Uganda is affected greatly by land degradation unmaintainable land use practices lead to soil erosion and nutrient depletion and, in some areas such as Bududa fatal landslides. Uganda has lost 40 percent of its forest cover in the last three decades through timber; charcoal making and over encroachment by so-called investors to farm sugarcane not mention even nationals who have settled in these gazetted forestlands due to population pressure. Fish catches have been declining since they peaked in 2004 – 05, when they were probably well beyond maximum sustainable yields for the resource.  Wetlands have drastically declined by at least 30 percent in the last almost two and half decades ago, snowballing the brutality of recent flooding events which have been in seen in many parts of the country such as Kasese, Kampala, bududa, and some other parts of the country.

Aswam Youth Foundation is cognizant with these facts and believes that if there are no checks and balances, our country is heading in very bad direction which will necessitate climate change which will in turn affect the whole ecosystem which in end with disrupt our living conditions.

However, Aswam Youth Foundation has been on forefront of fight for good environmental use through vigorous sensitizations against overgrazing, land fragmentation and their associated dangers. The organization has reached over 96 villagers in Katakwi district with this form of awareness, due to this awareness overgrazing has been reduced by 30% in our areas of operation,

However, land fragmentation is still exerting its might over the people due to a variety of factors that ranges from population pressure and absolute poverty, which are the major driving force.

Aswam Youth Foundation has also engaged in tree planting which has seen 200 trees being planted, however we would have planted more trees but due to financial constraints, we are unable even though the need for more trees is quite loud and clear. We have also engaged people in urban slums of Kampala with horticulture that involves training and issuing out seedlings for two main purposes to restore the green vegetation and also to earn a living from this type of farming which has been availed 109 families in urban slums. However, a lot needs to be done to reach our target of 600 families of which 70% are women led families, 7% are child lead families of which all are poverty-stricken homesteads.

Aswam Youth Foundation has the following strategic objectives in order to realize the envisioned impact

 

  • Engage 50 community members, local leaders and development of training materials for the participants
  • Identification of 50 participants for the workshops
  • Establishment of 10 Village Environment Management Association (VEMA) in selected project area.
  • Training of 20 youth peer educators.
  • Organizing Sports matches engaging children and youth.
  • Identification and Selection of 1 site for tree nurseries
  • Purchase tree seeds and grafted fruit trees
  • supply and Plant seed in tree nurseries on the Selected sites
  • organizing of Tree Planting Carnivals

However, in order to realize the above targets within the specified timeframe, funding availability will be the main vehicle towards the maximization of the envisioned impact as far as the environment intervention is concerned.