A critical analysis of the efficacy of law as tool to control Deforestation in Uganda
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Date
2014-04
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Kampala International University, School of Law
Abstract
Uganda is a tropical country and much of it lies on the African plateau between 900-1,500
meters above sea level. The bio-geography, climate and topography have contributed to the
biological richness of the ecosystems of the country. The tropical high forests occur in three
distinct geographical zones, characterized by rainfaU regimes; the eastern rim of the Western
Rift Valley in the west, the broad belt around the north-western shores of Lake Victoria and
the mountains in the east of the country. The greater proportion of the original forest cover
has been reduced and is degraded. The forest vegetation is a complexity, influenced climate,
altitude and soil depth and provides an area of species endem ism ofthe global significance.
Much of the tropical forest ecosystem under formal management remains in the
protected forest ecosystem comprising the National Parks, Wildlife Reserves and Forest
Reserves covering about 14 per cent ofthe country's area. A large pmtion ofthe tropical high
forests has been harvested and treated and therefore no s ignificant areas of the forest are
completely original and natural. Some tropical high forests still exists on the public and
private land outside the protected areas; however the forests are largely degraded and
. threatened through uncontrolled harvesting and forest clearance for other land uses.
The tropical forests are vital to the economy, society and the environment. Large
portions carry commercial species of trees that provide economic bases for the country's
wood economy. They provide energy, non-wood forest products and employment as well as
supporting the subsistence needs of the rural population and are vital for environmental
services that contribute to agricultural production. The biodiversity values contribute to
natural beauty that is the basis fo·r tourism contributing to socio-economic development and
wildlife conservation as well as offering basis for research and education.
Uganda had well-established tropical forest management systems dating from the
I 900s that declined by mid 1970s. Initially the forests were exploited for rubber and later for
timber. The forest yie ld was r.egulated by polycyclic method of working with 30-40 year
intervals between felling. Subsequently the monocyclic method of yield regulation involving
forest canopy management to permit rapid regeneration was adopted to increase the yield of
exploitable timber sizes. The forest management practices in the Forest Reserves were based
on the forest management plans (FMPs) supported by ecological and s ilvicu ltural research.
The increased awareness of the biodiversity and environmental values of the tropical forests
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during the late 1980s lead to a change in management to more diverse regime aimed at
sustainable utilization of the forest resources. Forest zoning has been introduced to provide
products and services to an increasing population and various stakeholders and the forest
management integrates the local community participation and needs.
The tropical forests are currently managed under different institutions, the National
Environmental Management Act (NEMA), the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the
Uganda Forestry Authority (UF A). The policies and legislation generally focus on different
components of biodiversity (wildlife), especially the fauna and trees; however common
conservation strategies involving zoning the tropical high forests are being applied. Sound
silviculture, well planned and coordinated forest management activities supported by
sufficient investment and strong institutions will ensure the sustainable management of the
tropical high forests
Description
A research dissertation submitted to the school of laws in partial fulfillment of the a ward of Bachelor’s Degree in law at Kampala International University
Keywords
Law, Deforestation, Uganda