Communities across northern and western Uganda are reaping the benefits of an ambitious landscape restoration programme that is combining environmental conservation with improved household livelihoods through commercial tree growing.
The Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Project, implemented by NIRAS International Consulting and its consortium partners—the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST), Green Life International, and Havilla Company Limited—has helped thousands of farmers establish woodlots while promoting climate resilience and sustainable land management.
Implemented under the Ministry of Water and Environment with funding from the World Bank, the project concluded on June 30, 2026, after nine months of implementation across 19 districts in northern and western Uganda. These included Adjumani, Amuru, Lamwo, Obongi, Moyo, Arua, Koboko, Yumbe, Madi-Okollo, Kiryandongo, Hoima, Kagadi, Kikuube, Kibaale, Kakumiro, Kyegegwa, Kitagwenda, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge.
The initiative sought to restore degraded landscapes while creating long-term economic opportunities for rural households through commercial tree growing.
Working closely with district and sub-county local governments, the project identified interested farmers, supplied them with high-quality tree seedlings and provided technical support throughout the planting process. Farmers voluntarily committed parcels of land ranging from a quarter of a hectare to nearly 10 hectares for tree planting.
Although originally designed as a multi-year intervention, the project was compressed into just nine months. This required the consortium and the Ministry of Water and Environment to prioritise achieving about 40 percent of the overall restoration target within the available timeframe.
Despite the shortened implementation period, several districts exceeded their targets, with Adjumani, Amuru and Yumbe emerging among the best-performing districts.
Beyond distributing seedlings, the project invested heavily in farmer training, emphasising proper land preparation, species selection, planting techniques and long-term woodlot management to improve tree survival and productivity.
According to Deziderius Irumba, Community Engagement Expert at NIRAS International, community response exceeded expectations.
“One of the biggest impacts we have seen is the enthusiasm among communities. People have embraced tree growing because they understand its value. We have also ensured quality standards and prepared farmers properly so that the trees planted can provide lasting benefits to families and reduce pressure on natural forests,” Irumba said.
He explained that the project departed from previous tree-planting initiatives by placing greater emphasis on voluntary participation and informed decision-making. Farmers selected tree species based on their individual needs, while digital mapping of every beneficiary and woodlot was introduced to simplify monitoring and future technical support.
The project also encouraged family ownership of woodlots, an approach expected to strengthen long-term sustainability and increase household investment in tree growing.
Besides creating future sources of timber, poles and firewood, the initiative aims to reduce pressure on Uganda’s natural forests while contributing to climate change mitigation and environmental restoration.
Inclusivity was another key pillar of the project. NIRAS deliberately promoted the participation of women, young people, older persons and persons with disabilities through targeted mobilisation, gender assessments and awareness campaigns.
According to Nagawa Gladys, Gender and Safeguarding Expert at NIRAS International, women exceeded the project’s participation targets.
“Our target was for women to account for 10 percent of the beneficiaries, but we have reached 16 percent. We are also encouraging families to give women and young people access rights to land so that they can benefit from tree growing and improve the welfare of the entire household,” she said.
As part of its environmental awareness activities, NIRAS and its partners recently joined the Adjumani District Local Government to commemorate World Environment Day at Arinyapi Seed Secondary School.
The school was selected because it is situated in an exposed area with limited tree cover, making it vulnerable to strong winds and excessive heat. District leaders and the school administration had requested support to improve the learning environment.
Trees planted at the school are expected to provide shade, serve as windbreaks and create a more conducive environment for teaching and learning in the years ahead.
Through collaboration between NIRAS International Consulting, ECOTRUST, Green Life International, Havilla Company Limited, the Ministry of Water and Environment and local governments, the IFPA-CD Project has demonstrated that environmental restoration and rural economic development can go hand in hand.
While the project has formally concluded, the strong community interest it generated suggests its impact will continue to grow. With thousands of farmers now investing in commercial tree growing, the initiative has laid a solid foundation for restoring degraded landscapes, strengthening household incomes and building a greener, more climate-resilient Uganda.