Abstract:

In 2002 NaFORRI with funding from Gatsby Charitable Foundation of UK (GCT) acquired 12 Eucalyptus clonal hybrids from Mondi Forests Limited of South Africa through a brokerage by ISAAA, based in Kenya. Plants from the first consignment of these clones were used for establishing trials for site matching at Ilculwe, Serere, Ngeta, Abi and Kifu. The plants from the second consignment in 2003 were used for establishing similar trials at Mukongoro, Katakwi, Apala, Akol, Kigumba, Kyembogo, Bugonzi, Katooma, Nyabushabi and Katyaza expanding the nuber of trial sites to fithteen. Data on clonal performance for the last seven years at these sites have been used to select and recommend site-specific clones for forest plantation development throughout Uganda (Epila-Otara and Ndhokero 2009). Sale statistics from the three commercial clonal nurseries which are run by Gatsby Club, Uganda show very clearly the rapid adoption of clones for private plantation development. Nevertheless, the farmers have raised the question of coppicing management of the Eucalyptus clonal hybrids in woodlots at rotation of 6-8 years of growth.