ACODE unfair to NFA on forest degradation
Mar 16, 2009
A report by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) a local NGO, is reported to have blamed National Forestry Authority (NFA) for deforestation of forest reserves.
By Moses Watasa
A report by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) a local NGO, is reported to have blamed National Forestry Authority (NFA) for deforestation of forest reserves.
The article was titled “NFA blamed for forests disappearance†on March 2.
In the story, a report on the management of central forest reserves is quoted in part and says: “It is surprising that the management of NFA has continued to transact business in an adhoc and unprofessional manner.â€
ACODE is reported to have forwarded the report to Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee, demanding urgent intervention.
NFA has unsuccessfully sought to obtain a copy of the report from ACODE to ascertain its scope, methodology and period under review. In light of the above excerpts, ACODE can be informed that: the Government decided to phase out the Forest Department in 1998.
Then NFA was established to restore the integrity of forest reserves. And NFA does this under the provisions of the National Forest Policy, 2001.
The forest body also utilises the National Forest Plan 2002 and the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003.
Within management plans, NFA undertakes continuous enrichment planting. The main focus being on indigenous trees to aid regeneration in natural forests.
In plantations, fast-growing imported species are planted to address timber needs in the country. This accounts for 7,200 hectares annually with 36,000 hectares planted since April 26, 2004.
Subject to availability of more resources, NFA aims to increase the acreage to 7,000 hectares per annum. However, even with fastest tree-growth rate, it is still not possible to restore all of Uganda’s 506 forest reserves in the five years of NFA’s existence.
There are still various conservation and restoration challenges. And these constrain professional management practices in forest reserves. For instance, we have over 300,000 encroachers occupying forest reserves countrywide. Unfortunately, NFA cannot evict them because an executive order halting eviction is still in place. To mitigate the damage by encroachers, NFA carries out expensive surveillance. This consumes resources that would go towards faster plantation expansion.
Managing forest reserves in a country with rapidly declining wood supplies is becoming risky business.
ACODE is probably aware of a painful incident on January 14, in which NFA officers Alfred Ezati and Emmanuel Asiimwe were slaughtered by illegal timber loggers in Jubiya forest in Masaka.
Other NFA officers have been assaulted and maimed. In spite of these challenges, NFA is carrying on with tree planting and general restoration of forest reserves. Beyond unfairly questioning the professionalism and management style of NFA, there are constructive options conservation partners like ACODE can consider. These options would be used to address some of the outstanding challenges to restoration of forest reserves.
MPs on the Natural Resources Committee have toured a number of reserves and pledged towards restoration endeavours.
NFA appreciates the support rendered by the MPs.
Therefore, while the extracts from ACODE’s report are curious and ‘depressing’, NFA is optimistic. Overall, NFA believes it will add value and contribute towards a better forestry sector in Uganda.
The writer is the public relations manager National Forestry Authority
A report by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) a local NGO, is reported to have blamed National Forestry Authority (NFA) for deforestation of forest reserves.
The article was titled “NFA blamed for forests disappearance†on March 2.
In the story, a report on the management of central forest reserves is quoted in part and says: “It is surprising that the management of NFA has continued to transact business in an adhoc and unprofessional manner.â€
ACODE is reported to have forwarded the report to Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee, demanding urgent intervention.
NFA has unsuccessfully sought to obtain a copy of the report from ACODE to ascertain its scope, methodology and period under review. In light of the above excerpts, ACODE can be informed that: the Government decided to phase out the Forest Department in 1998.
Then NFA was established to restore the integrity of forest reserves. And NFA does this under the provisions of the National Forest Policy, 2001.
The forest body also utilises the National Forest Plan 2002 and the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003.
Within management plans, NFA undertakes continuous enrichment planting. The main focus being on indigenous trees to aid regeneration in natural forests.
In plantations, fast-growing imported species are planted to address timber needs in the country. This accounts for 7,200 hectares annually with 36,000 hectares planted since April 26, 2004.
Subject to availability of more resources, NFA aims to increase the acreage to 7,000 hectares per annum. However, even with fastest tree-growth rate, it is still not possible to restore all of Uganda’s 506 forest reserves in the five years of NFA’s existence.
There are still various conservation and restoration challenges. And these constrain professional management practices in forest reserves. For instance, we have over 300,000 encroachers occupying forest reserves countrywide. Unfortunately, NFA cannot evict them because an executive order halting eviction is still in place. To mitigate the damage by encroachers, NFA carries out expensive surveillance. This consumes resources that would go towards faster plantation expansion.
Managing forest reserves in a country with rapidly declining wood supplies is becoming risky business.
ACODE is probably aware of a painful incident on January 14, in which NFA officers Alfred Ezati and Emmanuel Asiimwe were slaughtered by illegal timber loggers in Jubiya forest in Masaka.
Other NFA officers have been assaulted and maimed. In spite of these challenges, NFA is carrying on with tree planting and general restoration of forest reserves. Beyond unfairly questioning the professionalism and management style of NFA, there are constructive options conservation partners like ACODE can consider. These options would be used to address some of the outstanding challenges to restoration of forest reserves.
MPs on the Natural Resources Committee have toured a number of reserves and pledged towards restoration endeavours.
NFA appreciates the support rendered by the MPs.
Therefore, while the extracts from ACODE’s report are curious and ‘depressing’, NFA is optimistic. Overall, NFA believes it will add value and contribute towards a better forestry sector in Uganda.
The writer is the public relations manager National Forestry Authority