The Batwa on reforestation
A letter from Prince Autu on planting trees
This is what it looks like when a tree-planting initiative originates from an Indigenous community, under traditional leadership and cultivation knowledge.
Image supplied by Prince Autu Asuman. Batwa Community, Uganda
“I always want to advocate; but I also think that they (the people I’ve studied) could speak better for themselves than I could for them. ”
Batwa Community
Karambi settlement
Dundibugyo district
Uganda
To whom it may concern,
I’m Prince Autu Asuman, the son of King Nziito Geofrey, of Batwa community in western Uganda Bundibugyo.
I greet you for caring for God’s people like us who were neglected.
Our ancestors, Aulangama, came from DRC via Ituri forest across river Semuliki and settled in Semuliki forest.
In 1927, there was an outbreak of sleeping sickness, and the colonial government gazette it. Later, it was degazetted by Iddi Amin’s regime and our family went back to the forest and stayed there until the forest became a national park.
We thank the organization Fight For The Forgotten for recognizing us as God’s people who had no specific settlement.
The organization has purchased a reasonable land for us in Karambi for settlement. In this settlement, there is safe water, medical services, literacy classes, provision of food, seeds, tools to use for cultivation of food crops, play materials, vocational skill training, and entertainment devices.
Me as a prince, I have identified one major challenges, we found when the residents had destroyed the environment through charcoal burning due to poverty level in the area. Like every Monday there is a market day in Rwamabate where we see both men and women carrying charcoal for sale.
So, as a leader, am planning with my community to carry out mobilization and sensitization about the importance of natural trees.
Our next step is to do re-forestation to replace the trees which have been destroyed in remembrance of where we came from and to tell the new generation about our history.
Another rule is to carry out sanitation and hygiene in and around our settlement by recycling waste products.
I shall be grateful when I am supported to make my environment better.
Yours sincerely,
Autu Asuman
If you are interested in funding Indigenous-led reforestation initiatives please let us know. This can be in catalytic capital to specific projects, or by buying our tree credits which are distributed between participating communities on an outcomes basis.