Obey the laws on parks and forest reserves

3 Tree Talk, May 2009

Cooperate with game

guards, do not poach. Respect national parks
Murchison Falls National Park is
one of Uganda's glories. North of
the Nile, it lies in Amuru, Oyam
and Apac districts.

The park brings many tourists.

Besides the lodge at Paraa, the
lodge at Chobe is being rebuilt.
This is good for the north. Maybe
one day Pakuba Lodge will also
be renovated.

The 1979 war almost totally

wiped out its elephants, giraffe
and hippos. Buffalo decreased
from 26,000 to just 1000! The
animals are slowly recovering
but it is absolutely forbidden to
poach.

In 2007 there were only 269 giraffe in Uganda. Poaching leads to extinction. The The big waterfall in Murchison Falls National Park.
Of these endangered animals, 249 are found last rhino in Uganda was seen in Parks are very precious. Communities can only use
in Murchison Falls National Park and only 20 1980s. Wild animals and parks them if they sign a Resource Use Agreement with
in Kidepo, Karamoja. are very valuable. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

When animals are a problem Poaching = danger + poverty

have killed many animals.
S ome communities that
live around Murchsion
Falls National Park have
One day we were ambushed
by game rangers. We were
ten. One of us was killed.
a problem with animals.
Animals got used to leaving Poaching did not bring in
the park when people were school fees as I thought.
in camps. Elephants have You lack food in the home
been frightening people who because you spend too
have returned home in Koch much time in the bush.
Goma. However, it is illegal Some poachers fall sick and
to kill wild animals. You can die there. I would sell game
spend between three months meat. I do not know what
and seven years in prison game meat money has done
and charged up to 7 million for me.
Ush. So what should you do?
Park authorities have tried
For any wildlife problem, Poaching may look like easy to give us alternative work.
urgently call Uganda Wildlife money but it finishes the Some poachers received a
Authority (UWA). Park animals and can finish you goat or oxen. My wish is to
authorities are aware that In 1970 Murchison Falls National Park had 15,000 too. get a cow for milk."
animals can be a problem. elephants. But they were massacred in the war Leo Odong is the Chairman If you are a poacher,
To prevent big animals such against Idi Amin and by 1980 there were only 800 left. of the Ex-poachers surrender to the nearest
as elephants and buffalo Armed men kept killing them and by 1990 there were Association, in Amuru. park authorities. They will
leaving the park, UWA has only 250. Now elephants have increased slightly to He says: "Poaching is not help you develop a safe
dug a 13km trench along about 520. This is good for Uganda. But Murchison developmental. I started project. Over 3000 poachers
park boundaries. A total of does not yet have enough elephants. poaching when I was 18. I have come in.
250 beehives have also been
placed to stop animals from
reaching gardens.
BUFFALO can be bad
tempered, especially if
the north to be vermin or
dangerous pests. District Think about game ranching
you disturb them at their vermin guards are now Even if you have animals like warthog
To scare ELEPHANTS favourite water authorised to reduce them wildlife on your to eat and sell.
away, collect their hole. to a manageable number. land, you are not
Do not kill wild animals That is called game
dung, mix it with red Make loud noises allowed to kill it. ranching. Ask UWA
which have got used to
pepper, and dry it in to drive them back people. They are usually for advice on how to
blocks. Burn the blocks into the park. Many not a threat. But if any That may surprise do this.
along your garden buffalo are now turn dangerous, inform the you but, in fact,
when elephants come. used to humans nearest authority. all hunting is Anyeeri have been
Or mix red pepper and behave like banned in Uganda, finished by hunting
with oil and smear it cattle. unless you have in most of Uganda.
When animals disturb
on the ropes you tie permission. This In the east, such as
MONKEYS can be you, in East Madi, call
around your garden. may seem harsh for people Mbale, only grandparents
very destructive 077-2-524129. Around
This has successfully in the north as they have remember anyeeri.
to crops. But Murchison Falls
scared away elephants traditionally hunted and Do not believe that animals
equally you are National Park:
from communities enjoy game meat. cannot finish.
not allowed to • Para: O77-2-746287
around Kibaale They can!
kill them without • Community Warden:
National Park in UWA is
permission. UWA 077-2-955116 Rest of
Western Uganda. You encouraging Try raising
has declared Uganda, call: 041-4-
can also try blowing communities to anyeeri like
Vervet monkeys in 355000/0712890424
whistles. raise wild small livestock.
 When you
go home... Leave good trees, control fires
now and regret later. Keep a variety Clear your land by slashing
of trees on your land for your family bushes. Burning your land is
needs. a poor method. It causes soil
erosion.
You need Yaa (shea) for smearing
and cooking. In Lira it is against the Uncontrolled burning can land
law to cut this valuable tree. Are you you in prison. Fires have killed
allowed to cut Yaa where you live? many children in the north this
Moo yaa will give you a better income year.
in the long-term than the money you
get just once from turning the tree Raise animals like goats and
into charcoal. chickens for protein instead of
burning the bush to drive out
Remember to keep Tugu, Oyelo and wild animals to eat.
Chwaa (Tamarind) for eating. They Charcoal gives you
are rich in vitamins. Leave Mvule, short-term money
Latoligo and Tido for shade, beauty, but long-term
Shea trees produce nutritious wind break and timber.Keep trees problems, like
fruit and oil. for medicine. Keep many trees like lack of rain and
Odugu on your land for firewood. desertification.
Most people in northern Uganda are Walking far for fire wood weakens Do not allow
now in their homes. During the time mothers and makes children perform people to
people were in IDP camps, the trees poorly at school. It also puts girls and intimidate you into
grew big. So it is now tempting to mothers at risk of rape! cutting your trees
cut many trees to make money from to make charcoal.
If you have 100 trees on your land, Yaa is slow growing so do not cut it
firewood and charcoal. But wait! recklessly. You may end up with no It is not worth it!
You need to plan first. You may cut keep 60. source of oil.

