Protecting Uganda's Shea Trees: A Fight for 'Women's Gold'

With shea nut trees facing threats from charcoal production and climate change, Mustafa Gerima encourages local communities to preserve these vital resources for economic and ecological reasons.

In Uganda, the once-thriving shea nut trees, key to producing the cosmetic known as "women's gold," are rapidly disappearing. Mustafa Gerima, a former biology teacher and environmentalist known as "Mr Shea," is leading the charge to protect these trees. His mission began six years ago when he returned to his community only to find the lush Mount Kei Central Forest Reserve turned into a near-desert of tree stumps.

Local farmers, experiencing failed harvests, have turned to chopping down shea trees to make charcoal, which they view as a more lucrative option than the oil produced from the nuts. As Gerima explains, “Our community is affected by poverty. So they look at the tree as a cheap alternative source of income.” This practice threatens Uganda's forest cover, which is vanishing at an alarming rate of approximately 100,000 hectares annually due to various human activities, notably charcoal production.

The decline of the shea tree population is particularly concerning given its important role in providing local families with income and nutrition. Mariam Chandiru, a local producer of shea butter, expressed her frustration: "I used to sell up to five jerry cans of shea oil a week, right now I can only fill two jerry cans at most." The traditional harvesting around the shea nut has historically been a source of empowerment for many women in the region.

Climate change compounds these issues, as shea trees have been failing to produce fruit as they once did, with altered blooming patterns disrupting their lifecycle. "Rain fluctuation has disrupted the shea tree's natural cycles," noted Professor John Bosco Okullo, an expert in agroforestry from Makerere University. Additionally, the decades-long conflict caused by the Lord's Resistance Army has eroded community ties and stewardship over natural resources.

In response, community leaders and organizations, supported by experts like Prof. Okullo, are promoting tree conservation and sustainable practices. Gerima, whose initiatives include a 19-day trek to raise awareness, emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach. "This must not be one man's issue," he insists, “it must bring in a concerted effort, a collective responsibility.”

The Ugandan government has recently banned the cutting down of shea trees for charcoal, although enforcement remains uneven. Research is also underway to employ technology, including Artificial Intelligence, for mapping existing trees and optimizing future yields.

Despite daunting challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. Local NGOs are mobilizing communities to plant new trees, and strategies like grafting are being explored to enhance the efficiency of fruit production. As Gerima continues to advocate for conservation, he underscores a significant dilemma: "If our future generations come and only find stumps, what will they think of us?" His efforts reflect a broader struggle not only to protect a tree but to safeguard a cultural heritage vital to local lives and livelihoods.