Ambiance Tree Farm Species
Species
Ambiance Tree Farm produces species of eucalyptus, pines and spruce originating from Europe and the South African region. Our trees grow in the East African tropical regions, for example in Masaka, Gomba and Buikwe along the equator, giving them access to sufficient rainfall and sunlight for growth, strength and resilience. Slow growth gives them extraordinary resistant properties thanks to their very dense growth rings.
Eucalyptus
This is the most grown type of tree in Ambiance Tree Farm. The farm uses improved seeds of Eucalyptus Grandis (GU) to produce large, straight stems of trees that are then turned into utility poles. The farm imports the seedlings from South Africa. This is because the South African eucalyptus grandis seed is mostly clean (chaff-removed) and produces well over one million plants per kilogramme. These have potential to provide the business with a good income from two to three years (building poles), large poles by six to eight years and timber from around 12 years onwards. Eucalyptus Grandis (GU) grows well in hilly humid tropical areas and the Equatorial Lake Victoria shores that we operate in.
Pine
Ambiance Tree Farm also grows variant species of pines. The farm grows species like Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis (PCH). This particular species can grow very fast in most areas in Central Uganda, with mean annual increments exceeding 30m3/ha. These pines produce a very versatile, generalpurpose timber, which is now widely accepted by timber buyers and the Ugandan public. The farm main pine species is PCH because it suits the climatic conditions of the Farm’s plantations.
Pine
Pinerequires a tropical and humid climate, with Mean Annual Rainfall (MAR) of over 1500mm for optimum growth- which conditions are all available in all Ambiance locations. The other reason why the farm ventured into pine growing is that PCH can resist moderate droughts that occur in dry seasons of Uganda. The trees grow on wide variety of soil types but require a well-drained soil (and at least 600mm rooting depth) for good growth. In Uganda, it grows up at altitudes up to 1500m but prefers the lower altitudes.
Araucaria/ araucana
One of the three leading species of trees that Ambiance Tree Farms grow is Araucaria. The farm has ten acres of this rare tree in Masaka. It is commonly called “alcaria”, the monkey puzzle tree, monkey tail tree, piñonero, pewen or Chilean pine). Ambiance Tree Farm has ventured into the growth of this evergreen tree that is highly marketable and of rare species for most farmers in Uganda. The tree grows to 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) in diameter and 30–40 m (100–130 ft) in height. It is native to central and southern Chile and western Argentina. Araucaria araucana is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria. The farm intends to export the logs and poles from this tree to the United Kingdom and the European Union.
