Students, local leaders, conservation experts and development partners gathered at Arinyapi Seed Secondary School in Adjumani District last week to commemorate World Environment Day through a large-scale tree planting exercise aimed at strengthening environmental conservation and climate resilience.
During the event held on June 11, a total of 5,000 high-quality clonal eucalyptus trees were planted across five acres of the school woodlot. The trees were planted at a spacing of two by two metres to ensure optimal growth and long-term sustainability.
The activity was implemented under the Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Project, a Government of Uganda initiative through the Ministry of Water and Environment funded by the World Bank. The project is being implemented by a consortium comprising NIRAS International Consulting, The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST), Havilah Company Limited and Green Life International.
According to project performance records, Adjumani District surpassed its target of establishing 368 hectares of institutional woodlots, reaching 601 hectares. The district also exceeded its target of enrolling 1,000 local farmers into the programme, registering 1,085 farmers and achieving 108.5 percent of its original targets.
As the lead partner in community engagement and model farmer enrolment, ECOTRUST coordinated the tree planting exercise, managed the layout setup, mobilised the community and worked with students and district leaders to establish the school woodlot.
District leaders said Arinyapi Seed Secondary School was selected because the area is among the most affected by climate change in Adjumani District, experiencing extreme heat during dry seasons and severe flooding during rainy seasons.
Speaking at the event, Adjumani District Natural Resources Officer Charles Gayoyo said the exercise was intended to protect key water sources and prepare communities for the growing impacts of climate change.
“Arinyapi is one of the areas most affected by climate change in Adjumani. During the dry season, it becomes extremely hot, and when it rains, the area experiences flooding. Our goal is to protect the Tete River catchment and River Nile. If we plant more trees, we will protect our water resources and strengthen our environment for future generations,” Gayoyo said.
School administrators welcomed the initiative, saying it would improve the school environment while creating long-term benefits for learners.
Deputy Head Teacher Dricih Festo Lahn expressed appreciation for the programme.
“We are grateful that our school has been selected for this important tree planting exercise because it will help improve our environment and support future generations of learners,” Lahn said.
To improve the survival rate of the trees, ECOTRUST introduced aqua soil technology, which helps retain water around the roots during dry periods.
Denis Emmanuel Oweka, ECOTRUST Regional Coordinator for the West Nile Northeast Region covering Adjumani, Moyo, Lamwo, Amuru and Obongi districts, said the organisation was focusing on community engagement and environmental stewardship.
“We are using aqua soil technology to help the trees survive during drought,” Oweka said.
“ECOTRUST is leading community engagement, training and farmer enrollment to ensure communities understand the long-term value of environmental conservation. Today, we brought 5,000 seedlings provided by NIRAS to this school, and the students are actively participating. These learners will grow together with these trees and become future custodians of the environment.”
Local leaders urged students and community members to protect the newly planted trees and embrace tree growing as both an environmental and economic activity.
Adjumani District Vice Chairperson LC5 Geoffrey Obulejo encouraged the school community to take ownership of the woodlot.
“The trees we are planting today will beautify the school and protect the buildings from strong winds. Trees can also become a source of income. Personally, tree planting changed my life and helped me generate income over the years. That is why I encourage the students and the school administration to protect these trees and ensure they grow,” Obulejo said.
NIRAS International Consulting, the lead contract holder with the Ministry of Water and Environment, commended ECOTRUST for its mobilisation efforts and partnership with local communities.
Speaking on behalf of NIRAS, Community Engagement Expert Deziderius Irumba said the project’s success had been driven by strong community participation.
“NIRAS manages the project on behalf of the Ministry of Water and Environment, but conservation requires teamwork. We are pleased to see strong community participation and registration levels exceeding our targets. Also, the trees belong to the community and the schools. They will contribute to livelihoods, environmental protection and long-term resilience,” Irumba said.
The initiative, supported by the Government of Uganda, the Ministry of Water and Environment, the World Bank and implementing partners led by NIRAS, aims to help communities combat climate change while improving livelihoods through sustainable environmental conservation efforts.
