NEMA through the Mt. Elgon Project trained district natural resource, agricultural and forest officers, sub-county extension workers and local farmers in the nine districts of the Elgon landscape in SLM and restoration methods and techniques.

72 local government officers and over 180 farmers received the training.

The training has been classified under three main themes:

• riverbank pegging using bamboo;
• tree planting and management in farming landscapes;
• and soil and water conservation technologies with application of the A-Frame in contour hedgerow establishment.

The objective of the training is to equip the participants with knowledge and skills in various restoration methods and techniques for scaling up the ecosystem level.

The Mt. Elgon Project is a Government of Uganda project implemented by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Project applied method demonstration and participatory action learning to train the 72 local government officers and over 180 farmers. The training has been classified under three main themes: riverbank pegging using bamboo; tree planting and management in farming landscapes; and soil and water conservation technologies with application of the A-Frame in contour hedgerow establishment.

The choice of planting systems for adoption included boundary planting, woodlot, agroforestry, dispersed, scattered and home garden. For riverbank management, demonstrations on pegging and demarcation using bamboo were done. Under soil and water conservation, the participants practised contour hedgerow establishment using an A-frame. The process involves setting contours, pegging, digging and excavating, and stabilising contours using Napier grass.

The training took place at selected field sites in one sub-county in each of the nine districts that make up the Elgon landscape, scattered over two weeks. These are: Kamet Sub-county in Bukwo District, Kitawoi Sub-county in Kween District, Kaptanya Sub-county inKapchorwa, Soti Sub-county in Bulambuli District, Kaato Sub-county in Manafwa, Bukigai Sub-county in Bududa District, Busulani Sub-county in Sironko District, Bupoto Sub-county in Namisindwa District, and Nyondo Sub-county in Mbale District.

The Mt. Elgon Project is a is a Government of Uganda project implemented by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Captions

Compiled by; Peter Bahemuka, Communications Officer, Mt. Elgon Project