Ugandans have been urged to take individual responsibility in ensuring that Uganda’s environment is well protected and preserved.
Charles Batte, the Executive Director, Tree Adoption Uganda (TAU) noted that there is a need for combined and intentional efforts if Uganda to recover its forest cover and prevent climate change effects.
Batte was speaking at a climate change marathon organised by TAU on Sunday in Kampala.
“It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that we protect our environment by not cutting trees anyhow and in cases where cutting a tree is unavoidable, make sure you plant another tree. The effects of climate change affect all of us and it’s essential that we all take part in protecting it,” he said.
Batte revealed that the proceeds from the marathon will be used to plant and grow 100,000 trees across the country.
“The main reason we organise such marathons is to create awareness about the changing climate and raise funds to plant trees. Last year’s, we held the same marathon and were able to plant 40,000 trees well mapped with the tree adoption app to ensure sustainability and accountability,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Robert Kabushenga, who was the chief runner urged environmental activists to take environment conservation seriously and not look at it as a way to get funds from donors.
“The problem is that most organisations and individuals that pretend to care about the environment only do it for the money and don’t actually care about growing and sustaining the trees. Once they receive money from donors, they just buy cars, and do ceremonial planting of trees but don’t bother to care about maintaining these trees which is taking our efforts back, trees are like babies and need a lot of care to be maintained,” he said.
According to Uganda Forestry Authority, Uganda losses 120,000 hectares of forest cover annually. The forest cover decreased from 54% in 1900 to 12.4% in 2017.
This year’s climate run was held under the theme; ‘Restore, Conserve, Protect’.