Alaso Rose learned about TIST in 2016 and is now planting trees as part of Aten Tree Planting Group in Soroti District, Arapai Subcounty Uganda.

Rose explained that the tree benefits encourage farmers, especially at the community level, to plant trees; trees help with the rains and the dry season by reducing erosion, restoring degraded land, and stabilizing the soil nutrients. Rose has experienced some of the many supportive co-benefits that come from tree planting; firewood, timber for building purposes and as a product to sell, and the fallen leaves that help with creating compost manure. Additional benefits include shade, increased biodiversity, improved groundwater, and the creation of meaningful landscapes.

In Rose’s grove you will see mango, grevillea, avocado, fennel, and nut trees, all of which came from locally sourced seedlings. By growing a variety of crops Rose improves food security for herself and her community. TIST Farmers like Rose create additional benefits from the sales and savings of the fruit, nut, and firewood products.

Both Rose and her community have participated in many capacity building trainings. She shared that now they are composting on their own lands, creating boundaries with tree planting, and cultivating seedlings with nursery beds. Some of the trainings Rose has received include how to select, gather, and raise seedlings, and how to construct a clean burning stove. These stoves require significantly less wood to produce energy and provide improved ventilation. For this training, she learned alongside a group of women and now all of them have the capacity to train more community members on how to build clean energy stoves.

As she continues to look after her grove, Rose looks forward to attending more trainings. Capacity building is of great importance to her, and she hopes to see it extend further into the community.