Buy high-

quality tree
seed from
the Uganda
win
National Tree Seed
Centre, PO Box 23889, A TRAINING IN 2005
Kampala. Tel: 041-286049. Do you run a CBO that grows
Only 2500/= for 50g of trees? Are you a teacher growing
Mahogany. school trees? Win a 3-day training
at Nyabyeya Forestry College.
Send photos and a letter about
your tree growing to Tree Talk,
The black and white Box 22366, Kampala
5
casqued Hornbill uly 200
No.2 J by July 31.
bird loves to Vol. 4
eat Musizi
seed. By

Grow Ugandan
so doing,
it helps to
spread
the tree
and create

trees for wildlife

new
forests.

All living things depend on each a new pest. But a highly-diverse ecosystems help us. In Central
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other in webs called ecosystems. natural forest can never be wiped America, they have discovered that
out by one pest. Some trees will wild bees from forests increase
Humans do well in many different always resist the pest. coffee harvests by 20%.
ecosystems such as deserts and
mountains. Scientists are constantly learning The farm must be within 1 km
new ways in which natural from a forest fragment to benefit
But most living creatures are from pollination by the bees.
designed to live in one ecosystem
only. They die or stop reproducing Protecting forest fragments and
when that ecosystem is disturbed. planting new indigenous trees is
vital. We are sending you seed for
Today as forests and trees are indigenous trees. Can you grow
cut, many species of birds and them for your environment?
animals are becoming extinct. Chimps also
With this This is sad because all life has
love the seed
of Musizi.
Tree Talk, value. But it is also dangerous for Tourists pay
we are sending us as humans. We are loosing to watch
biodiversity. chimps in
Musizi Kibale forest.
(Maesopsis) Biodiversity is the variety of life Biodiversity
and Balanites forms in an environment. Bees from the natural forest brings
wealth.
pollinate our coffee and
seed to 18,000 increase our coffee harvest.
A forest that has 98 tree species
schools, and 104 bird species is highly
churches, biodiverse. A plantation with one
tree species and six types of birds
Science lesson! introduced from elsewhere.
•Biodiversity:the variety of
mosques, is not. • Extinct: dying out and living things in a place.
prisons, disappearing forever. •Ecosystem: the interaction
Biodiversity is a strength that • Endangered: animal or plant
police posts, species with just few members
between living
protects us. things and their
environmental still living. physical
officers, and A plantation of eucalyptus can be • Indigenous trees: trees that environment
easily wiped out by the arrival of originated here, that were not
CBO/NGOs.

Tree Talk wins environment prize and Would you like to

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scholarships for O and A level leavers study for a diploma

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or certificate in
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In May, Tree Talk came second out

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trees on his land, and Watson to

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of 261 entries from 52 countries set up a poverty and environment forestry? If you
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to the St Andrews Prize for the unit at Straight Talk Foundation. have passes in
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Environment
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maths and credits

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Also, Tree Talk received funds for

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First prize went to the Elephant three scholarships at Nyabeya in biological

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Pump (Zimbabwe). Tree Talk and Forestry College, Masindi.

sciences and are
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Global Coral Reef Alliance (USA)

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serious about trees,

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Tree Talk team: G Kiyingi, S won joint second. The kind donors were Robin
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write to Tree Talk,

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Walaita, S Amunau and Harper, MP for Scotland's Green

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journalist C Watson placed Tree Talk won $5000 which will Party, his brother Euan, and Mr
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PO Box 22366,
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second in the UK's biggest help Walaita and Amunau to start Peter Jones of Biffa Waste
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environment competition. Kampala.

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masters degrees, Kiyingi to grow Services. We are grateful!

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2 Tree Talk, July 2005
branches. You can also pick seed

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MUSIZI from the ground but avoid seed that
has stayed on the ground for a long
time. It may have a fungal infection.
Do not beat seed from the branches.

for quick It may be immature and lead to low

germination rates.

timber
Pick ripe big fruits that have turned
purple-black in colour. Green fruits
and small fruits have germination
and growth problems.
Musizi is a Ugandan tree that
has been growing here for Processing seed
millions of years. Collect and sow more than enough
It is widely distributed in seed since not all will germinate.
Africa. It is a colonising Remove the pulp of fruit and dry the
species. That means it is one seed for 2-3 days in sunshine to
of the first trees to start reduce chances of fungal infection.
growing in a new forest.
At 10-12 years, Musizi can be
harvested for timber. Good fruit Bad fruit
Musizi is important for soil
fertility improvement, fodder
and treating gonnorrhoea.

