Lira nursery bed owners promote tree planting to combat climate change

25 September 2025, 2:44 pm

By Agness Agilo

In a bid to combat environmental degradation and mitigate the effects of climate change, nursery bed owners in Lira City are calling for a mandatory tree-planting initiative, urging individuals to plant a tree before cutting one down for any purpose.

George Otwal, a nursery bed farmer based in Kulu Ahali Cell, Lira City West Division, expressed concern over the rampant felling of trees without replanting. He emphasised the importance of individual responsibility in environmental conservation, noting that tree planting is a key solution in the fight against climate change.

Otwal attributed the changing weather patterns—including prolonged dry spells—to deforestation and wetland encroachment. He noted that these changes have adversely affected food production, leading to famine in some areas

With nearly a decade in the nursery bed business, Otwal proudly shared that he has sold over 10 million seedlings, contributing to various tree-planting campaigns aimed at restoring the environment.

Echoing his concerns, Hellen Acila, a nursery bed operator from Kichope Cell, Ober Parish, stressed the urgent need for environmental awareness. She advocated a “plant-before-you-cut” approach, warning that continued depletion of tree species could lead to serious environmental hazards.

Acila also urged residents to recycle plastic waste, such as bottles and polythene bags (commonly known as Kaveras), and called on the government to introduce stricter laws regulating the use of plastics, which continue to choke the environment.

Meanwhile, Sarah Atim Obua, Director of Environment Solutions Nursery Bed in Railways Quarters ‘A’ Cell, Lira City East Division, encouraged the people of the Lango sub-region to adopt a positive mindset towards environmental protection. She reiterated that tree planting remains a key strategy both for restoring degraded ecosystems and adapting to climate change.

In the same spirit, Geoffrey Opido, a nursery bed farmer at Omodo Market in Lira City West Division, emphasised that replanting trees and protecting wetlands are critical actions to restore the region’s once-favourable climatic conditions.

In a related development, the Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, recently banned the use of artificial flowers during burials. Instead, he encouraged families to plant fruit trees at homes and burial sites—a move he said would contribute to both environmental conservation and economic resilience.

As the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, these voices from Lira City highlight the need for community-driven solutions, with tree planting at the centre of efforts to safeguard the environment for future generations.