Over 1 million hectares saved from illegal encroachment
The National Forestry Authority (NFA) in collaboration with TotalEnergies EP launched a campaign dubbed ‘One-Plat-One-Tree’ based on environment conservation plus restoration actions to achieve neutrality by 2050.
A total of 1,190,191 hectares out of the 1,265,000 hectares from 506 Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) were protected from illegal activities including encroachment in 16 management areas across the country.
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
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KAMPALA - A total of 1,190,191 hectares out of the 1,265,000 hectares from 506 Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) were protected from illegal activities including encroachment in 16 management areas across the country.
The latest government statistics released last week by the Ministry of Finance indicate that about 13,659 hectares of the annual target of 10,000 hectares was freed from encroachment through evictions and restored with high-value indigenous tree species and bamboo.
According to the National budget outlook for the 2024/25 Fiscal Year, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) launched the Environment License Management Information System (ELMIS) that would enable online submission of project briefs and reports, through evaluation and assessment of projects, efficient certificate issuance and license application management.
The National Forestry Authority (NFA) in collaboration with TotalEnergies EP launched a campaign dubbed ‘One-Plat-One-Tree’ based on environment conservation plus restoration actions to achieve neutrality by 2050.
In an effort to restore Mabira Central Forest Reserve, TotalEnergies committed to planting indigenous trees on 89 acres.
The National Forestry Authority (NFA) also signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding with TotalEnergies to conserve Budongo, Uganda’s largest Forest Reserve. Budongo is home to 600-800 chimpanzees and the largest mahogany forest in East Africa.
NEMA’s achievements in 2023/24 financial year
Uganda increased its ambition to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 22 percent to 24.7% in the new climate change plans i.e. the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in fulfillment of the aspiration of the Paris Agreement.
The European Union committed to avail grant financing to Uganda of about Shs165 billion to tackle the root causes of deforestation while promoting reforestation and sustainable economic development.
The Environment Protection Force and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions handled 110 cases as a result of violation of the National Environment Act, 2019, and the attendant regulations.
NEMA carried out 193 environment compliance and audit inspections i.e. 32 compliance monitoring Inspections mainly for industrial faculties, 22 EA verification inspections to inform EA reviews, 31 intelligence information gatherings, 93 impromptu inspections mainly targeting wetlands and 46 noise monitoring inspections for noise generating sources, especially around Kampala Metropolitan Area.
Uganda partially subscribed to the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This is a multilateral environmental agreement that addresses specific human activities that are contributing to widespread mercury pollution.
Government partially subscribed to the Convention on Biological Diversity whose main objectives are conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, as well as fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.
Challenges
Experts have warned that Uganda may suffer a 6% loss of its GDP under global warming compared to a no climate-change scenario by 2050.