By Chris Ahimbisibwe

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) has entered into an agreement with four community-based organisations in Bushenyi district to conserve and manage Katsyoha-Kitomi forest.

The organisations’ activities will include tree-planting. They were connected to NFA by Nature Uganda, which is implementing the Participatory Environ-mental Management (PEMA II) project in Bushenyi, Ibanda and Kamwenge districts.

Paul Musamari, a representative from NFA, said they could not manage the forests without collaboration from the communities living near them.

He was speaking at the signing of the agreement at St. Francis Vocational School in Kyamuhunga sub-county, Bushenyi recently.

Musamari noted that the increasing population in the country was hurting natural resources, especially the forests, because communities carry out illegal deforestation to clear land for settlement and agriculture as well as get fuel.

He explained that NFA would work with the communities and give them tree seedlings and beehives. “The forests are facing pressure from all corners. That is why we are coming up with programmes to promote their sustainable use,” Musamari said.

He added that the increasing demand for timber because of the boom in the construction industry had also led to the reduction in forest coverage in the country.

PEMA II project manager Alex Aruho said the project targeted over 3,000 households living near forests.

These households have been encroaching on the forest because of lack of alternative sources of income and fuel.

“We are sensitising the people on how they can earn from the environment and conserve it at the same time,” Aruho said.