This project will provide resources for 150 traditional healers to plant and care for native tree species that are rapidly disappearing in northern Uganda. By planting native trees that hold medicinal value, these women are able to restore their forests, provide traditional healthcare to their communities and improve their economic well-being.
Uganda has lost two-thirds of its forest, leaving many native plant species at risk of being lost forever. In a country where 60% of the population continues to depend on traditional healers for their primary source of healthcare, the disappearance of these plants is detrimental both to the environment and its local ecology, as well as the well-being of the local population. By empowering 150 traditional healers, we are reforesting native trees and contributing to community health.
This project will finish construction and get our 2 native tree nurseries operating at full capacity, allowing for the planting of 300,000 native trees each year. It provides 150 women with ongoing training in planting and caring for native trees, the production of their herbal medicines, and beekeeping.
Using traditional medicine as a catalyst for forest conservation, the project restores local ecology and secures the longevity of indigenous plant species. It will provide sustainable livelihood to 150 women traditional healers as they develop herbal medicine products from the trees they plant. Working side by side with physicians and traditional healers, local communities in northern Uganda will have greater access to integrative and affordable healthcare.
