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Farming, tree felling hurt Hoima forests
Part of Kasongoire Forest Reserve that has been destroyed by encroachers in Hoima District. PHOTO BY FRANCIS MUGERWA
What you need to know:
Eleven forest reserves in Hoima District face extinction, following increased encroachment.
Environmental conservationists on Wednesday said the 61,170 hectares of the central forest reserves had been threatened by cultivation, timber harvesting, charcoal burning and cattle grazing.
“Bugoma (forest reserve) is the best protected forest, but the remaining 10 reserves are facing constant threats from encroachers,” the Hoima National Forestry Authority manager, Mr Robert Owinyi, said.
Mr Owinyi was meeting with officials from the Anti- Corruption Coalition of Uganda and the midwestern regional Anti-Corruption Coalition (Mirac), who are implementing a project aimed at curbing illegalities in the forestry and wildlife sectors.
He said in Ibamba Forest Reserve, encroachers were not willing to drive their cattle out of the area.
In Kasongoire Forest, residents reportedly want to plant sugarcane in the protected area, while Kyahaiguru Forest has many licensed tree farmers, but encroachers often burn it and graze their cows.
“Bujaawe forest has a new wave of encroachment from immigrants who include Congolese. They have set up makeshift structures and are cultivating,” Mr Owinyi said.
National Forestry Authority (NFA) officials, however, signed a collaborative forest management pact with neighbours of Wambabya Forest in Buseruka Sub-county.
“The community is very vigilant and has gone ahead to arrest encroachers who they handover to police. Community vigilance has reduced encroachment from 300 hectares to less than 100 hectares,” Mr Owinyi added.
Forest supervisors said encroachers are often active in protected forests at night to avoid being detected by law enforcement officials.
The Mirac coordinator, Mr Martin Zinira, urged various stakeholders to support NFA’s efforts to curb illegalities in the protected forests.
