Vanishing Canopies: Uganda's Battle Against Rapid Deforestation.

Briefs.

• Uganda’s forest cover had dropped to 9%, representing a 3% decline in just two years.

• Despite efforts made to restore the forest cover, the population has not been fully involved in this restoration process.

• Collaboration is key for preserving forests and ensuring a sustainable future for our posterity.

In the heart of East Africa lies Uganda, a nation renowned for its beautiful landscapes and diverse ecosystems. However, beneath this green canopy, a crisis is unfolding at an alarming speed. Uganda’s forest cover is disappearing rapidly.

According to the 2020 Joint Water and Environment Sector Review Report carried out by the Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda’s forest cover had dropped to 9%, representing a 3% decline in just two years. The report also revealed that thousands of hectares of Mabira Forest had been degraded. It indicates that 4,755 hectares of Mabira were mapped as degraded or understocked, and 1,500 hectares were under restoration.

According to Global Forest Watch, in districts such as Mukono, Mpigi, Luwero, Mubende, Kyenjojo, Kiboga, Hoima, Mbarara, and Gulu, numerous trees have been cut down for years due to multiple factors, namely: agriculture, cultivation, settlement, and charcoal production. Despite efforts made to restore the forest cover, the population has not been fully involved in this restoration process due to several interconnected factors. First, there is a significant lack of awareness and education about the importance and benefits of forest restoration among the public. Most people who live in proximity to forested areas often rely on these forests for their livelihoods, such as through small-scale agriculture and charcoal production. These activities have led to deforestation and degradation simply because local communities are not provided with ample information or alternative livelihoods that are sustainable and forest-friendly.

Secondly, there are financial limitations that prevent effective community participation. Many people live in poverty and are focused on immediate survival needs rather than long-term environmental sustainability. Without monetary incentives and adequate support, it is very difficult to involve them in restoration operations. Moreover, there are problems linked to land tenure and governance. Disputed land rights can demotivate people from engaging in restoration initiatives. Furthermore, forest clearance can worsen climate change by reducing carbon sequestration and escalating greenhouse gas emissions.

What should therefore be done? There is need of rigorous enforcement of laws protecting forests, accompanied by penalties for illegal land clearance and logging. To add on this, we need to promote enhance sustainable practices like reforestation and selective logging as a bid of mitigating this menace. Education campaigns shouldn't be sidelined, they consolidate the vitality of forests in climate regulation and biodiversity regulation. We can as well foster international forest collaboration policies that fund initiatives which ensure long-term sustainability and resilience against deforestation pressures.

Through such comprehensive measures can we preserve our forests for the coming generations.

Conclusively, as we confront rapid deforestation that is threatening our biodiversity, we need to incorporate awareness, sustainable livelihoods, and better governance as the key solutions. Collaboration is key for preserving forests and ensuring a sustainable future for our posterity.

The writer is a Communication’s student at Uganda Christian University.