Ntungamo, forestry body sign pact

Feb 13, 2007

COMMUNITIES living near Rwoho forest reserve and the National Forestry Authority (NFA) have signed an agreement under which the people will plant trees on part of the forest land.

By Raymond Baguma

COMMUNITIES living near Rwoho forest reserve and the National Forestry Authority (NFA) have signed an agreement under which the people will plant trees on part of the forest land.

The NFA public relations officer, Gastor Kiyingi, said the Rwoho Environmental Conservation and protection Association would be availed tree seedlings and land.

Kiyingi explained that the community would plant recommended species of pine, prunus africana and musizi on a 200-metre strip of land along the forest reserve boundary.

Acting NFA chief Hope Rwaguma signed the agreement on Friday with members of the association, which is under NFA’s collaborative forest management programme.

Rwoho central forest reserve measures 9,073 hectares and is shared by Isingiro, Mbarara and Ntungamo districts in southwestern Uganda.

Rwaguma said similar agreements have been signed with other communities in other parts of the country, which has eased the burden of managing forests by involving local communities.

She said: “Collaborative forest management is quite challenging and needs more support from stakeholders.”

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