Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
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The fight to preserve Uganda’s diminishing shea nut trees is underway, as an ex-biology instructor turned conservationist spearheads efforts to safeguard the vital resources from which shea butter, a prized beauty product known as “women’s gold,” is derived.
Mustafa Gerima is urging local communities to halt the felling of these trees for charcoal production, which they prefer over the oil extracted from the fruits for its profitability but detrimental impact on the environment.
The Plight of the Shea Nut Trees
Mr. Gerima left his teaching career to focus on saving the shea nut trees after finding the Mount Kei Central Forest Reserve, once lush with wild shea trees, nearly barren when he returned home six years ago.
Now recognized as “Bwana Shea” or Mr. Shea, he traverses villages in northwestern Uganda, advocating for the protection of these trees and warning of their vanishing existence.
Mr. Gerima attributes the loss of interest in these trees to failed harvests and harsh climate conditions, which have made it challenging for farmers to maintain their livelihoods.
He lamented that the once-reliable pattern of shea nut production has been disrupted due to prolonged droughts caused by climate change, significantly impacting the trees’ fruiting.
Rising Demand
The demand for charcoal produced from shea nut trees has surged, exacerbating the situation as it is preferred for its longevity.
Mr. Gerima emphasized that impoverished communities view the tree as a cost-effective means of income, compounding the issue despite the underlying environmental damage.
Uganda loses roughly 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of forest cover annually, with a significant portion comprising shea nut trees, as reported by the nation’s ministry of the environment.
The shea tree population, stretching from West to East Africa in the “shea belt,” has seen a dramatic decline in recent years due to these challenges.
Impact on Local Communities
The combined effects of deforestation and poor harvests have negatively impacted individuals like Mariam Chandiru, a shea butter producer in Koboko. Her business has taken a significant hit, with reduced availability of shea nuts affecting her income and family support.
Historically, women have collected shea nuts to produce Nilotica shea butter, a highly valued commodity in the cosmestic and culinary industries.
Historical and Environmental Factors
Years of Instability
John Bosco Okullo, a leading agroforestry expert from Uganda’s Makerere University, holds that decades of insecurity in the region have contributed to the exploitation of these trees.
In the 1990’s before the Lord’s Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony, ravaged the north of the country and forced thousands from their homes, communities used to tend and safeguard these trees.
The prolonged conflict drove villagers to seek refuge in camps, disrupting their sense of ownership.
Many villagers turned to charcoal burning as a quick, albeit short-sighted, source of income after returning to their communities following the insurrections. However, when violence erupted again at the turn of the century with dangerous cattle raids, it left many communities displaced and vulnerable.
“After cattle raiding and civil unrest by the Lord’s Resistance Army, displaced people the loss of a sense of ownership,” said Prof Okullo.
John Bosco Okullo, a leading agroforestry expert from Uganda’s Makerere University, holds that decades of insecurity in the region have contributed to the exploitation of these trees.
In the 1990’s before the Lord’s Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony, ravaged the north of the country and forced thousands from their homes, communities used to tend and safeguard these trees.
The prolonged conflict drove villagers to seek refuge in camps, disrupting their sense of ownership.
Many villagers turned to charcoal burning as a quick, albeit short-sighted, source of income after returning to their communities following the insurrections. However, when violence erupted again at the turn of the century with dangerous cattle raids, it left many communities displaced and vulnerable.
“After cattle raiding and civil unrest by the Lord’s Resistance Army, displaced people the loss of a sense of ownership,” said Prof Okullo.
Climate Change and Urbanization
Prof Okullo agreed with Mr. Gerima’s point on climate change further deteriorating this condition. Trees are not flowering and producing fruit as they once did., and unpredictable rainfall patterns have disrupted shea trees’ natural cycles.
Rapid urbanization also threatens shea tree populations, as new developments replace them. “We need intentional planting, or natural restoration will be difficult,” stressed Professor Okullo.
Prof Okullo agreed with Mr. Gerima’s point on climate change further deteriorating this condition. Trees are not flowering and producing fruit as they once did., and unpredictable rainfall patterns have disrupted shea trees’ natural cycles.
Rapid urbanization also threatens shea tree populations, as new developments replace them. “We need intentional planting, or natural restoration will be difficult,” stressed Professor Okullo.
Mr. Gerima’s initiatives, such as his 2020,19-day, 644km (400-mile) walk from Kampala to Nairobi, have inspired hope.
According to Prof. Okullo, international organizations are also engaging with local communities to promote tree planting and protection.
Additionally, modern tree care techniques, like grafting, speed up the juvenile phase, encouraging younger trees to produce faster.
The Ugandan government has outlawed the felling of shea trees for charcoal. However, the ban’s enforcement has been inconsistent.
Prof. Okullo stressed the need to address urban energy demand to reduce charcoal reliance, suggesting alternative sources could alleviate the strain on rural areas.
Mr. Gerima’s passion for the cause remains undeterred. His future plans include a community-driven tree-monitoring program and integrating conservation education into school curriculums.
He underscored that his mission goes beyond just preserving the shea trees; it’s about maintaining a traditional lifestyle. “We must consider our descendants. If they inherit only stumps, what legacy will they have of us?” he posed.
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