A former biology teacher-turned-environmentalist is on a crusade in Uganda to save the once-flourishing trees from which shea butter is made - the cosmetic known as "women's gold". Mustafa Gerima wants local communities to stop chopping down the trees to make charcoal - which they say is more profitable than the oil, also used in cooking, that is extracted from its fruit. He gave up teaching to dedicate himself to the trees when he returned home six years ago and was shocked to find the Mount Kei Central Forest Reserve, once lush with wild shea trees, had been turned into a near-barren expanse dotted with stumps. Now nicknamed "Bwana Shea" or Mr Shea, he walks from village to village in the north-west of the country rallying people to protect what he sees as a vanishing treasure. Local people, he said, had lost interest in the trees and began chopping them down as farmers were experiencing failed harvests. "Thirty years ago, the shea nut tree had a pattern of its production. It flowered in December then by the time it reached April, it would be ready," Mr Gerima told the BBC. "But now because of climate change there is this prolonged drought. Hence it affects the production of shea nuts." The growing popularity of charcoal from the shea nut tree has made the situation worse. It is said to burn for longerthan other charcoal. "Our community is affected by poverty. So they look at the tree as a cheap alternative source of income," Mr Gerima said. Uganda is losing an estimated 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of forest cover each year, and a significant portion of that includes shea nut trees, according to the country's environment ministry. Shea trees grow in the wild from West to East Africa - a vast strip known as the "shea belt". But the shea tree population has dramatically plummeted in recent year, it says. This loss, combined with the poor harvests, has had a direct impact on people like Mariam Chandiru, a local shea butter producer for many years in the northern town of Koboko. "We would get good money to take our children to school and take care of our families. But now my business is collapsing, it is a huge setback," she told the BBC. "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." It has traditionally been women who have gathered the nuts of the shea tree to produce Nilotica shea butter, prized globally for its cosmetic and culinary uses. Professor John Bosco Okullo, a leading agroforestry expert from Uganda's Makerere University who has been studying shea nut trees for more than two decades, also blames years of widespread insecurity for the problems. "In the 1990s, communities used to own and protect the shea trees," the academic, who is part of a European Union project aiming to conserve and utilise the tree, told the BBC. This was before much of the north of the country was ravaged by a rebel group called the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA),led by Joseph Kony, whose fighters were notorious for abducting children - forcing the boys to become fighters and keeping the girls as sex slaves. The rebels have largely been wiped out, but nearly 20 years of conflict drove people to leave their villages and find safety in camps. Other communities were affected by dangerous cattle raids - also leading to the displacement of thousands of people in the early 2000s. "After cattle raiding and civil unrest by the Lord's Resistance Army displaced people, the sense of ownership was lost," said Prof Okullo "When people returned, they adapted to short-term gains like charcoal burning." Prof Okullo agrees with Mr Gerima that climate change has further exacerbated the situation. "The productivity has gone down. The trees are not flowering and fruiting the way they used to. Rain fluctuation has disrupted the shea tree's natural cycles," he said. Rapid urban expansion is another threat. "Most of these places which used to have shea trees now have new districts, new hospitals, schools," Prof Okullo said. "You find the shea trees are being cut for development. We need affirmative planting. Otherwise, if we are waiting for natural regeneration, it is going to be difficult." Despite what seems like a gloomy outlook, Prof Okullo takes heart from campaigners such as Mr Gerima. The former teacher's most widely known initiative involved a 19-day, 644km (400-mile) walk in 2020. He trekked from Uganda's capital, Kampala, to the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) headquarters in Nairobi, capital of neighbouring Kenya. "Right now, there are a lot of NGOs mobilising communities," Prof Okullo said. "People are planting new trees and protecting those regenerating from stumps. "Some are even using grafting techniques to shorten the juvenile phase - it used to take 15 to 20 years before fruiting, now some trees are fruiting much earlier." To meet rising demand and support sustainable supply chains, the professor and his colleagues are embracing technology. "We are teaming up with our colleagues in computer science and physics to use Artificial Intelligence so that we can map the mature shea trees and try to project the yield," he said. The Ugandan government has also recognised the vulnerability of the shea nut tree. In 2023, it made the cutting down of trees for charcoal illegal. But enforcement has been patchy. "There was a presidential order to stop cutting shea trees, but it's been difficult to implement," Prof Okullo said. "The demand for charcoal is highest in urban areas. Those who cut the trees aren't the ones using the charcoal. We need to provide alternative energy sources for cities to reduce the demand." For Mr Gerima, it remains a personal issue. "Seeing people cut the tree has always caused me a lot of pain in my heart," he said. He continues his long walks to raise awareness, speaking to local councils, organising planting drives. "This must not be one man's issue - it must bring in a concerted effort, a collective responsibility." His next steps include launching a grassroots tree-monitoring initiative and partnering with schools to integrate conservation into the local curriculum. He says his mission is not just to save a tree but to preserve a way of life. "We need to think about our future generations. If they come and only find stumps, what will they think of us?" Go toBBCAfrica.comfor more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter@BBCAfrica, on Facebook atBBC Africaor on Instagram atbbcafrica
Why the trees behind 'women's gold' beauty creams are under threat
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Ugandan Environmentalist Advocates for Protection of Shea Nut Trees Amidst Economic Pressures"
Bbc News
7.1
TruthLens AI Summary
In Uganda, a former biology teacher named Mustafa Gerima, also known as 'Bwana Shea,' has taken on the mission of preserving the shea nut trees that produce shea butter, often referred to as 'women's gold.' Upon returning to his homeland six years ago, he discovered a significant decline in the population of these trees, which had been largely cut down for charcoal production. Local communities, facing economic hardships and failed agricultural yields, have turned to this more profitable source of income, leading to the devastation of the Mount Kei Central Forest Reserve. Gerima emphasizes that climate change has worsened the situation, causing prolonged droughts that disrupt the natural flowering and fruiting cycles of the shea trees. As Uganda loses approximately 100,000 hectares of forest annually, the implications are dire for local livelihoods, particularly for women involved in shea butter production, who rely on the trees for their economic stability. Mariam Chandiru, a local producer, has seen her business collapse due to the dwindling resources, highlighting the community's struggle to adapt to these changes.
