No one wants to destroy forests, please!

SIR-This is in reply to a letter bearing the above title by Mr Peter Abwooli Mbirora and Mr Joshua Akiiki Mwekomeho which appeared in The New Vision of April 21. Forest plantations like Katugo, Kikandwa, Lwampanga and many others like them are planted for supply of timber. These forests have reached maturity, and are therefore being harvested according to the original objectives. If they are not harvested they tend to die, as is now happening in forest plantations in Mbarara and Kabarole district. The concerns about replanting are understandable. However, it is not true that there is "no replanting of a single tree for replacement." Efforts to replant have been undertaken by licensed saw-millers, and since last year by the Forest Department. One would establish this fact if one visited the plantations in Katugo, Oruha, Mafuga, Bugamba and Rwoho in Nakasongola, Kyenjojo, Kabale and Mbarara districts respectively. Admittedly, planting has not yet been able to match harvesting levels, but this is due to resource constraints. The Forestry Department has accordingly started encouraging the private sector to invest in growing timber plantations on Forest reserve land. The response has been good. However, it will take a few years for the areas planted today to form a closed canopy forest which everybody can see. Government is restructuring the Forestry Department into an autonomous body. The Authority will operate as a business organisation. Forest plantations will be one of its main sources of income and therefore, will be managed better by clients of the Authority. Nobody wants to see trees cut down without replacing them, more so the Forestry Department. Deo Byarugaba Ag. Commissioner for Forestry