Purple-black Green Small

Good seed Bad seed

Pupils of St Francisco PS, Big, dark- Light-

Hoima, prepare pots for Small
brown brown
Big Musizi trees in a school in Rakai. Musizi (also called seedlings
Maesopsis eminii) can reach this size in eight years!
Information in this Tree Talk on Musizi was kindly provided by
Unique and the World Agroforestry Centre.
Collect seed...
Pick ripe fruits hanging on the

• Lift the pots twice a month to

Germinating Musizi seed
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avoid roots growing into the

ground.
• Soak dry seeds in cold water • Keep them in the nursery for 3 - • Protect them from animals and
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Transplanting seedlings
for 3 days. Change the water 5 months after germination. excessive heat. • Prepare the planting site before
daily! • Water morning and evening • Remove shade gradually. Three the start of the rainy season.
• Plant seed in a well-prepared • Apply organic fertilizer every two months after gemination, • Make planting holes measuring
seedbed or directly into pots. weeks after two months from completely remove the shade. 25 deep and 25cm wide (see
• Planting directly in pots is best. germination. figure) at a distance of 6x6
You do not have to prick them meters or 12x12 meters.
out or transfer them from the • Fill half the hole with organic
seedbed to pots later. soil. NB: For the first few years
• Use a polyethene bag like a used after planting, you can grow
milk sachet. Fill it with soil plants in the plantation.
made up of top soil, sand and
organic manure in the ratio of
7:2:1 Musizi in
• Place two seeds just below the
soil surface as shown in the
diagram. When the two seeds
plantations
germinate, remove the weaker If you grow a plantation:
one or transplant it into a new • Carry out spot weeding once or
pot. If you place seeds vertically, twice every month.
they will not germinate!
• Carry out first thinning after
• Place the pots with seed under a three years for trees spaced at
nicely prepared shade. 6x6 meters (277 trees/ha).
• Cover them with grass to reduce • Thin for the second time at six
evaporation and water twice a years. During first and second
day. thinning, half of the trees should
be removed: only 69 trees
Musizi seed takes 4 to 14 weeks should remain per hectare. Use
to germinate but the most trees removed by thinning for
vigorous seedlings germinate firewood or poles.
between 6 and 8 weeks
• No thinning is needed for trees
Caring for seedlings planted at 12x12 meters. Just
The seedlings are delicate when Reaping benefits: Teachers and students of Namutumba replace dead or poorly growing
young. Give maximum care! Central SS, Iganga read Tree Talk under a Musizi tree trees.
 3 Tree Talk, July 2005

Fruits for hot dry areas

local tree has many uses.
It is very appreciated by
people living in areas like
Butiaba in Masindi where

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To the hot and dry areas of other tree types struggle to
West Nile, the North and grow.
Karamoja, Tree Talk is
sending seed for a tree that The fruit is delicious and
produces fruit in very dry can be eaten dry or fresh. It
seasons. is rich in Vitamin C.

In Acholi this tree is called Grow this tree for shade,

The National Tree Seed Centre
To. In Lugbara it is called fruit and biodiversity. It is
recommends planting
Loba. This indigenous or useful!
seedlings of this great tree at
eight metre intervals along
school paths. Its scientific
Useful! end facing down ward.

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name is Balinites aegyptica. It Germination takes 1-4 weeks. Keep
tolerates extreme heat! seedlings for about 12 weeks before
The leaves, fruit and
seedlings are eaten by transplanting. Plant 8 metres apart
livestock. Its wood is and protect from goats and cows.
hard and resists
termites. It is used for Collecting your own fruit
hand tools, oxen yoke, Pick fruit when it is yellow, soft and
mortar pestle and sweet. You get fruits several times a
fencing. year. Enjoy! To get fruit, put a big
cloth under the tree. Shake the
The tree is medicinal. branches. Ready fruits will fall.
Its leaves are used for
de-worming goats Preparing your own seed
and cows. Plant parts Put fruits in a container. Squeeze the
can be used as soap. fruits using hands to remove the
Extracts of fruit and bark fleshy part from the seed. Pour clean
are used for controlling water into the mixture and stir for
snails that cause some time. Remove seeds from the
bilharzia and waterfleas mixture and put them under
that carry Guinea worm. sunshine to drain. Fresh seeds need
no pre-treatment.
When you get your
Balanites seeds: The fruits have
• Soak them for 24 hours value and are
in water at room sold in markets
temperature in Karamoja
• Sow in pots. Place the and other dry
seed vertically with the stalk areas.

Climate change Money for tree seed

These boys
Loss of forest from Nebbi
Pollution earn school
fees by
collecting
tree seed
and selling
it to the
National
Tree Seed
Centre.

cutting down trees without Do you have

Do the elders in your
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replanting. good trees

village say that the in your
seasons have changed? Cars, factories, area?
refridgerators and other
Is your district hotter machines also cause cli- Demand for tree seed is high. The forestry knowledge, like an
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and drier than it used to mate change when they National Tree Seed Center needs agricultural teacher. Or ask an
be? produce smoke and gas. good seed for agroforestry trees. extension officer to advise.