Collect seed locally, grow trees at schools, prisons, home

Denis Sidonyi, Tree Talk forester in Top: Gulu Tree Talk nursery with Teacher Tonny Olanya counts seedlings in a classroom at Labayango
Adjumani, prepares locally collected local species. Bottom: pupils off PS, Kitgum. They must be stored inside until planting because the
Neem seed. Neem resists termites. load seedlings at Padibe Boys PS. communities steal them when they are left out.

W ith this TREE TALK, we are

sending seed for Sambya
(Markhamia lutea) to all the schools
Tree Talk is working in 360 schools
and 45 community groups in the
north.
You can contact Tree Talk on
• SP Amunau 078-2-312428, L
Edea 077-2-994618 in Gulu
in Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Moyo,
Adjumani, Oyam and Apac.
• J Oryem 077-4-336907, J
Okurut 078-2-754736 in Amuru
Although Oyam and Apac are in • J Otim 077-4-046873, I
lango, they border the park so we Chelangat 077-3-027586 in
have included them. This indigenous Kitgum. • R Kepo 077-2-692-
tree with yellow flowers is good for The women above walk ten km
622 in Adjumani. • S Dribia into Agoro Agu hills for firewood.
woodlots. Plant it 3m x 3m to get 077-2-199194, E Awupal 078-2-
466 trees per acre. Tree Talk is helping them to
385867 in Moyo grow personal woodlots.
In three years you will get tall poles This issue was produced by STF 4 Acacia Ave, Kololo PO Box 22366,
for building or firewood. It regrows Kampala Tel. 0312-262030/1 under the WILD projeect,, funded by USAID
when cut. Every school needs a and led by Wildlife Conservation Society.
woodlot. You can see good Sambya
woodlots at Dure PS in Pader, Kitgum
Demonstration PS, and Laliya PS in
Gulu.