The role of urban forestry to the socio-economic welfare of the urban dwellers in Bugweri town council, Bugweri district

Abstract

An assessment of the contribution of urban forestry activities to the socio- economic welfare of the urban dwellers was carried out in Bugweri town, Bugweri district. The objectives of the study were: Assessing the level of involvement of urban dwellers in forest related activities, Determining the importance of urban forestry to the urban dwellers, and Identifying problems and challenges limiting the implementations of urban forestry activities and how they impact on the socio- economic welfare of people in Bugweri town. Data collection methods included questionnaire, guided interview, direct observation, discussion and secondary data review. A purposive sampling method was used to select the division from where data was collected. The study showed that urban dwellers had improved their socio-economic welfare through various activities of urban forestry such as planting of trees, rising of tree seedlings among other activities. The uses of trees included fuel wood, food security, shade, medicinal, boundary, wind breaks, pollution control, soil conservation, aesthetic and worshipping grounds. Trees were grown along roads, wetlands, around homes, public places, boundaries, hospitals, schools among other places. Urban forestry activities included nursery management, landscape maintenance and sensitization, landscape designing, tree planting among others. The urban dwellers faced challenge of lack of technical support and also the participants lacked enough capital for investment. The benefits of urban forestry included fuel wood, provision of shades in homesteads, provision of herbal medicine, acquisition of skills, sources of raw materials, performing cultural rituals, employment opportunities, and provision of food and source of income. It was concluded that urban forestry had benefited the urban dwellers as it improves their socio economic welfare. It was recommended that more and serous extension work be carried out with appropriate technologies, financial support from government and NGOs be given to urban dwellers to boost urban forestry and urban forestry be encouraged for all urban dwellers. The urban dwellers should be given incentives to participate in urban tree planting.