Reviving Efforts to Conserve Uganda's Endangered Forests

In Adjumani District, authorities have revolved sub-county environment and natural resources committees to counter deforestation, which has pushed tree species such as Afzelia-Africana, shea nut, and mahogany to the brink of extinction. The Zoka Central Forest Reserve has been severely degraded due to timber, firewood, and charcoal production. Local leaders have partnered with the Uganda Refugee Resilience Initiative to address the issue, which has been exacerbated by an influx of refugees and rising population.

Key Takeaways:

• The formation of sub-county environment and natural resources committees is crucial in coordinating environmental protection efforts at the local level, said Charles Giyaya, district natural resources officer.
• The committees consist of various stakeholders, including the Office of the Resident District Commissioner, LC5 Chairperson, CAO, District Natural Resources Office, Refugee Desk Office, UNHCR, and cultural leaders.
• The crisis has led to a significant loss of natural forest cover, with Adjumani losing 3.25 km² of forest in 2024, equivalent to 1.39 Mt of CO2 emissions, according to Global Forest Watch statistics.
• The district had 102 km² of natural forest in 2020, covering over 33 percent of its land area, but the humid primary forest area decreased by 2.3 percent from 2002 to 2024, with 22 ha lost.
• Local leaders have appealed for stronger law enforcement to curb environmental degradation, while Assistant Resident District Commissioner Sharon Apio urged collaboration between district leaders and residents to safeguard the environment.
• The formation of the committees is part of Uganda's commitment to decentralised environmental governance, first formalised under the National Environment Act of 1995.

Statistics:

• Adjumani lost 3.25 km² of natural forest in 2024, equivalent to 1.39 Mt of CO2 emissions.
• The district had 102 km² of natural forest in 2020, covering over 33 percent of its land area.
• From 2002 to 2024, Adjumani lost 22 ha of humid primary forest, making up 0.12 percent of its total tree cover loss in the same period.
• The humid primary forest area in Adjumani decreased by 2.3 percent in the same period.

Sources:

• "Uganda Ref Limping Under Heavy Deforestation Load As Homegrown Solutions Fail", Monitor
• Global Forest Watch
• National Environment Act No. 5 of 2019
• National Environment Act of 1995