Building economic opportunities for farmers in 19 refugee-hosting districts in Uganda through sustainable woodlots

Uganda faces some of the highest rates of natural forest degradation globally. The nation’s economy is heavily dependent on its natural resources, and environmental deterioration significantly affects livelihoods, especially among the poorest and most vulnerable populations.

Uganda currently hosts over 1.3 million refugees—the largest population in Africa and the third-largest worldwide—resulting in increased environmental pressures and extensive use of natural resources, particularly forests, which provide essential ecosystem services such as fuelwood, livelihood support, and resilience for both refugee and host communities.

To address these challenges, the Government of Uganda, with funding from the World Bank, is implementing improved forest resource management initiatives in areas hosting refugees through the Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) project. The project aims to enhance tree cover in refugee-hosting landscapes beyond protected areas, supporting sustainable forest management and greater landscape resilience on private and customary lands. Component 3 specifically targets refugee-hosting regions, facilitating the establishment of tree cover outside protected areas and contributing to sustainable forest management, increased landscape resilience, and better livelihoods for host communities.

Objectives and scope

NIRAS – in partnership with Havilah Company Ltd. (Havilah), the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST), and Green Life International (GLI) Ltd. – has been contracted by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) to provide consultancy services for the development of woodlots on private land.

The project aims to enhance the sustainable supply of timber, poles, fuelwood and other plantation products in refugee‑hosting areas across 19 districts in Western and Northwestern Uganda through small‑scale commercial forestry—improving incomes, reducing pressure on natural forests, and strengthening climate resilience. The purpose of this project is to foster the establishment of 9,754 ha of small-scale private woodlots on both private and customary land of host communities, reaching 39,000 households.

Key activities include:

• Selection criteria definition: Formulate clear, transparent criteria for selecting target geographical areas (sub-counties, parishes) and eligible households, considering elements such as market potential, population density, proximity to refugee settlements, land size, and local land tenure status.
• Farmer engagement and species selection guidance: Manage farmer expressions of interest and offer practical guidance on choosing tree species that align with market requirements and local environmental conditions.
• Mobilisation and distribution of tree seedlings: Engage farmers and ensure timely delivery of high-quality tree seedlings. Strengthen existing seed and seedling supply chains to efficiently meet demand, minimising reliance on new nurseries where feasible.
• Provision of extension services and training: Deliver comprehensive training and extension support to landowners by qualified personnel, focusing on best practices in commercial forestry. Develop technical publications to foster high standards and enhance tree quality and survival.
• Georeferenced monitoring system implementation: Establish an accessible, regularly updated georeferenced information platform to map woodlot locations, planting progress, and survival statistics. Management will utilise the Smallholdr app and web-based dashboards.
• Development of best practice guidelines and publicity materials: Produce training resources, publicity materials, and guidelines that consolidate project learnings and promote best practices among stakeholders.

Progress to date

NIRAS with partners have hit the ground running in undertaking a rapid Inception Phase detailing strategies and implementation plans for the establishment of woodlots with small-scale farmers. 

Key milestones include stakeholder engagement across all 19 target districts, culminating in the selection of 57 sub-counties and 171 parishes based on agreed eligibility criteria, and the distribution of farmer application forms. The project team is currently in the process of registering farmers who have expressed interest in woodlots establishment and supporting them to prepare their land in time for the March-May 2026 planting season. 

To date, more than 5,600 farmers have been enrolled in the project, covering over 4,500 hectares of land. Ongoing activities are supporting farmers to adopt best practices in woodlot establishment through demonstration sites, hands-on training and the Farmer Voice Radio programme.