Encroachment ............................................................................................................... 16 2.3.5. Deforestation ................................................................................................................. 16 2.3.6. Degradation ................................................................................................................... 16 2.4. Causes for deforestation and land degradation: ................................................................... 16 2.4.1. Population growth ......................................................................................................... 16 2.4.2. Poverty .......................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.3. Lacking governance ....................................................................................................... 17 2.4.4. Other factors ................................................................................................................. 17 3. Sub questions ................................................................................................................................ 18 4. Methods ........................................................................................................................................ 19 4.1. Where were the interviews and observations done? ........................................................... 19 4.2. When did the research take place ......................................................................................... 21 4.2.1. Time of the year ............................................................................................................ 21 5 4.2.2. Time of the day .............................................................................................................. 21 4.2.3. Who has been interviewed? .......................................................................................... 21 4.3. Observations.......................................................................................................................... 22 4.4. Interview ................................................................................................................................ 23 4.5. Literature ............................................................................................................................... 23 5. Area description ............................................................................................................................ 24 5.1. Uganda .................................................................................................................................. 24 5.1.1. Population ..................................................................................................................... 25 5.1.2. Economy ........................................................................................................................ 25 5.1.3. Education ....................................................................................................................... 25 5.1.4. Main problems .............................................................................................................. 26 5.2. Gulu district ........................................................................................................................... 27 5.2.1. Geography ..................................................................................................................... 27 5.2.2. Administrative structure ............................................................................................... 27 5.2.3. Climate ........................................................................................................................... 27 5.2.4. Soil ................................................................................................................................. 27 5.2.5. Population and demography ......................................................................................... 28 5.2.6. Health ............................................................................................................................ 29 5.2.7. Infrastructure ................................................................................................................ 29 5.2.8. Economy ........................................................................................................................ 30 5.2.9. Economic activities ........................................................................................................ 30 5.2.10. Education ....................................................................................................................... 31 5.2.11. History ..........................................................................................................................