Arboreal Tree Height App: Empowering Sustainable Forestry in Uganda

Kijani Forestry, a social enterprise based in Gulu, Uganda, is leading the charge against deforestation through innovative climate-smart agricultural practices. Their mission? To empower local farmers while promoting sustainable development that benefits generations to come.

## The Challenge: Uganda's Deforestation Crisis In Uganda, a staggering 94% of the population depends on unsustainably sourced charcoal or firewood for their energy needs. This dependency has led to the loss of nearly 500,000 acres of forest annually, primarily affecting national forests and private lands owned by impoverished farmers.

## Innovation Through Partnership Kijani Forestry's approach is both innovative and practical. They partner with local farmers to establish dedicated woodlots that serve a dual purpose:

• Preserving native forests from clear-cutting
• Creating sustainable charcoal production from trees that regenerate naturally

The genius of their system lies in its cyclical nature: trees regenerate from the same root structure after harvesting, providing farmers with a long-term income source while reducing pressure on existing forests.

## The Nursery Hub Model Through their "Nursery Hub" model, Kijani Forestry:

• Establishes rural nurseries for seedling production
• Provides comprehensive training to farmer groups
• Has partnered with over 1,000 households
• Has successfully planted more than 1.2 million trees
• Aims to expand to 7,000 households in 2022

## Scientific Approach to Growth Monitoring The success of their program relies heavily on accurate measurement and verification. Indigenous trees in the region show remarkable growth rates, with some species growing over 7 meters in their first year! However, monitoring this growth traditionally has been challenging and imprecise.

## Technology Meets Forestry "By utilizing the Arboreal Tree Height app, this takes the guesswork out of the measurements and allows us to take data all across our programs throughout Northern Uganda," explains Beau Miliken at Kijani Forestry. This technological integration enables the team to:

• Collect accurate measurements across vast areas
• Make data-driven decisions
• Produce reliable results applicable to other projects
• Expand biodiversity while maintaining scientific rigor

Learn more about Kijani Forestry's innovative approach to sustainable forestry at kijaniforestry.com