A three-year reforestation project in Western Uganda has concluded. Run with the Jane Goodall Institute, it focused on the Mutuba fig tree, whose bark can be turned into barkcloth. Between November 2020 and November 2023, 15,000 Mutuba tree cuttings were distributed to over 300 households. The initiative said the work supports habitats for endangered species, including chimpanzees in the Budongo-Bugoma Corridor, and strengthens community livelihoods. According to the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, Farmers in ten villages were also trained in sustainable forestry, tree care, harvesting and barkcloth production, with the aim of reviving a traditional craft and offering a chance to earn extra income from future barkcloth sales.
How did Schwarzenegger’s project restore Uganda’s forests
Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative started the project in cooperation with the Jane Goodall Institute – Austria. Together they would support the reforestation of Mutuba trees in Uganda for three years. The initiative described the work as focused equally on people, animals and the environment.The same post said this approach was needed to counter the effects of deforestation in Africa. It listed climate change, species extinction, polluted groundwater and the loss of economic livelihoods as problems the work would tackle. It added that the Jane Goodall Institute had been involved in Uganda for many years. In its words, the staff’s networks and their understanding of local needs and of regional animal and plant life were “indispensable prerequisites” for success.
Why are fig fruits important for Uganda’s chimpanzees
According to the 2020 post, reforesting tropical forests would restore the habitat of chimpanzees living in Uganda. This would secure part of their population. The post also said the fruits of this fig tree are one of the most important food sources for the apes.The 2023 post gave a location for this work. It said the project helps safeguard habitats for endangered species, including chimpanzees in the Budongo-Bugoma Corridor. It also said the effort contributes to environmental preservation and fosters sustainable development.
How do Mutuba trees create sustainable jobs in Uganda
The 2020 post said the Mutuba tree helps to create sustainable jobs because its bark can be harvested regularly and processed into barkcloth. It said this gives local people a secure source for over 40 years without harming the tree. The 2023 post said the bark has a history dating back to ancient times in Southern Uganda and can be made into barkcloth without causing harm.According to the 2023 post, rampant deforestation in recent decades threatened both the Mutuba tree and the tradition of barkcloth processing. The project therefore aimed to revitalise the traditional art and bring more awareness to it. The initiative said it went beyond safeguarding trees and distributing cuttings. It set out to showcase the cultural, economic and ecological advantages of the Mutuba fig tree while preserving the craft.
What was the ‘Wrapping Nature in Culture’ initiative
According to the 2023 post, a total of 15,000 Mutuba tree cuttings were distributed between November 2020 and November 2023. They went to over 300 households. The post said this safeguarded the tree species and strengthened the communities’ livelihoods. It was carried out with the Jane Goodall Institute in Western Uganda, and the initiative called it a three-year reforestation initiative that had concluded successfully.The post named the project “Wrapping Nature in Culture”. It said farmers in the ten engaged villages were trained in sustainable forestry, tree care, harvesting and barkcloth production. The initiative said this knowledge empowers them to be guardians of the forests and offers an opportunity to earn extra income by selling barkcloth in the future.