In Uganda, the once-thriving shea nut trees, known as "women's gold" for their valuable oil and butter, face grave peril. Mustafa Gerima, a former biology teacher turned environmental advocate, has dedicated his life to protecting these trees, which are being cut down to produce more profitable charcoal.
Upon returning home after six years, Gerima was devastated to find the Mount Kei Central Forest Reserve barren, a stark contrast to its previous lushness. Local farmers, struggling with failed harvests, have increasingly resorted to logging shea trees. Gerima explains, “Climate change has led to prolonged droughts, impacting shea nut production,” leaving many in poverty.
Uganda suffers a staggering loss of 100,000 hectares of forest annually, exacerbated by the popularity of shea charcoal, which is said to burn longer. Women, who traditionally harvest and process these nuts, are witnessing declines in income, with producers like Mariam Chandiru reporting halving of their output.
These challenges stem partly from decades of instability caused by conflicts like those with the Lord's Resistance Army, which destabilized communities and sowed distrust over land ownership. With urban expansion further encroaching, shea trees face additional threats.
Despite these difficulties, Gerima remains hopeful, citing local initiatives to plant new trees and protect existing ones. He embarked on a remarkable 644km walk to raise awareness and is now working on integrating conservation education into schools. His beliefs are clear: "This has to be a collective effort. We owe it to future generations to preserve not just the trees but our way of life," he states.
The Ugandan government has recognized the shea trees’ vulnerability and made illegal the cutting down of these trees for charcoal, but enforcement remains weak. Gerima's efforts combine traditional conservation techniques with innovative solutions like AI mapping, aiming for a brighter future for Uganda's "women's gold."
Upon returning home after six years, Gerima was devastated to find the Mount Kei Central Forest Reserve barren, a stark contrast to its previous lushness. Local farmers, struggling with failed harvests, have increasingly resorted to logging shea trees. Gerima explains, “Climate change has led to prolonged droughts, impacting shea nut production,” leaving many in poverty.
Uganda suffers a staggering loss of 100,000 hectares of forest annually, exacerbated by the popularity of shea charcoal, which is said to burn longer. Women, who traditionally harvest and process these nuts, are witnessing declines in income, with producers like Mariam Chandiru reporting halving of their output.
These challenges stem partly from decades of instability caused by conflicts like those with the Lord's Resistance Army, which destabilized communities and sowed distrust over land ownership. With urban expansion further encroaching, shea trees face additional threats.
Despite these difficulties, Gerima remains hopeful, citing local initiatives to plant new trees and protect existing ones. He embarked on a remarkable 644km walk to raise awareness and is now working on integrating conservation education into schools. His beliefs are clear: "This has to be a collective effort. We owe it to future generations to preserve not just the trees but our way of life," he states.
The Ugandan government has recognized the shea trees’ vulnerability and made illegal the cutting down of these trees for charcoal, but enforcement remains weak. Gerima's efforts combine traditional conservation techniques with innovative solutions like AI mapping, aiming for a brighter future for Uganda's "women's gold."
