Uganda:
Carbon sink plantation - where trees are more important than people
The
UK-based New Forests Company is establishing tree plantations in
Uganda, Mozambique and Tanzania. The company states that “Whilst
based on commercial forestry economics, our projects are underwritten
by carbon credits … in compliance with the Clean Development
Mechanism. This means that its profits from the sale of wood will
be increased by selling “carbon credits” to polluting
industries in the North. It also means that companies buying these
carbon credits should be also held responsible for the impacts of
these plantations on local peoples and the environment.
Given
that New Forests “has already established itself as the biggest
tree planter and the dominant player in Uganda” and “is
set to begin operations in other countries”, it is important
to let people know about what is actually happening in its 54,000
acres of land in this country.
The
company defines its activities as “Sustainable and socially
responsible forestry”. The meaning of this is shown clearly
in the pictures and short text in its own web site at
http://www.newforestscompany.com/project_area/uganda.
The “responsible” process begins with the destruction
of local biodiversity in two steps: 1) manual “bush clearing”
2) “chemical spraying”. Once the local vegetation has
been totally eliminated -and the environment polluted with chemical
herbicides- it is substituted by two fast-growing alien tree species
(Eucalyptus and Pine) planted as monocultures over large areas of
land. These green deserts are the “New Forests” from
where this company takes its name.
Evidence
about how “socially responsible” the company can be
is also provided in the above mentioned pictures. Two of them show
a few women working in very uncomfortable conditions in a makeshift
tree nursery. Another photo shows a 16-strong “clearing team”
without appropriate clothing for the task. Finally, the 12 workers
of the “chemical spraying” team are shown from too far
away to assess if they have been provided with the necessary protective
gear and clothing. Given that the company does not provide any information
on the figure of 1800 workers that are “expected” to
work in the plantation, one can only guess that most of them will
be employed in tree planting and dismissed once that activity is
completed.
But
even in the impossible case that all the 1800 workers were to be
employed on a permanent basis, the company fails to mention that
over 10,000 residents of Kitumbi sub-county in Mubende district
are facing eviction to make way to its plantations. Which means
that –on balance- 8,200 people will be in a far worse condition
than before the company’s arrival. And “far worse”
is in fact an understatement of what they are being subjected to.
The
following quotes from an article published on 20 July in the Ugandan
web site New Vision, provides more than ample evidence about the
“significant social benefits” that the company has been
providing local people with.
According
to the article, residents in the villages of Kyamukasa, Kyato, Kicucula,
Kisiita, Mpologoma, and Kanaamire denounced that armed groups were
beating people, abducting them and destroying their crops and houses.
Such actions were meant “to subdue them to leave their land,
which they have occupied for decades”, so that the New Forests
Company could plant its trees.
“My
banana plantation on three acres has been destroyed by the people
who are trying to evict us. They even took 10 bags of maize from
me,” Jessica Nyinamatama, a 56-year-old widow, who is taking
care of nine orphans, said.
The
local land committee chairman, William Mpamira stated that “Two
of our neighbours were abducted by armed people who are trying to
evict us.”, adding that “Richard Twahirwa was arrested
on June 26 and Cyprian Munyagaju was arrested on July 13. Up to
now, we don’t know their whereabouts.”
According
to Mpamira, the population is suffering night attacks and as a result
most residents have resorted to sleeping in the bushes. He also
added that “we doubt whether the intention of the company
is to plant trees and protect the environment,” because “since
2005, they have been cutting down trees which we had preserved for
commercial timber.”
As
a result of the situation they were suffering, the villagers decided
to go to Kampala, where they petitioned the lands minister, Omara
Atubo, to stop the evictions. In response, the minister vowed to
stop the investor from evicting the residents and said:
“As
a ministry in charge of land, we are saddened by what has happened
to you. It is important to respect your rights irrespective of whether
you occupy the land legally or not. There is no need for your colleagues
to disappear, your property to be stolen or crops to be destroyed,”
Atubo said as the villagers applauded.
The
minister said he would summon the resident district commissioner
and the company officials to respond to the reports. Atubo
also promised to lead a team of investigators to Kitumbi on
a fact-finding mission.
“This
is an urgent case because it is about life and death. These acts
against our citizens should stop immediately. Investment is
only good if the residents benefit from it. Human beings are more
important than trees,” he stated.
New
Forests Company officials should repeat after him: Human beings
are more important than trees!
Based
on article sent by Timothy Byakola (acs@starcom.co.ug),
“Uganda: Mubende Residents Petition Lands Minister Over Eviction,
Harassment”, by Moses Mulondo, 20 July 2009 http://allafrica.com/stories/200907210016.html
and on information from the company’s web site: http://www.newforestscompany.com/index.php/project_area/7/
http://www.newforestscompany.com/
http://www.newforestscompany.com/about-us
