Background: the importance of Bugoma
Forest
Bugoma
Central Forest Reserve, with about 410 sq km of protected area, a long forested
stretch of about 40 km, was rated 12 out of 65 forests surveyed in Uganda for
biodiversity importance. Bugoma is the largest remaining block of forest along
the Albertine Rift Valley between Budongo and Semliki and it is a chimpanzee
sanctuary.
Mission of the campaign
To
work for the conservation of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve and neighboring
buffer zones areas, working with stakeholders and changing the current trend of
deforestation in both protected forest and the private lands.
 |
| Deforestation along the boundaries of the Forest, March 2014 |
Problematic issues
observed in Bugoma Forest and surroundings:
-Rampant
deforestation in and around Bugoma, Hoima District, affecting protected areas
but also the private lands.
-The
forest boundaries are not clear and much area is degraded.
-Timber
“mafia” type of society is affecting the lives of people living around Bugoma.
-The
chimpanzee of Bugoma forest are “beleaguered” and endangered as the wildlife
migratory corridors between Bugoma and Budongo are disappearing with the loss
of habitats.
-The
control of the forest by the police and forestry authorities is not sufficient
and more concerted efforts should be put in place and more partnership.
-NGOs
are not present in Bugoma forest
-The
private sector is not present in Bugoma
-Ugandan
Universities are not carrying out research in Bugoma
-The
future construction of an oil refinery near the forest is a serious threat.
-Bugoma
forest does not host any eco-tourist site.
Objectives, ideas and actions of the
campaign:
-A
partnership approach should be encouraged for the conservation of the forest,
involving the local communities and their leaders, as it is foreseen by the
National Forestry Act about the creation of Forest Committees to support the
management of the protected areas.
-A
request for expansion of the current protected area should be made and a clear
demarcation exercise of the boundaries, considering important sites and
wildlife corridors.
-
A joint effort public / private would help and bring more resources for the
protection of the forest
-In
the private areas and buffer zones, the District Forest Department should be
encouraged to enforce and enact more regulations for the conservation of
forests.
-Owners of private forests should be encouraged to
register their forests with the District Land Board and preserve them,
according to the Law cap 21.
-Incentives
for private forest owners are important and urgent for a better forest
management and to encourage reforestation.
-People
should be encouraged to purchase land with the purpose of protecting the
forest, in buffer zones areas.
-Carbon
incentives would also help to reduce the rate of deforestation and encouraging
active reforestation.
-The
degraded areas of the protected forest must be restocked.
-Universities
should start pilot projects of scientific research in and around Bugoma Central
Forest Reserve. This could also help policy makers and drive the efforts of
NGOs.
-An
urgent project is the restoration of the wildlife migratory corridor between
Bugoma and Budongo.
-NGOs
should come and invest in restoration of the forest, both in protected areas
and in private areas. NGOs should work with local communities creating income
generating activities (like crops incentives) and at the same time promoting
tree-planting and forest regeneration.
-Projects
can generate more jobs in the area and may help changing faster the current
trend of deforestation.
-Creating eco-tourism activities in Bugoma is crucial to
the future of the forest and should be encouraged. Licenses from National Forestry Authority should not only be given
for timber cutting, but also for eco-tourism.
Targeted groups:
-NFA
and District Forest Services
-Students
and Universities
-Civil
society organizations
-NGOs for the environment
-Private
sector enterprises (especially sugar cane and tea plantations)
-Private
forest owners
-Political
leaders
-Bunyoro
kingdom
-MediasVisit the Facebook Page for discussions and updates:
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