Farmers in Kitagwenda District are increasingly embracing commercial tree growing as a pathway to improved livelihoods, environmental restoration, and climate resilience. Through the Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Woodlots Project, participating farmers have established commercial woodlots designed to generate future income while contributing to sustainable landscape management.

Funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment together with consortium partners including NIRAS International Consulting, ECOTRUST, Havilah Company Limited, and Green Life International, the Project has supported farmers with quality seedlings, technical guidance, and practical knowledge needed to establish productive woodlots. The initiative is being implemented across 19 districts in western and north-western Uganda, including Kitagwenda District.

In Kitagwenda District, the Project has so far mobilised 283 farmers who have collectively established approximately 120 hectares of commercial woodlots. Participating households receive treated seedlings and technical support to improve tree survival rates and promote long-term productivity.

To protect farmers’ investments, the Project introduced climate-smart measures such as supplying termite-treated eucalyptus seedlings and providing practical training on proper planting techniques. District forestry officials work closely with participating farmers to demonstrate best practices in site preparation, planting, and early woodlot management.

According to Dalton Ahimbisibwe, the Kitagwenda District Forest Officer, one of the key strengths of the Project is the coordinated support provided to participating communities.

“As the trees grow, they are going to contribute to the region’s forest cover, and the farmers will benefit from the different products like poles and timber.”

Community leaders also welcomed the initiative and recognised its potential to improve household incomes while encouraging broader community participation.

Rasagara Leodomil, LC1 Chairperson of Rutooma B Village, noted that the involvement of women, youth, and elderly community members increased confidence that the benefits of commercial forestry would be widely shared across the community.

Beyond environmental restoration, participating farmers increasingly view tree growing as a long-term investment capable of generating income from timber, poles, and other forest products. The Project has helped farmers understand commercial forestry not simply as a conservation activity, but as a viable enterprise that can contribute to household welfare and long-term financial security.

The experience in Kitagwenda demonstrates how commercial tree growing can simultaneously strengthen livelihoods, increase tree cover, and improve resilience to climate-related challenges. By investing in commercial woodlots today, farmers are creating valuable assets that will continue generating economic and environmental benefits for years to come.