You can do something to
Do you get hard, violent
and short rains when stop climate change. If your
family cooks with wood/
there used to be long, charcoal, plant at least 20
steady and useful
trees a year. If your family
rains? owns a car, plant at least
This is climate change. All eight. Grow trees to
over the world people are stabilise your climate.
It pays 20,000-30,000/= for a kilo Collect seed only from healthy and
of Calliandra, Musizi, Balanites and nice looking mother trees.
Eucalyptus seed, depending on
purity and quality of the seed. If you cannot sell seed to the
National Tree Seed Centre, start
Can you try this work? Form an your own tree nursery.
association.
Seedlings of species like Balinites
Look for members with some have value.
4 Tree Talk, July 2005

Having read Tree Talk, the

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Your letters
Write to PO Box 22366,
Christians in our church formed a
club to plant trees for
Kampala. Every letter environmental protection,
published wins a T-shirt. addressing firewood and timber
shortage. Send us more seeds!
Mpapula G, Magunga Church of
Mvule news Uganda, Iganga.
I got many seedlings from the Mvule
seeds sent to my school. Soon I will I have been planting trees.
have many of these big trees! I need Planting Musizi. S4 students, Currently I have four acres. I have We want to make this country
more Mvule seeds and want to be in Anyavu SS, Arua, more 12 acres to plant. Give us greener. Join this important
the New Vision and Tree Talk Every individual needs to plant and training and more seeds! Thank campaign! Women group of
campaign! Mulyasaka SJ, High protect at least 10 trees a year. We you, Tree Talk. Ara Banyanga, Kagadi Catholic Parish, Kibaale
Standard SS, Kateera-Kampala have vowed to fulfill this! Send more Kanyinya Agroforestry, Bushenyi
Tree Talk and seed! Tree Talk club,
Namutumba Central HS, Iganga Dear Headteachers, let us struggle
to replace trees that were
We received seeds of Lusambya in destroyed by drought and cows.
2002 and planted all round the Trees are like the children that we
school. In a few years to come, this handle at school. We need our
will be valuable timber to the woodlots for poverty alleviation!
Mvule seedlings Acema G Mundua, Star
growing nicely at a school. Thank you for the support.
Ogolot W former teacher, Kibaale Education Center, Masindi
school in Fort
Portal SS

I planted the Mvule seeds. They are

doing well! We raised 230 seedlings.
We planted some around the school
and mobilized the community. They
have taken the initiative seriously.
We want to grow Mvule
commercially! Send more seed!
Wabwire JN, Bugoi PS,
Kaberamaido You both get T-
shirts! Protect the young trees. Our school responded to the
Schools, keep informing us on This is how you do it!
Environment teacher, Iganga campaign to plant trees in public
your Mvule. places! Teachers and pupils,
SDA Light PS teaching pupils how Pupils of Abur PS, Apac, in
to manage tree seedlings. their Musizi plantation Omugyenyi PS, Ntungamo

Win big prizes in the Ramsar COP9 competition

also write about (interpret) what
the conference logo means(the
•How wise management of
wetlands reduces poverty.
Logo is included below).
On 8-15
November Art competition: S1-S6 students
need to produce an original art
Prizes
2005, piece depicting:
First prize art: fully paid trip to
Fellow Headteachers, let's lead the a Ramsar wetland in Uganda
tree planting campaign in our Uganda is •Relationship between water and First prize essay: 500,000/=
schools. Mamela Julius, HM, hosting the world's wetlands. Second prize art: 250,000/=
Bumulisya PS, Sironko, launching •How wetlands support Second prize essay: 200,000/=
tree planting at the school
biggest conference on livelihoods. Third prize for both: 100,000/=
wetlands.
Send entries to:
Ramsar COP9 Secretariat,
The theme is "Wetlands Wetlands Inspection Division
and water: supporting Century House, Plot 11-15
Parliament Ave, PO Box 9629,
life, sustaining Kampala.
livelihoods". Write “Ramsar COP9 Essay or
The focus is how wetlands can be Art” on the right hand corner of
managed to reduce poverty. Do the envelope.
you draw water from a wetland?
Does your father/mother sell
papyrus? Then you know all
about how good wetlands are. "Ramsar" is the town in Iran
where the first big wetlands
As part of the conference, the conference was held in 1971.
"Ramsar COP9" secretariat has Wetlands and water-supporting life-sustaining livelihoods Uganda has signed the
organized a competition for
schools.
"Ramsar convention" which
commits it to use its
We planted our trees along the
Essay competition: P5-P7
Pupils, can you tell wetlands wisely. A "Ramsar
boundary of the school. Now we the judges what this
have many fully grown. Teacher and pupils should write about how site" is an important wetland
pupils Kagadi Moslems PS, wetlands support life. They must logo means? like Lake Nabugabo.
Kibaale
TREE TALK TREE TALK is a project of: Forestry Inspection Division, Editor: C Watson Writers: S Walaita, SP
thanks WFP National Forestry Amunau, Chief Designer: MeB. Kalanzi,
Straight Talk Foundation, Designer: G.b Mukasa, Printer: The New
for its 45 Bukoto St. Kamwokya, Authority and
support to PO Box 22366, Kampala National Tree Vision, Technical Reviewers: G Kiyingi, JM
this issue. Tel. 031-262030/1 Seed Centre. Boffa