Five trees for every child: Why this community is planting trees for the next generation Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet

Trees are the looming lifelines of our planet, and their roots run deep in rural Uganda. But in Morungatuny burning them for charcoal was the main economic driver of the economy. And trees were needed for firewood for cooking and building.

The rates of consumption soon outpaced the availability of trees. This resulted in extra difficulties faced by women, from the long distances they had to travel for firewood, to higher rates of domestic violence caused by economic stress.

So the community was faced with a question: what could they change to make life better for everyone – and for future generations especially. Community members like Jethro and Aliba Mary came to the community with answers — answers pulled from nature itself.