05 May 2026

Nature has the Answers – Seeds of Change

As the Director of Size of Wales for over five years, I am excited to share some stories from my recent trip to Mbale in Uganda and reflect a little on how things have changed over the last 25-30 years.

In 1998, I went to Ghana, living and working there for over two years as a volunteer for Voluntary Service Overseas. Since then, I have never looked back knowing that forests and trees are special, particularly at the tropics. Back then, climate change wasn’t a familiar phrase, but I could see with my own eyes how important trees and forests were for wildlife, people and the environment. One thing that was true then and is still true now is that the people suffering most from climate change in places like sub Saharan Africa are often those who contributed the least to it.

In my recent trip to Mbale in Uganda to attend the milestone celebrations of the distribution of 25 million trees, I was struck by just how incredibly simply we can improve the health of the planet, and the answer lies with nature. Trees and forests quietly draw down the carbon we release, asking nothing in return.

Growing trees in the tropics is incredibly effective. Trees grow at least four times more quickly near the equator, so they capture carbon much faster than trees planted in temperate areas such as Wales. It’s simple biology, but the implications are huge. When I was in Uganda last year, I met a METGE Extension Officer, Yusaf Makabuli at the 25 million trees celebration event who said:

“This event means so much to me because growing trees gives life.

Trees help us live longer and witness the beauty of nature over time.

I was here at the very beginning, when one million trees were first planted and I’m proud to have continued this journey.

I still remember when the former First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, visited us. It was a moment of great pride.

My favourite tree is the African mahogany, and I have personally planted more than 2,000 of them.

Planting trees is an investment in the future, if we don’t plant today, we won’t have the trees or the seeds for tomorrow.

When it rains like this, I see it as a blessing.

The more trees we have, the more the rain returns, and the climate has already begun to improve.

It used to be very hot, but now it feels much better. The trees are truly making a difference”.

One of the most inspiring parts of the programme is the leadership of women. Women in Mbale are often the ones managing food, water, and family wellbeing, all of which are hit hardest by climate change. When women lead tree-growing initiatives, the outcomes are amazing with real, measurable impact. When women thrive, communities thrive. And when communities thrive, forests thrive.

I visited Butta and met Kituti Florence, who told me about the importance of fuel-efficient wood lorena stoves in her community. She told me

“Everyone in this association uses a Lorena stove. The stove requires only three pieces of wood per day, compared to 80 pieces that were needed when using a traditional three-stone fire to prepare a meal.

The Lorena stove allows multiple pots to be cooked at the same time, significantly reducing cooking time. Additionally, the stoves retain heat for several hours.

Before the introduction of the Lorena stove, husbands often waited in the kitchen for meals, which sometimes led to frustration and anger. With faster cooking times, meal preparation is more efficient, and there has been a noticeable reduction in domestic conflict”.

I also met Mutonti Margaret Kiabire. She serves as a trainer and peacemaker in families and households. Since she began working in the community, domestic violence has decreased. People often turn to her when there are problems in their homes, and she serves as a neutral mediator, guiding individuals and families toward reconciliation.

Margaret is a trained gender champion thanks to the project, and a leadership trainee who currently serves as a local council representative.

She plays an active role in her community by helping families resolve conflicts.

Over the years, Margaret has witnessed positive changes in her community, including a noticeable reduction in domestic violence.

While challenges remain, she believes the situation has significantly improved.

Beyond her mediation work, Margaret also mentors younger women in the community, training them to support others and continue her work in promoting harmony and conflict resolution.

Talking to Wabule Alice Usyears in Butta about the importance of tree growing, she said:

“Tree species such as pawpaw grow very well in this area. Calliandra is excellent for livestock fodder. The trees bring real benefits, and people appreciate it.

“They are also planting jackfruit and guava, which are very good for nutrition. We practice intercropping and grow the trees with our crops and the trees provide a valuable source of fodder for animals”.

It is incredible how much can be achieved with on-going support over 11 years of investment from the Welsh Government in this outstanding partnership. The total investment in growing all these wonderful trees over the last 15 years is around £270,000 per annum. That’s around 0.001% of the Welsh Government’s annual budget. This is what climate leadership looks like. This is what partnership looks like. This is what hope looks like.

And it’s happening right now, rooted in the red soils of Mbale, and reaching all the way back to Wales.

Nicola Pulman, Director