SAWLOG PRODUCTION GRANT SCHEME
Download the SPGS Brochure here
spgs news 26 (dec 2009) is here
SPGS Phase II DETAILs are out! find out more from HERE
THE REVISED VERSION OF OUR POPULAR SPGS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS GUIDELINE-OCT 2009 IS HERE
New to SPGS? Since 2004 we have been supporting the private sector in Uganda to grow trees. Not just any trees mind you but fast growing, high yielding timber plantations no less! We do this with a combination of financial (establishment subsidies) and technical support to tree growers large and small - including community groups. It is clearly working: to find out how read our FAQ v.5 (Click here). We also have a good summary of the background and achievements of the project 2004-08 available too (see Paul Jacovelli's paper here). And don’t forget our very readable and highly illustrated, quarterly Newsletter too – find the latest issue number 25 here.
SPGS Phase II Funding
is now secured. The financing agreements between our donors (European Union and Government of Norway) and the Government of Uganda have both been signed. The EU has committed Euro10 Million and the GoN has committed NOK 36 Million towards the Phase II of the SPGS Project. The target is to support the planting of 30,000 ha of commercial tree plantations by the private sector in Uganda by 2013.
But remember – no contract: no funding and we do not pay retrospectively for trees planted before contracts are signed.
The occasion above was the signing of a four-year financial agreement between the Governments of Uganda and Norway, which took place in the grand Boardroom of at the Ministry of Finance on the 13th October 2009. Ambassador Bjørg Leite (Royal Norwegian Embassy), signed on behalf f the Government of Norway and Hon. Syda Bumba (Uganda’s Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development) represented the Government of Uganda. The Government of Norway has committed NOK 36 Million (around Ushs 11b) which will enable the SPGS to support not just many thousands of hectares of new tree planting but will create huge rural employment and attract massive additional investment into the sector. Both the Minister of Finance and the Norwegian Ambassador highlighted that the funding will contribute in major way to Uganda’s efforts to tackling climate change.
The EU’s Head of Delegation in Uganda, Vincent de Visscher, can be seen in the above photo along with Hon. Syda Bumba, Uganda's Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The occasion was the official signing of the EU’s support to the SPGS (to the tune of €10m).
The SPGS’s Plantation Guidelines for Uganda started out life as individual Plantation Guidelines and many were printed and disseminated to growers (and potential growers) throughout the 1st Phase of the project. We decided that the end of Phase I was an appropriate time to update all previous ones as well as complete those we had promised for a while. The result is a 287-page plantation manual (like the trees here, it just kept on growing!), explaining how best to establish and manage tree plantations in the region. The focus is on practical advice for growing timber crops, with just a hint of science to explain why we recommend certain practices.
Those who have no experience of commercial forestry shouldn’t be worried: the book is aimed largely at non-foresters and is highly illustrated with good and bad practices from within and beyond Uganda. Free copies are available to all SPGS clients and partners from Phase I (2004-08) from our Kampala office. To all others, copies are being sold at just UGX 40,000 (US$20) – the bargain of the century. Alternatively you can download each Chapter free of charge following the link below. Don’t ever say we are not generous to you at the SPGS!
+ Links to Guidelines
Link to older news here
COMING SOON ...... Details on the all improved SPGS Community Planting Initiative strategy
Page last updated on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 9:52:17 AM
