Protecting "Women’s Gold": The Fight to Save Uganda's Shea Trees

Mustafa Gerima, also known as "Mr Shea," is mobilizing communities in Uganda to combat deforestation affecting shea nut trees, essential for producing shea butter—often referred to as "women's gold." Amid poverty and climate challenges, he advocates for sustainable practices and reforestation efforts to secure both livelihood and heritage.

In Uganda, Mustafa Gerima, a dedicated environmentalist better known as "Mr Shea," is spearheading efforts to conserve the country’s dwindling population of shea trees, integral to the production of shea butter, often called "women's gold." This initiative arises amidst alarming deforestation driven by local communities turning to shea trees for charcoal production, which they deem more lucrative compared to extracting oil from their fruit.

After witnessing the alarming changes six years ago upon returning to his homeland from teaching, Gerima devoted himself to the cause of protecting shea trees from the Mount Kei Central Forest Reserve. He discovered that what was once a verdant area rich with shea trees, was now a desolate landscape marked by tree stumps.

Gerima travels through the northwest villages, educating locals on the importance of these trees, which had previously supported their livelihoods. "In the past, shea nut trees followed a flowering pattern that bears fruit regularly. However, climate change has disrupted this cycle," he noted, highlighting the direct influence of prolonged droughts on shea nut production.

Uganda suffers an annual loss of approximately 100,000 hectares of forest, with shea nut trees significantly affected, according to the environment ministry. Once popular for its lucrative fruit, local reliance on charcoal, which burns longer and provides immediate financial relief, has worsened the plight of shea trees. For people like Mariam Chandiru, a local shea butter producer in Koboko, this has been devastating: "My business is collapsing... I used to sell up to five jerry cans of shea oil weekly, now it's down to two."

Historically, the gathering of shea nuts has been a woman's role in Uganda, crucial for both economic support and family sustenance. However, a long history of insecurity due to conflicts, notably involving the Lord's Resistance Army, has derailed communal efforts to protect these resources. As villages were abandoned for safety, the sense of ownership and traditional knowledge regarding the shea trees vanished.

Prof. John Bosco Okullo, an agroforestry expert, corroborates Gerima’s observations about climate change and its detrimental effects, stating the shea trees are no longer fruiting as before due to erratic rainfall patterns. Additionally, rapid urbanization is pressing the trees further into decline as developments encroach on natural habitats.

Despite these obstacles, initiatives to rejuvenate shea populations are underway. Gerima’s 19-day walk from Kampala to Nairobi raised moderate awareness, while new partnerships between NGOs are seeing communities engaged in tree planting and conservation awareness. Employing scientific and technological advances, experts are now using AI to map mature trees and predict yields, encouraging efficient harvesting practices.

In 2023, the Ugandan government attempted to protect shea trees by making it illegal to cut them down for charcoal, yet enforcement remains a challenge due to high urban demand. As Gerima continues his advocacy efforts, including creating local monitoring initiatives and integrating conservation into school programs, he emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility: "We need to think about our future generations," he implored.

The future of Uganda's shea trees is precarious, yet Gerima and his allies strive to ensure that future generations will inherit robust ecosystems, not just a memory of fallen giants.