Most of the plantations are either Casuara Albesia or Teak. Casuara Albesia is an evergreen that is used for firewood, timber construction and whose leaves are used for fodder. It is normally planted at density of 1,500 trees per hectare.
The teak trees are pruned to grow straight so that they can be sold for use as electricity or telegraph poles. A ten year old pole usually fetches about £80.

PATIA has supported other organisations in Ghana with their tree planting activities.

The Atuba-Agumishe Community Livestock and Crop Farmers Association has two nurseries and two plantations in the Atuba-Agumishe area, one of three acres and the other of five acres. Teak, Neem, Cassiaw Albesia and Mango are among the species planted. These plots are community land and the women that plant and take care of the trees work voluntarily on the understanding that they will reap the benefits.
Many thousands of seedlings from the nurseries have been given out to schools, community groups and to individual association members who are required to plant 15 trees each year on their own land.
The director and founder is Guy Williams Mbilla who has been planting trees since he was a child.

A small grant has also been supplied for the tree planting activities of the Ghana Future in Our Hands group founded by Ebenezer Nortey Mensah based in Accra.

The following comments by Marios reflect the the reasons why PATIA was formed and why it seeks to support tree planting through grants to local non-government organisations and community groups:

The big achievement will be when developing nations no longer need the help of the western world. On a less grandiose scale, success on individual projects occurs when the white man can in good conscience walk away with his wallet in his pocket and leave the locals to get on with it.
I was pleased that most of the projects I visited, in particular the tree planting projects, are also of this view. None were looking for outright charity, instead seeking a 'leg up' that will enable them to help themselves in a sustainable way in order to be free of the need to beg from anybody.

It was not only the directors of the organisations that expressed this view. The people they are working to help also expressed this desire. Sometimes directly by saying they didn't want their children to be 'beggars to the white man', others indirectly by requests for access to capital for loans to start small businesses, or by talking about how the income from trees will allow them to educate their children.

It was refreshing to find people willing to help themselves and making whatever efforts that are within their means to do so.

Ebenezer died in 2003 and his work has been carried on by his son, Kenneth.

Mussie Hailu, a young man from Addis Ababa has been supported by PATIA with his initiatives to encourage the establishment of tree nurseries in schools. He is seen here with a group of children holding seedlings and wearing promotional tee-shirts.

* The Kakamega Forest is the eastern most relic of the equatorial rainforest and the only one of its kind in Kenya. It is home to a unique variety of endemic and rare species of plants, mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. At the beginning of the 20th century it had an area of 240,000 ha, but has now been reduced to 23,000 ha. The canopy cover has been reduced by half . Several species have become extinct as a result.

Sylivester has been interested in tree planting since his youth and wants to enlarge his nursery so that he can sell saplings at low cost in order to promote the reforestation of the area. He also plans to sell ornamental plants for people's gardens. The venture is intended to be self-sufficient once running and become income-generating for its members.

In 2003, with the aid of another grant from PATIA, FIOH Tanzania expanded its tree nurseries and distributed a variety of tree species to people in the community. Here a boy is seen removing weeds from around a Annona Muricata tree supplied to his family. He is also creating a hollow to collect rainwater.
The species raised included Orange, Annona Muricata, Terminalia Brownii, Terminalia Sercea, Grevillea Robusta, Casuarina Miontana, Kharya Nyasica, Milicia Excelsa and Lemon.

 

 

 

1. Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) - Fruit
2. Annona Muricata (Soursop) - Fruit
3. Terminalia Brownii - Firewood, charcoal, timber, poles, posts, tool handles, utensils, medicine, fodder, mulch, soil improver, shade, dyes. Good for agro-forestry, drought and termite resistant. In spite of its dense canopy crops grow well in its shade.
4. Terminalia Sercea (Silver Terminalia) - Firewood, charcoal, timber, poles, posts, tool handles, bee forage, rope, dyes. This species grows well in poor soils not suitable for farming.
5. Grevillea Robusta (Grevillea, Silky Oak) - Firewood, charcoal, timber, veneer, plywood, tool handles, fodder, bee forage, soil conservation, shade, ornamental, mulch, windbreak. This tree is important for farmers as a general utility timber and for dry season fodder. Relatively easy to establish and manage. When grown with food crops branches are pruned and pollarded to reduce competition with crops. Moderate to fast growing.
6. Casuarina Montana (Forest Oak, She Oak) - Firewood, charcoal, timber, veneer, plywood, tool handles, soil improver, shade, nitrogen fixing. A multi-purpose tree favoured in poor soils for fuel and poles. In the best conditions provides timber in 5 years.
7. Khanya Nyasica (Khanya Authotheca, African Mahogany) - Firewood, timber for furniture, panelling, boat building, posts, flooring, medicine, shade, ornamental. Weathers well and resists termites. Fast growing.
8. Milicia Excelsa (Chlorophora Excelsa, Mvule) - Firewood, charcoal, timber, shade, ornamental, shade. The wood is hard, durable, termite resistant and resembles teak. Therefor it is a highly valuable timber used especially for quality outdoor and indoor furniture. Fast growing compared to other hardwood trees.
9. Citrus Lemon (Lemon) - Firewood, fruit, flavouring, oil, medicine, ornamental, perfume.

Background
Eastern Seedlings and Environmental Association (ESEA) is a voluntary, charitable, non-profit making grassroot development organisation registered and incorporated to operate in the Republic of Uganda.

Introduction
(ESEA) has consolidated her programmes into five major sectors as described below:

FORESTRY MANAGEMENT SECTOR
The general activities in this sector have been very intensive even if without any donor support funds. With the help of PATIA we were able to accomplish a number of successful events in recent months.

