The underlying causes of landscapes change in Uganda

By Kureeba David,

coordinator forests and biodiversity, the national association of professional environmentalists NAPE/FoEU

Email: kureebamd@yahoo.com and kureeba@gmail.com, Tel: +256705363302

Skype: david588x

About NAPE

• National association of professional environmentalists

• Environmental organization, lobbies and advocates SM of NR for the benefit of all

• Registered in 1997.• Partners with GFC • Friends of the earth Uganda.

Status of forests in Uganda

• Forests and woodlands cover a total of 4.9 million hectares, about 24% of the

• total land area. Tropical high forests (THF) cover 924,208 ha, forest plantations cover

• 35,066 ha and woodlands cover 3,974,102 ha. Of the 4.9 million hectares, 30% are in

• protected areas (Forest Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Reserves) and 70% are

• found on private land.

Status of forest in Uganda cont..d

• Estate (PFE), which is 1.9 million hectares. Of this, Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) cover 1,265,742 ha.

• The forests on private land are being devastated, and those in National

• Parks are inaccessible for provision of forest products.

• There is annual loss of forests at 2%

Underlying causes

• Access to electricity in Uganda is limited to 9% of the population, the remaining 91% of the population mainly use biomass is form of firewood or charcoal for their energy needs (MEMD, 2007).

Underlying causes

• Poor implementation of the national policies and laws.

• Promotion of plantation agriculture: In (Kalangala, 10000 hectares)

Underlying causes of deforestation

• Oil palm development in lake Victoria one of the biggest fresh water lakes in the world the source of river Nile a riparian resource

• Mining (oil and gas)• Weak implementation of environmental laws

and policies. Coupled with corruption ,coupled with a lax approach to authorization of investments.

• Voluntary carbon offset projects

Flower farms

• A lot and excessive use of agro chemicals • Ramser destruction• Community rights violation • Biodiversity loss • In whose interest are these projects?

Insert Lutembe photo

LARGE SCALE DESTRUCTION OF FOREST COVER

Land use change due to market mechanisms like REDD+

• Carbon off set projects – FACE Foundation Green resources, New forest company among others

• REDD will most likely cause adverse impacts on communities dependent on forest products

• With the coming of REDD there are many aspects that will change i.e. access to firewood, timber for construction……

• No chance for weighing options • species diversity is not taken seriously by most

projects

Some of the impacts of REDD + And other models of carbon offset

• FPIC• Land grabbing • Denied access rights • Respect for the safeguard policies of financial institutions

like the world bank.• National REDD strategies to what extent do they take into

account the demands of local communities and indigenous communities?

• Already around USD 3.6 has been approved by world bank to finance REDD activities in Uganda. How are communities benefiting from this whole REDD+ business?

Impacts of landscapes change.

• Floods• Community conflicts over resources• Reduced yield• Food insecurity etc

The impacts of deforestation and forest degradation

• Biodiversity loss• Land grabbing and loss of community

conserved areas.• Food insecurity• Increased vulnerability and women and

children • Local climate variation e.t.c

Conclusion,

• The underlying causes of landscapes change have been kept silent and there is no way these issues can be addressed until the underlying causes are identified. Proper management of land is an equivalent of proper management of life.

Recommendations

• The underlying causes of landscapes degradation need to be acknowledged, identified and addressed.

• There is need to be an absolute change in the way all governments approach consultation with affected communities.

• There is need to resolve land tenure disputes, taking into account and acknowledging and respecting the indigenous territories and local communities and other traditional forms of land tenure.

Recommendations cont..d

• Forest funding need to be channeled into the most effective and equitable solutions available. These solutions may not be as costly as REDD and other market oriented solutions rather they require responses based on integrated coherent and effective national sustainable development policies that are not impeded by the interests of the market.

Recommendations cont..d

• There is need to recognize that family and peasant agriculture can provide the answers and proposals to confront climate change and maintain life on the planet.

21

Does Carbon trade offer the Answer to landscape challenges

and forests protection?