Dear colleagues, My organization is applying for some grants to create a native tree nursery and then reforest the region outside Bwindi Impenetrable National park in SW Uganda with native trees as well as engaging in some permaculture, and possibly a small section in each village for timber trees. Presently almost everywhere outside of the park is in agriculture, and any trees are Eucalyptus or pine. We¹re starting with the indigenous Batwa settlements, the hunter-gatherers who were evicted from their forest homeland when the park was created.
As this isn¹t my area of expertise, I wanted to see if anyone had any advice, references to literature, or colleagues that I could touch base with on the following issues: 1. When reforesting a tropical montane forest, how do you space the tree seedlings (Im sure there¹s literature on this, and I will be doing a more thorough search, but thought some people may have insight). This will help me ascertain how many seedlings we need to budget for. 2. Eucalyptus will suck up a lot of water. Are there any timber trees in the area that are compatible with native forest if kept to a certain ³plantation² area, or will this completely interfere with reforestation efforts? 3. Should food trees be interspersed into the native trees or kept in certain plots separately near homesteads? Thanks for any thoughts! Wendee Wendee Nicole, M.S; Founder & Director, REDEMPTION SONG FOUNDATION http://www.redemptionsongfoundation.org <http://www.redemptionsongfoundation.org/> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/redemptionsongfoundation Growing Healthy Communities and Sustainable Ecosystems in Africa Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian (http://www.wendeenicole.com <http://www.wendeenicole.com/> )
