Govt has made sober decision on Mabira
Oct 21, 2007
EDITOR—It has been reported that the Government has dropped the controversial proposal to degazette a significant portion of Mabira natural rain forest in order to give land to SCOUL for sugar-cane cultivation.
EDITOR—It has been reported that the Government has dropped the controversial proposal to degazette a significant portion of Mabira natural rain forest in order to give land to SCOUL for sugar-cane cultivation.
Finance minister Ezra Suruma and water, lands and environment minister, Maria Mutagamba rea-affirm the government’s commitment to conserving the environment in general and forests in particular.
The government’s decision will be a huge relief for many people, considering that the proposed de-gazetting of Mabira evoked emotional over-flow and intermittent riots which culminated in loss of lives!
Apart from diffusing further public anxiety and the related regional and global environmental concerns, the bold decision underscores the government’s commitment to adhere to Section 29(1) of the of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003, which in part states: “All forest resources and their derivatives occurring within them shall be conserved and managed for the benefit of the people of Ugandaâ€.
Therefore, in addition to the obvious benefits accruing from forests like stabilising temperatures and climate, balancing eco-systems, tourism, maintaining water catchments and medicinal herbs, it is important to manage forest reserves and resources therein sustainably for the benefit of current and future generations.
While this function is the cardinal responsibility of the National Forestry Authority (NFA), it is important for all stake-holders, including government, civil society, development partners, environmentalists, investors, communities and the media to support efforts towards conserving and preserving forests in Uganda.
This will also involve a collective crusade against acts like encroachment on forest reserves, illegal timber logging, charcoal burning in forests and all forms misuse of forest resources.
Therefore, while 2007 is coming to an end, the government’s dropping of the proposal to degazette a segment of Mabira will surely go down in annual reviews as a land mark decision, that will be hailed for years.
It will also re-invigorate the commitment by the NFA towards preserving and maintaining central forest reserves.
While NFA commits to play its rightful role in preserving forests, continuous support from all stake-holders will be vital.
It will be a critical ingredient in the extent of success that NFA will register.
Moses W. Watasa Public Relations Manager
National Forestry Authority
Finance minister Ezra Suruma and water, lands and environment minister, Maria Mutagamba rea-affirm the government’s commitment to conserving the environment in general and forests in particular.
The government’s decision will be a huge relief for many people, considering that the proposed de-gazetting of Mabira evoked emotional over-flow and intermittent riots which culminated in loss of lives!
Apart from diffusing further public anxiety and the related regional and global environmental concerns, the bold decision underscores the government’s commitment to adhere to Section 29(1) of the of the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003, which in part states: “All forest resources and their derivatives occurring within them shall be conserved and managed for the benefit of the people of Ugandaâ€.
Therefore, in addition to the obvious benefits accruing from forests like stabilising temperatures and climate, balancing eco-systems, tourism, maintaining water catchments and medicinal herbs, it is important to manage forest reserves and resources therein sustainably for the benefit of current and future generations.
While this function is the cardinal responsibility of the National Forestry Authority (NFA), it is important for all stake-holders, including government, civil society, development partners, environmentalists, investors, communities and the media to support efforts towards conserving and preserving forests in Uganda.
This will also involve a collective crusade against acts like encroachment on forest reserves, illegal timber logging, charcoal burning in forests and all forms misuse of forest resources.
Therefore, while 2007 is coming to an end, the government’s dropping of the proposal to degazette a segment of Mabira will surely go down in annual reviews as a land mark decision, that will be hailed for years.
It will also re-invigorate the commitment by the NFA towards preserving and maintaining central forest reserves.
While NFA commits to play its rightful role in preserving forests, continuous support from all stake-holders will be vital.
It will be a critical ingredient in the extent of success that NFA will register.
Moses W. Watasa Public Relations Manager
National Forestry Authority