By Jacob Okwii, Communication Officer, Mt. Elgon Project

The return of the El Niño rains is creating a timely opportunity to restore vulnerable landscapes across the Mount Elgon region. Through the Promoting Integrated Landscape Management Approach for Conservation of the Mount Elgon Ecosystem in Eastern Uganda Project has begun restoration activities, with indigenous and other locally suitable tree seedlings being distributed and planted on vulnerable hills and along riverbanks.

The work follows the issuance of call-off orders to service providers tasked with supplying and delivering over 476,362 seedlings to restore sites across the project’s nine districts. The aim is to help stabilise vulnerable slopes and riverbanks, strengthen the landscape’s capacity to withstand erosion, and support the long-term health of the Mount Elgon ecosystem. Successful restoration will depend not only on getting seedlings into the ground, but also on choosing suitable sites, planting at the right time and caring for the trees as they establish.

Restoration is already under way at sites in the Elgon region. In Bugisu, the sites include Buluganya Hill in Buluganya Sub-county, Bulambuli District; River Passa in Bukiende Sub-county, Mbale District; River Sironko in Sironko District; Bumuluwe Hill and Mutufu Forest Reserve in Masaba Sub-county, Sironko District; Bunamuntsu Hill in Bupoto Sub-county and River Sala in Mukoto Sub-county, Namisindwa District; Bukusu Hill in Bugobero Sub-county and River Khamitsaru in Bugobero Sub-county, Manafwa District; Namukhokhe Hill in Nalondo Sub-county, Manafwa District; and Bunamukye–Busabulo Hill in Bukibokolo, Bududa District.

In the Sebei sub-region the sites include; Tuikat Hill and River Chepyakaniet in Kwosir and Kitawoi sub-counties, Kween District; Chekwir Hill in Kamet Sub-county, Bukwo District; River Cheptui in Chema Sub-county, Kapchorwa District; and River Sirimityo in Gamogo–Chepterech Sub-county, Bukwo District. Holding these activities until rainfall returns reflects the need to give seedlings a better chance of survival rather than planting before conditions are suitable.

The call-off orders cover the supply of a range of tree seedlings. The listed species include Bambusa vulgaris, Grevillea robusta, Markhamia lutea, Cordia africana, Albizia coriaria, Croton macrostachyus, Albizia chinensis, Albizia amara, Spathodea campanulata, Terminalia superba, Prunus africana, Calliandra calothyrsus, locally sourced Persea americana, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Olea welwitschii and Ficus sycomorus and Maesopsis eminii.

Each site presents a different restoration need. Planting along riverbanks can contribute to healthier riparian buffers, while planting on vulnerable hills can help support soil conservation and landscape recovery. The choice of species and the way seedlings are established must be appropriate to local site conditions. Long-term impact will also depend on follow-up care, protection from damage, monitoring and community involvement.

Through the Mount Elgon ecosystem conservation project, restoration is part of a wider integrated landscape management effort across nine districts. The initiative is being implemented by the National Environment Authority, supported by the Global Environment Facility through Un Environment.