Lukango Tree Conservancy (LuTreeCo)’s Post

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LuTreeCo, a temporary Island 🏝 At Lukango Tree Conservancy, situated on Bunjako Island, an intriguing phenomenon unfolds during periods of heavy rainfall 🌧. 🏝We are actually on an Island but luckily have a narrow road that winds its way through the expansive Lukolo Swamp that envelopes our Island. Because of this road, you end up on the Island without noticing. However, at peak rains, this road can become submerged under a shimmering layer of water, temporarily transforming Lukango Tree Conservancy into an island retreat, an enchanting metamorphosis that continuously captivates our Visitors. 🏝While navigating the submerged road can pose a challenge, the experience of being marooned on our island is nothing short of magical. The rise and fall of the waters create a sense of isolation and tranquility, offering a unique perspective on the wonders of the natural world. 🏝Are you considering visiting Lukango Tree Conservancy, then, prepare for a journey unlike any other. Come and witness the road emerge from the waters or embrace the adventure of gliding across the flooded landscape in a boat. Embrace the ephemeral beauty of our island sanctuary, the epicenter of diversity, where nature's whimsical dance unfolds with each rainfall. 🏝You're always welcome to Lukango Tree Conservancy, a haven secluded from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here, you'll find solace in the absence of noise, pollution, and traffic congestion. It's a sanctuary where the harmony between people and nature reigns supreme, offering a tranquil escape into the lap of Mother Earth. Embrace the simplicity of life in its purest form, where the symphony of nature's melodies serenades your soul and the beauty of the natural world unfolds before your eyes.. SEE YOU AT #LuTreeCo #LuTreeCo #conservation

Uganda Broadcasting Corporation’s coverage of our Indigenous Tree Day’s tree growing partnership with the Heritage Club of St. Mary’s Senior Secondary College, Nkozi. LuTreeCo donated 150 seedlings comprised of 30 species, including 11 threatened species. The students had composed a song, and written a poem, for the occasion. #conservation #Ecosia #biodiversity https://lnkd.in/e4Wxr2xY

Monitoring of Phase 1 and 2 #OOTSI Trees Wondering what OOTSI is? — This post is for you! LuTreeCo’s Our Own Tree Schools Initiative (OOTSI) stands as a vital threatened native tree conservation effort in schools across Uganda. Vibrant Conservation🌳 Clubs have been established where none existed before—and members have been introduced to, and equipped to nurture some of Uganda's most threatened tree species. Personal responsibility is a key tenant of OOTSI. Individual club members are assigned trees to take care of for the duration of the program. A prize awaits the winning club at the conclusion of year 3, with additional rewards for victorious clubs in the conservation knowledge quizzes held after years 1 and 2. OOTSI not only imparts conservation skills to our youth but also raises national awareness about the challenges facing our native tree species, with the hope of sparking their resurgence throughout the country. Moreover, OOTSI aims to inspire young participants to pursue careers in conservation, thus enhancing our ability to tackle critical environmental issues. 🌍Actions Speak Louder than words! Just to let you know —significant progress has been made since the first and second phase plantings over the past year. Besides planting, we are committed to visiting these schools every six months to monitor tree growth, take height measurements, offer recommendations for improvement, and address any queries from the clubs. 🌍In recent weeks, our team has embarked on extensive journeys to various schools to assess tree development. Witnessing how diligently these young individuals care for the trees is truly humbling and inspiring. Upon arrival—we challenge each club member to stand beside their tree, fostering a sense of responsibility and pride in nurturing their trees; this puts guilt on those whose trees died. This practice motivates everyone to ensure the well-being of their trees, instilling a sense of accomplishment as they witness their trees thriving. 📌Hands down—by instilling a sense of conservation value in young people, we are not only shaping a more sustainable future but also securing the well-being of our planet. Besides all the challenges, we continue to push for the good course, our team has embarked on 3rd Phase planting and also our operations are gradually expanding to different parts of the country, including Abim, Nakapiripirit and Kaberamaido, in addition to schools in Wakiso and Mpigi districts.

Establishment of #Miyawaki 11 at #LuTreeCo What is the Miyawaki Method? This is a method of creating dense—native forests🌳 in a 10th of the time it would take to establish a mature forest using conventional methods. Developed by the late Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki— this method creates biodiverse sustainable ecosystems. It involves extensive soil amendments, followed by planting a variety of native plant species at a very high density, which accelerates forest growth, creating a forest with a mature ecosystem similar to that of a naturally established forest. 🌳Conservation is indeed a pressing issue—especially in the face of the urgent challenge of Biodiversity Loss, one of the triple planetary crises. The Miyawaki method is being embraced as a promising approach to address this crisis. At LuTreeCo, we are actively implementing the Miyawaki Method to establish highly diverse forests in Tropical Africa but we are also using the technique to perform much needed research on tree species that are native to tropical Africa. 🌳While the method shows great potential, it is costly and requires significant time and dedication, particularly at LuTreeCo where manual labor is utilized for tasks such as land clearing, soil preparation, and incorporation of soil amendments such as perforation materials. 🌳We began by establishing smaller Miyawaki forests to establish proficiency but have recently started to create larger forests. We are proud to announce the establishment of Miyawaki 11, our largest to date! Covering an area of 930 square meters, Miyawaki 11 features 57 species, including those listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. We plant 3 seedlings per square meter and the placement of these species within the forest is randomized, taking into account factors such as their growth form, location in natural forest, shade tolerance/ intolerance levels, and natural forest species association. 🌳Miyawaki 11 is receiving intensive care, including regular watering and mulching, to ensure that the planted trees reach a level of self-sustainability within approximately two years. We will be sharing progress reports on Miyawaki 11. Shout out to the passionate LuTreeCo team for this work Victor Nsereko Ph.D., FRSB. Ehren Moler Chrispus Ongom Francis Oketcho, Vicent Asiimwe, Patrick Shumbusho Gabriel Alele Ogwang Kamugisha Emmanuel Acaa Caroline Olive Ajwang