Genesis Acaye is passionate about Jesus. He’s passionate about communities thriving in northern Uganda. And he’s passionate about the environment.

For BMS worker Genesis, these three things are inextricably entwined.

“The environment feeds us. Everything that we eat is because of the environment. Every problem that affects the environment affects us directly. It affects food availability, food quality, food prices,” says Genesis. “Working to ensure the wider community is safe is good because you are supporting people’s health, people’s lives, and you’re also fulfilling the command from God to take care of what he’s given us.

There are devastating deforestation rates in Uganda. Over the past 25 years, the country has lost 63 per cent of its forest cover. This loss of trees has a huge impact on the environment – and also on people’s daily lives. Poverty rates have increased, with an estimated 10 million people now living below the poverty line. And with 90 per cent of the population relying on fuel woods for heating and cooking, sky-rocketing prices for wood and charcoal mean that many cannot afford to buy fuel. As a result, rare tree species are being cut down and forests are being destroyed for the charcoal trade.

Decline in soil fertility, increased erosion and erratic rainfall patterns are also contributing to this picture. There has been a general decline in crop yield and livelihoods and lives have been put at risk.

The problem is particularly great in northern Uganda, where people spent two decades living in Internally Displaced Person camps during the war.

More trees. Reduced fuel use. Sustainable farming.

Genesis and his team have a plan. They are selecting 30 households from two communities to take part in an agroforestry pilot project that will have long-lasting effects in the region. They are going to:

1. Train families to successfully plant and grow a range of trees, which will enable them to meet their immediate needs for food, income and fuel, AND help protect the environment through increased forest cover. Through two demonstration plots, and ongoing follow ups, households will learn to plant fruit trees (such as jackfruit, mango and pawpaw), timber trees, and umbrella trees on their land. Some of the trees will be used by the families, others will be left to grow into forests and will be managed and used sustainably.

By creating diverse forests on their land, families will increase carbon sequestration and reduce air pollution, as well as having improved soil fertility, less soil erosion, and clear boundaries to their land – reducing land wrangles and conflicts which are common in the region.

2. Train households to construct and use energy-saving stoves, reducing fuel use by 50 to 60 per cent compared with the commonly used three stone fire stoves.

3. Teach families about creation care, sustainable forestry and why it’s important to God. Genesis and the BMS-supported team will use the Bible to show how caring for creation is a command from God. The project will be run through local churches, and biblical principles will be central to the teaching.

4. Trained farmers will train others. The 30 families who have been trained in this project will be empowered to teach others the skills they have learnt – and sustainable agroforestry techniques will spread as these farmers teach and partner with their neighbours.

That’s all we’re asking you to do. By carbon offsetting as much of your Christmas as possible, you can be a catalyst for change in northern Uganda. You can help protect the environment. And you can help families grow food, improve their livelihoods, and teach others how to care for creation.

That’s all we’re asking you to do. By carbon offsetting as much of your Christmas as possible, you can be a catalyst for change in northern Uganda. You can help protect the environment. And you can help families grow food, improve their livelihoods, and teach others how to care for creation.

Carbon offsetting may sound complicated – but we’ve made it simple! We’ve got our very own carbon calculator, and you can enter in details like how many miles you (or your family) have travelled for Christmas, how much meat you’re eating, and how much you spent on posting Christmas cards. You can even offset some of your Christmas presents, like clothes and books!

BMS Agriculturist Genesis has been working to improve farming techniques in northern Uganda for years.