Download Consultations - Lancashire County Council

Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and the Environment
Meeting to be held on 20th April, 2009
Part I - Item No. 5
Electoral Division affected:
None
Lancashire – Gulu Carbon Compensation Scheme
(Appendix 'A' refers)
Contact for further information:
Fiona Cruchley, 01772 533906, Environment Directorate,
[email protected]
Executive Summary
The Cabinet Committee has previously agreed a contribution to initiate projects in a
carbon compensation scheme in Gulu, Uganda. This report outlines the continuing
progress of the projects in Uganda.
Recommendation
The Cabinet Committee is requested to note the third progress report from Gulu and
receive further updates as the projects are implemented.
Background and Advice
The aim of the Lancashire Gulu Carbon Compensation scheme is to help atone, in a
small way, for the disproportionate effect Lancashire’s carbon pollution is having on
developing countries. The United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) states that developing countries, such as Uganda, will be hardest hit
by climate change caused by developed countries such as the UK. The Lancashire
Gulu Carbon Compensation scheme seeks to help Gulu (a community in northern
Uganda) cope with the impact of a changing climate.
Last May, the Cabinet Committee welcomed representatives from Gulu Municipal
Council and the Gulu-Lancashire Local Agenda 21 Link association to the meeting
and discussed the proposed projects. The project was launched at the end of May
2008.
On 21st October 2008, the first progress report received from officers in Gulu was
presented. The second progress report was presented on 19th January 2009.
The attached Appendix 'A' is the third quarterly report on implementation of the
project, received from officers in Gulu. As detailed in the report, implementation of
-2the projects continues to progress effectively, despite delays in transferring finance
from Lancashire and the continuing delays in shipping the biodiesel kit.
Progress on specific projects is set out below:
Smallholder timber plantation project



Mahogany and teak tree seedlings in the nursery are now mature and ready
to be planted out in the field.
Distribution and planting out of mature tree seedlings will begin in the next
rainy season which begins in mid March 2009.
Pine and eucalyptus tree seedlings have germinated and will be ready for
planting out in April and May 2009.
Integrated Solid Waste Management Project


A consultant has been identified to carry out an environmental impact
assessment (EIA) for the proposed new refuse dump site located in
Bungateria sub county Gulu district.
Communities have been mobilized to actively participate in the ‘Keep Gulu
Clean and Green’ campaign every last Saturday of the month.
Agro Forestry and Organic Framing Project


Agro forestry and fruit tree seedlings are now mature and ready for
distribution and planting out in the field starting in March 2009.
Maesopsis eminii an agro forestry tree species is being raised in the tree
nursery for the next planting season.
Community Integrated Wetland Conservation and Management Project


Wetland management committees have been trained and empowered to
promote conservation and wise use of wetlands within their areas of
jurisdiction.
Inventory, surveying and mapping of the wetlands in the municipality is still
on-going and will continue in the next quarter.
Integrated Bee Keeping Project

Members who are already engaged in bee keeping have been encouraged to
continue with this activity, the project wil officially start in the second year as
planned.
Bio-Diesel Demonstration Project

The bio-diesel kit is expected in Uganda before Easter and we shall begin this
project as soon as we receive the bio-diesel processor.
-3The County Council has commenced work with the Lancashire – Gulu Link to market
the scheme to organisations, businesses and individuals with the aim of attracting
further external investment. In the next financial year, promotional work will focus on
local businesses, youth groups and churches. This will build on existing contacts
and interest from business and church groups and link with wider communications
activity through the My Lancashire, My Planet campaign.
Following the Cabinet Committee's agreement for the County Council to handle the
practical financial arrangements of collecting donations, the Lancashire-Gulu link
board has decided that the charity should undertake this. This will have the benefit
of allowing individual donations to be eligible for gift aid tax relief. This has resulted
in delays in finalising the marketing materials, which should be produced by May
2009.
Consultations
N/A.
Implications:
This item has the following implications, as indicated:
Financial implications
There are no financial implications of this report additional to commitments made on
19th November, 2007 when the project was approved. This commitment was
£27,000 in 2008/9, and £10,000 per annum in the 2 following years.
Risk management
The risks to the project were identified in the report considered on 19th November,
2007 prior to approval of the project. This report provides an update on the progress
of implementation.
Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985
List of Background Papers
Paper
Date
Contact/Directorate/Tel
Reports to Cabinet
Committee on Climate
Change and the
Environment - Carbon
Compensation Scheme
19th November, 2007,
6th May and 21st
October 2008
Jane Carrigan/
Environment/01772 534374
Reason for inclusion in Part II, if appropriate
N/A.