Budongo Forest Reserve
By Kato Paul
Worth Noting:
- Recently the media reported about the residents of Isingoro district grappling with climatic challenges because they cleared all the trees in their area to burn charcoal, cut timber and favor agricultural activities especially the plantation of bananas which serve as the source of food and income.
- Today the district is threatened by a serious climatic challenges resulting from the massive destruction of the forests in the district. The climatic challenges include flooding, prolonged drought as well as change of seasons. It is also noted that the district is hit by lack of enough fire woods which is used by biggest population in the district.
Like most of the natural forests across the country, even Mujuzi Forest reserve is under attack by both local members of the community and entrepreneurs who have cleared a large part of this forest to establish pineapple and coffee agricultural field.
In addition to that other local people in the area have penetrated deep in the forest to carry out charcoal burning, to do massive trans-night timber cutting and transportation. This done by people who are not yet identified. It is believed that the people invading the forest are from distant places. The massive destruction of the forests across the country is likely to put a big threat on environment, people’s livelihoods and the country’s economy.
Recently the media reported about the residents of Isingoro district grappling with climatic challenges because they cleared all the trees in their area to burn charcoal, cut timber and favor agricultural activities especially the plantation of bananas which serve as the source of food and income.
Today the district is threatened by a serious climatic challenges resulting from the massive destruction of the forests in the district. The climatic challenges include flooding, prolonged drought as well as change of seasons. It is also noted that the district is hit by lack of enough fire woods which is used by biggest population in the district. This has pushed up the price of charcoal to sixty thousand shilling per sucker which is difficult for the poor Ugandans.
The above scenario’s happening Isingiro are likely to take place across the country especially where there is massive destructions of the forests like in Bunyoro sub region and Greater Masake.
The Ugandans needs to respect the natural forests because they play a big role to the environment, people’s livelihoods and country’s economy. The forest reserves needs to protected because provide hub for natural herbs to local communities and a myriad of raw materials for craft making and other income generating activities and hence contribute to the socio-economic welfare of the population, serves cultural purposes ,help to attract rainfall, home of wild animals, sources of water, food among other values
The human activities taking in Mujuzi forest reserve in Masaka and other forests across the country are not going provide the socio services that are provided by forests across the country.
Therefore , I call on the government of Uganda to use the planned money for the parish development model to engage the parishes across the country to invest the money in environmentally friendly activities like tree fruit growing, bee keeping , fish rearing and other that will stop people from encroaching the forests, invest in clean energy which reduce the pressure on forest fire wood and charcoal and then put in place the environmental laws that will reduce the encroachment of the forest in the country.
Kato Paul-Research Associate at Africa institute for Energy Governance AFIEGO).
Katop.adyeeri@gmail.com
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