The forestry authority does not sell forests
Dec 16, 2008
<b>By Moses Watasa</b><br><br>Last week, an anxious ‘army’ of fishermen from Mukono district turned up at the National Forestry Authority (NFA) offices with a curious proposition. “We would like to buy 200 acres of Namyoya forest reserve,†group leader Latif Malimbo declared. “We are boo
By Moses Watasa
Last week, an anxious ‘army’ of fishermen from Mukono district turned up at the National Forestry Authority (NFA) offices with a curious proposition. “We would like to buy 200 acres of Namyoya forest reserve,†group leader Latif Malimbo declared. “We are booking for priority consideration once NFA is cleared to resume selling forests,†he added.
The traders’ inquiry was premised on media reports that the President had directed NFA to halt ‘selling forests’. However, we told Malimbo that NFA has only been issuing tree-planting licenses to communities and individuals.
Unlike sale transactions under which land ownership changes hands, a licence only entitles the holder to tree-planting for a specific period, usually in degraded or open areas in forest reserves. As such, the licencee owns the trees, while the forest land remains the Government property, managed by NFA.
Issuance of planting licenses is provided for under Section 41 of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003: “A responsible body may subject to the management plan, grant a licence to an interested person for the sustainable utilisation and management of the forest reserve or community forest,†and “A responsible body shall, in accordance with regulations, prescribe the terms, conditions, rights and fees for a licence granted under Section 41.â€
Licences are issued after advertising, screening and evaluating applicants to ascertain ability and a commitment towards compliance with management plans and the requisite guidelines. Licencees are, for instance, required to desist from illegal tree-felling, charcoal-burning and sand-mining. NFA has cancelled some planters’ licences due to deviance and indulgence in some of these activities.
The licence duration is pegged on the gestation period of the tree species in question. A licence renewal is possible after submission of expression of interest for consideration.
With over 30,000 hectares planted by January 2008, licensed tree-planting has significantly supplemented NFA’s efforts towards afforestation in Uganda. Under an entitlement to licences of at least 5% of forests within their vicinity, communities have improved their incomes through planting fast-growing trees. Some locals around forests like Kasana-Kasambya, Budongo, Nsekuro Hills, Kachung and Wiceri have transited from rural peasants to urban traders using proceeds from tree-sales.
For NFA, the licensing partnership has greatly improved relations with forest-adjacent communities because it empowers and provides them a stake in the forestry sector.
Large-scale tree-planters have also benefited from the licensing arrangement, including some recipients of subsidies from the Saw Log Production Scheme. Trees owned by such private planters will ease the growing timber and wood-fuel shortages and enhance conservation by reducing escalating pressure on protected forests.
In spite of challenges like cases of non-compliance with licence conditions, tree-planting licences have empowered communities. It is an option for landless people that should be considered for integration to hasten government’s poverty eradication programmes like the Bonna Bagaggawale.
NFA is using the ongoing suspension of issuance of fresh tree-planting licences to review the guidelines and plug-up loopholes which unscrupulous individuals have exploited to indulge in prohibited activities.
While the adjusted guidelines will improve licensing, they will remain within the law and as such no clauses on selling forests can be anticipated.
Accordingly, the enterprising fishermen from Mukono and others with buying interests in forest reserves should be taking a closer look at the alternatives.
The writer is the public relations manager, NFA
lSend a topical opinion with your picture to guestwriter@newvision.co.ug. We take 600 words only
Last week, an anxious ‘army’ of fishermen from Mukono district turned up at the National Forestry Authority (NFA) offices with a curious proposition. “We would like to buy 200 acres of Namyoya forest reserve,†group leader Latif Malimbo declared. “We are booking for priority consideration once NFA is cleared to resume selling forests,†he added.
The traders’ inquiry was premised on media reports that the President had directed NFA to halt ‘selling forests’. However, we told Malimbo that NFA has only been issuing tree-planting licenses to communities and individuals.
Unlike sale transactions under which land ownership changes hands, a licence only entitles the holder to tree-planting for a specific period, usually in degraded or open areas in forest reserves. As such, the licencee owns the trees, while the forest land remains the Government property, managed by NFA.
Issuance of planting licenses is provided for under Section 41 of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003: “A responsible body may subject to the management plan, grant a licence to an interested person for the sustainable utilisation and management of the forest reserve or community forest,†and “A responsible body shall, in accordance with regulations, prescribe the terms, conditions, rights and fees for a licence granted under Section 41.â€
Licences are issued after advertising, screening and evaluating applicants to ascertain ability and a commitment towards compliance with management plans and the requisite guidelines. Licencees are, for instance, required to desist from illegal tree-felling, charcoal-burning and sand-mining. NFA has cancelled some planters’ licences due to deviance and indulgence in some of these activities.
The licence duration is pegged on the gestation period of the tree species in question. A licence renewal is possible after submission of expression of interest for consideration.
With over 30,000 hectares planted by January 2008, licensed tree-planting has significantly supplemented NFA’s efforts towards afforestation in Uganda. Under an entitlement to licences of at least 5% of forests within their vicinity, communities have improved their incomes through planting fast-growing trees. Some locals around forests like Kasana-Kasambya, Budongo, Nsekuro Hills, Kachung and Wiceri have transited from rural peasants to urban traders using proceeds from tree-sales.
For NFA, the licensing partnership has greatly improved relations with forest-adjacent communities because it empowers and provides them a stake in the forestry sector.
Large-scale tree-planters have also benefited from the licensing arrangement, including some recipients of subsidies from the Saw Log Production Scheme. Trees owned by such private planters will ease the growing timber and wood-fuel shortages and enhance conservation by reducing escalating pressure on protected forests.
In spite of challenges like cases of non-compliance with licence conditions, tree-planting licences have empowered communities. It is an option for landless people that should be considered for integration to hasten government’s poverty eradication programmes like the Bonna Bagaggawale.
NFA is using the ongoing suspension of issuance of fresh tree-planting licences to review the guidelines and plug-up loopholes which unscrupulous individuals have exploited to indulge in prohibited activities.
While the adjusted guidelines will improve licensing, they will remain within the law and as such no clauses on selling forests can be anticipated.
Accordingly, the enterprising fishermen from Mukono and others with buying interests in forest reserves should be taking a closer look at the alternatives.
The writer is the public relations manager, NFA
lSend a topical opinion with your picture to guestwriter@newvision.co.ug. We take 600 words only