By Brian Atuhura
Masindi district Chairperson Cosmas Byaruhanga, has pledged to support Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) towards the implementation of the new project called "Gender Responsive Economic Enhancement and Natural Eco systems Resilience (GREENER)to enable it register success.
He also advised locals to co-exist with the Chimpanzees since they attract tourists which helps government earn revenue under tourism sector.
He said this today, while launching the GREENER project during an inception meeting that was held in the district council chambers.
About shs 2 billions is expected to be invested in the three year project.
Speaking in the same meeting,the Secretary for Production Geoffrey Kiiza Bigabwa advised JGI to use local community members to supply tree seedlings for restoration as a measure of empowering them economically.
He also appealed to the management of Kinyara Sugar Works Limited to consider restoring the areas they have degraded with much sugarcane plantation blocks.
While making a presentation on the new project,Dr.Peter Apell the Programs Director JGI said that,JGI has for the last six years been implementing a holistic reforestation project between Budongo and Bugoma forest reserves in Western Uganda specifically targeting the restoration R.Waki catchment forests in Hoima and Masindi districts.
He stated the project outcomes saying that the degraded sections of R.Waki catchment of about 2,800 hectares in targeted Budongo Sub-County, Kabango Town Council in Masindi district as well as Biiso and Kihungya Sub-Counties in Buliisa district are restored with 790,000 tree seedlings.
He mentioned another out come saying that,the project area communities will be expected to adapt agroforestry as a livelihood diversification strategy to mitigate climate change.
In his earlier opening remarks,the Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (PACAO),Musa Kyamiza who represented the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in the meeting, expressed the plight of Uganda's eco-system which he said was bleeding because of increased human destruction.
He further stressed that anumber of wetlands have been encroached upon heavily which effects will be disastrous if not mitigated.