The challenges facing the shea nut trees are compounded by a history of conflict and insecurity in the region, particularly due to the actions of the Lord's Resistance Army in the 1990s, which disrupted local ownership and stewardship of natural resources. Agroforestry expert Professor John Bosco Okullo notes that the sense of community responsibility for the shea trees diminished as people were displaced and shifted towards short-term economic solutions like charcoal burning. Although the Ugandan government has recognized the need to protect these trees by making their cutting illegal, enforcement remains inconsistent. Gerima's advocacy includes community mobilization, tree-planting initiatives, and educational efforts aimed at integrating conservation into local schools. Additionally, innovative approaches such as using technology to monitor and enhance shea tree production are being explored. Gerima's dedication to this cause reflects a broader vision of sustainability and environmental stewardship, emphasizing the importance of collective action to secure a future for both the shea trees and the communities that depend on them.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article sheds light on the environmental challenges faced in Uganda, specifically concerning shea trees, which are crucial for producing shea butter, dubbed "women's gold." The narrative centers around Mustafa Gerima, an environmentalist advocating for the preservation of these trees amid increasing deforestation due to local economic pressures.
Purpose of Publication
There is a clear intention to raise awareness about the environmental plight of shea trees and the socio-economic factors driving local communities to sacrifice these natural resources for immediate financial gain. The piece aims to foster a sense of urgency and responsibility among readers regarding the environmental degradation occurring in Uganda.
Perception Targeted
By highlighting the drastic environmental changes and the economic struggles of local communities, the article aims to evoke empathy and concern. It seeks to shift public perception towards recognizing the value of sustainable practices over short-term profits derived from charcoal production.
Potential Concealments
While the article focuses on the plight of shea trees and the local communities, it may downplay larger systemic issues such as global demand for charcoal and the role of international markets in local environmental degradation. Additionally, there might be a lack of emphasis on possible alternative income sources that could alleviate the community's reliance on shea trees.
Manipulative Elements
The article has a moderate level of manipulative content, primarily through its emotive language and framing of the shea tree as a "vanishing treasure." This can influence readers to sympathize with the cause and potentially overlook other economic or political contexts that contribute to the issue.
Truthfulness of the Content
The information presented appears to be grounded in factual observations regarding environmental changes and local economic conditions. However, the narrative could benefit from a more balanced view that considers other contributing factors to deforestation.
Societal Implications
The discussion could influence public sentiment towards environmental conservation efforts and potentially lead to increased support for sustainable practices. Economically, if awareness grows, it may affect local industries dependent on charcoal and promote initiatives that support shea tree preservation.
Target Audience
The article is likely to resonate with environmental activists, consumers interested in sustainable products, and those concerned about climate change. It appeals to communities that value biodiversity and ethical sourcing of beauty products.
Market Impact
While the immediate financial markets may not react directly to this article, it could influence companies involved in the beauty and cosmetics sector, particularly those that utilize shea butter. Increased awareness about sustainability may lead to shifts in consumer demand for ethically sourced products.
Geopolitical Relevance
In the broader context of global environmental concerns and climate change discussions, this article aligns with current trends prioritizing sustainability and ecological conservation. It highlights the urgent need for addressing environmental issues in developing regions, which is increasingly relevant in international dialogues about climate policy.
AI Involvement
It is possible that AI tools were utilized for drafting or editing this article, particularly in analyzing data related to environmental impacts or shaping the narrative. However, without explicit indicators, it is challenging to pinpoint specific areas influenced by AI.
In conclusion, the article serves as a call to action regarding the conservation of shea trees in Uganda, effectively blending environmental, economic, and social themes to engage its audience. Overall, it presents a compelling case for the importance of sustainable practices while maintaining a focus on community well-being.