As the golden sun dipped behind the rolling hills of Buwama, Mpigi district, Indigenous Tree Day 2025 reached its powerful climax: the birth of a Miyawaki forest — a densely packed grove destined to spark a new wave of ecological revival. Beside a freshly dug plot, conservation guide Boanie Odoi knelt, cradling a sapling.
“We plant five trees per square metre,” he said, his voice rich with excitement.
“It may seem crowded, but that’s the secret – the tight competition pushes them to grow faster, stronger and wilder. Once they take root, the forest thrives on its own.”
The Miyawaki method, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, is rewriting reforestation rules. From Tokyo to Toronto, Amsterdam to Accra, forests as large as a basketball court are springing up.
Across Europe, North America and Asia, forgotten plots of land are being reclaimed and reborn. Powered by local communities, these miniature jungles, known as “Tiny Forests” have become green lungs for urban spaces — and beacons of environmental hope, reweaving humanity’s connection to nature.
Miyawaki forests offer far more than beauty. They grow up to 10 times faster than traditionally planted woodlands, capture carbon, regulate soaring urban temperatures and stand as natural barriers against storm water floods and pollution.
In flood-prone cities such as Kampala, they soak up rainfall. In dusty, polluted neighbourhoods, they filter the air.
As the final sapling was pressed into the Lukango Tree Conservancy (LuTreeCo) on Bunjako Island in Mpigi district, 60km from Kampala city, it was clear: this was not just a symbolic act.
It was a living pledge — a testament to the resilience of nature, the power of grassroots action and the dream of a greener, healthier future. Visionary Behind the Forest
At the heart of this green revolution stands Dr Victor Nsereko.
As he gazes over the Buwama landscape, a mix of nostalgia and quiet sorrow clouds his face.
“LuTreeCo is a proud member of Botanical Gardens Conservation International. Most of the land in Uganda was once blanketed with indigenous forests,” he reflects. “Now it’s concrete and eucalyptus as far as the eye can see. Trees like Musizi, Muvule, Mahogany, Nsambya and Nongo are disappearing fast. Even omululuza, a herb that once present in almost every household.”
Nsereko’s deep-rooted passion for conservation was nurtured during his studies in environmental science at the University of Aberdeen in the US.
But it was his return to Uganda that ignited his mission. Shocked by the scale of deforestation and the rapid loss of native species, he resolved to act.
Nsereko began by purchasing land and sourcing indigenous tree species from across Uganda, the DR Congo, Kenya and South Africa — laying the groundwork for what would become one of the region’s most ambitious restoration projects.
The ambitious seed bank started in April 2022 with a nursery bed. Before that, he was purchasing and planting seedlings in the arboretum.
“I already owned the land, which is usually the most expensive part,” explains Nsereko.
“I used my income from my job in the US. There was never a fixed budget — I was all in from the start. Whatever it took, I made it happen.
“I didn’t seek external funding; everything came from my salary and the savings. That’s still the primary way I finance LuTreeCo today, although that’s beginning to change.”
A global force for conservation On Indigenous Tree Day, the trails of Nsereko’s conservancy bustled with life.
Students, bankers and environmentalists walked side by side, with Prof. James Kalema of Makerere University in tow.
His face glowed with pride as he sauntered through herbs, buzzing beehives and towering native trees.
“Indigenous Tree Day (ITD) 2025 is not just a one-day event,” he stressed.
“It’s a global movement dedicated to conserving indigenous trees and tackling the urgent crises of biodiversity loss, climate change and the erosion of traditional livelihoods connected to our forests.”
Kalema highlighted how the cross-border collaboration, championed by ITD, offers a scalable, sustainable model for reforestation across the world.
“By sharing knowledge and joining forces, we can rebuild the native forests that are disappearing daily,” he said.
“Whether through schools, farms, nature reserves or urban parks, the breadth of participation proves the incredible power of collective action in facing the global biodiversity crisis,” Kalema said.
However, Kalema was also quick to outline the obstacles conservation efforts face.
“First, is the widespread lack of ecological awareness among the youth. Too many grow up disconnected from nature,” he said.
Kalema also pointed to land pressures from expanding agribusinesses, relentless deforestation, limited funding, and government policies that often favour short-term infrastructure projects over long-term environmental stewardship.
Later, during a nature walk organised for ITD participants — many of them who are city dwellers, were introduced to Uganda’s rich legacy of medicinal plants.
Among them was Webugia, the herb behind the famed COVIDEX remedy that rose to national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sampling its sharp, bitter leaves was a powerful reminder of nature’s healing potency.
Emmanuel Kamugisha, a conservationist leading the tour explored Webugia’s properties: “It played a vital role in treating coughs, flu and sore throats during COVID-19 and brought Prof. Patrick Ogwang into the national spotlight.”
Kamugisha also pointed out Kikuza Muti, an indigenous tree celebrated for its bark and highly sought after for its libido-boosting properties.
“Herbalists travel from as far as South and West Africa to find it,” he noted.
“Unfortunately, over-harvesting has placed many of these precious trees at risk of extinction,” Kamugisha said.
A dream taking root
Today, Dr Victor Nsereko’s vision is thriving. On his 80- acre estate in Buwama village, Mpigi district, he has cultivated more than 200 species of indigenous trees, breathing new life into a landscape once stripped bare.
It was here, on April 15, that he hosted Indigenous Tree Day (ITD) — a landmark celebration of Africa’s biodiversity and one of the continent’s most ambitious native tree restoration initiatives. Spearheaded by the African Tree Seeds Group, it is a growing network of over 520 conservationists.
ITD is a rapidly expanding movement, uniting individuals and organisations across Africa and beyond with a common mission: to restore biodiversity by protecting and planting indigenous trees.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Visitors planting trees in the conservatory. Five trees are planted per square metre
