The Association for the Conservation of Bugoma Forest (ACBF) in
2017 started important projects in its effort to continue activities for the
conservation of Bugoma Forest and the chimpanzees in Hoima District.
Particularly on 21st March 2017 in the occasion of
the International Day of Forests which was organised by the Association and celebrated
in Mwera Eco-tourist site of Bugoma, it was
launched the first program of the private patrol to help National Forest
Authority in monitoring and curbing illegal activities. Especially from 2016 it
was recorded a rampant escalation in illegal logging for hard timber (mahogany);
illegal cattle grazing which lead to burning of large extensions of forest for
pastures; and huge encroachment of a protected areas for agriculture. Certainly
the conservation level was negatively affected by the intention by Bunyoro
Kitara Kingdom to give away 30% of the forest for sugar plantation in favor of
the investor Hoima Sugar Works. The matter seems being blocked to date, but the
destruction which took place is still burning.
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| Chimp T-RAP Patrol team in April 2017 |
Therefore, the Association took the decision to enter into
action with a team of five people paid under the project “Chimp T-RAP Patrol”. From
1st April our team is regularly providing patrol and gaining
intelligence which is already bringing positive results.
Another
project which is on and crucial in our efforts is the development of the public
nursery bed started in 2016 which is providing indigenous
seedlings and tropical trees to those institutions and farmers interested to
make contract to extend their tree cover for purpose of Agroforestry and the protection
of water sources. The nursery is the only current relevant indigenous tree
nursery found in the Bugoma Forest surrounding areas.
Between
2016 and 2017 eco-tourist activities were initiated and promoted in Bugoma
Forest, particularly targeting to see the endemic Ugandan Mangabeys.
It
came to our attention that UNRA is planning to develop heavy traffic tarmac
roads inside Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, including the Mwera –Kaseeta road which
is the heart of eco-tourism and biodiversity. The pressure group of the
Association is working on having the concern tabled at the relevant
institutions.
The Association is having its second Annual General Meeting
on Friday 26th May 2017
at the office in Robert Mugabe Plot 2B Kinawataka-Mbuya, Kampala at 3:00PM, where
corporate and individual members will elect the new board and discuss the way
forward.
You can support the Association by becoming a
member, by making a donation or buying the specially made items under the
Chimpanzee Go” fundraising initiative