A variety of seedlings have been produced in the year under review - Moringa, Neem, Misopsis, Casuarina, graded pawpaws, guavas, Albezia, Cordia, Tarminalia indica, Grevallea robusta, Acacia, grafted mangos, oranges, passion fruits, all totaling to 50,000 seedlings produced this year.

Materials acquired and used at the nursery beds include, varieties of seeds mentioned above, potting materials, watering cans, empty jerrycans, matchetes, hand hoes, pangas, razorblades, gumboots, spades, thresh mesh, river sand sheds erected, bicycles, note and record books.

One tube-well was constructed to provide water for irrigating the seedlings at Mugisu Cell Nursery site throughout the year. This has enabled us meet orders in time.

Four full time and paid staffs were recruited and are being remunerated monthly at the Nurseries.

Sales: 20,000 seedlings were sold on cash terms.

10,000 seedlings were distributed to local farmers to plant wood lots and agroforestry units.
A balance of approximately 10,000 seedlings is still available ready for distribution.
To date over 10,000 seedlings on seedbeds are awaiting potting.

The National Seed Centre at the Secretariat provided (ESEA) with a 20g packet of Lutea Markhemia.

New forestry project USA provided ESEA with seeds of Gliricidia, Leucaena Leaucocephala and Sesbania Sesban - these are fast growing trees for firewood, poles, fodder (leaves) mulch soil conservation and improvement of nitrogen fixation, shade (young coffee), fibres (young stems), soap (leaves). It is also an important agroforestry shrub.

Awareness:
- 20 drama awareness sessions were staged in various places at Namakwekwe, Namanyonyi, Bukonde, Bufumbo, Nakaloke and Northern Division.

- 15 training workshops on plantation management seed technology, pasture establishment, tree planting, fruit planting, tree propagation were carried out through out North Bungokho.

- 8 demonstration centers were established for pilot programmes and educational centers, at Mugisu, Nakaloke, Nabweya, Nabumali, Doko, Jewa, Bulweta.

- 15 seminars were held with local councilors opinion leaders, CBOs and several stakeholders on Forestry and environmental management.

Agro-forestry, 112 households practice agroforestry techniques under the supervision of the association. 15 households practice apiary farming, 26 households practice energy saving techniques, 26 households have established woodlots.

Supervision: Forestry departments, district environment office, agriculture and community development offices, have always supervised our activities.

THE REVOLVING FUND SECTOR
As most communities are low income earners due to the fact that they lack income generating activities or seed capital to initiate such lucrative activities, ESEA has started a small revolving fund - some funds generated from local sales, membership contribution and money raised in form of loans.Passbooks, ledger cards, journal books, general ledger book, cashbook, vouchers, withdraw sheets, cash receipts and membership registry are all available.
A number of applicants today have submitted in their applications for loans.

For the benefit of the members involved in agro forestry and tree planting in general, interest rate on loans given will be fair and the highest figure of loan to be given out will be determined by the availability of funds.
The management continues to solicit funding for micro- finance.

THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SECTOR
ESEA since its inception in April 2000, has sources of funds been as mentioned below.
a) Membership fee and contribution
b) Fundraising
c) Sales of seedlings and wood products
d) Loans from Credit institutions.
e) Grant of 1 mil shillings from PATIA

THE SECRETARIAT ADMINISTRATIVE SECTOR
Two full time staff - one at the secretariat Namakwekwe opposite Remand home and the other one at Doko Mbale - Kampala Highway, coordinates and performs day to day duties.

The Programme Director is the head of ESAE Secretariat
Workshops - over 25 workshops training local communities in technical work on environmental management were carried out.
Meetings - Technical meetings have been held at least 8 sessions in a year under review including local councilors, members and local communities.
Networking:- Our network partners include BUCINET, CIIDU, DENIVA, ELCI, NEMA, NGO FORUM, NEW FORESTS PROJECT U.S.A, PLANT A TREE IN AFRICA UK, AGROMISA - AGROMISA THE NETHERLANDS, FIOH KISUMU KENYA, COMPAS PROJECT THE NETHERLANDS, UWOWA KAMPALA, MOHAMMAD AMIRI ARDEKANI AGRICULTURAL FIELD RESEARCHER, HDRA - the organic organization, LE ISA MAGAZINE THE NETHERLANDS, WORLD NEIGHBOURS.

Publications: the Secretariat has been able to publish, constitution, Annual General reports, Visiting Cards, Logo, Brochures and educative leaflets.
Office equipment:Aquisition of office equipments including; office chairs, tables, office file folders, office rubber stamp, inkpads, punching machine and one office file shelf.
A few textbooks, posters and reports on management and environment are also in place.
Field Trips; 26 farmers visited Mbale Plantation on Nursery establishment.
15 farmers visited community innovation in development contour sites at Busamaga.
Stationery: The Secretariat was able to acquire and use 6 reams of papers, 50 ball pens, 2 foot rulers, 8 Counter Books, 4 Boxes of Markers, etc.
Transport: staff has been facilitated to travel to Kampala and internally several times by Public means.

THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE 2004
The General Assembly is composed of fully paid up individuals with final decision making powers to elect the Board of Directors once, and three times each year approve Resolutions.
Also the General Assembly elects the board of trustees as custodians of property who ensure good behaviours.

The Board of Directors is gender sensitive and composed of two women and 3 men - appoints the technical committees and assigns duties with terms of reference from time to time and reports to the General Assembly.

The Secretariat composed of professional staff selected according to their professions in the headquarters of the organization.

Appointments and dismissal of staff is by approval of the General Assembly. The Secretariat is headed by the Project Coordinator.