Uganda’s forests to be wiped out in the next 50 years

Environmental experts have warned that Uganda’s forest cover will be wiped out in the next 50 years if no action is taken to tame the deteriorating forestry situation.

A new report by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) -a policy research and advocacy think-tank based in Uganda says on average Uganda loses 600 hectares of forest cover annually. The forest coverage on average has been declining by 1.8 percent annually since 1990.

According to Dr Gershom Onyango in his presentation on the Status and trends of Uganda’s forests during the 66^th State of the nation address, Forest cover shrunk from 4.9 million Ha about 24 per cent total land area in 1990 to 1.8 million Ha (9 percent of total land area) in 2015. This is a 27 per cent reduction in forest cover from 1990 to 2015. This means the forest cover on average declines by 1.8 per cent every year representing a loss of 600 hectares of forest cover every year.

According to Dr Onyango, between 1990 and 2000 annual rate of forest loss was around 86, 000 Hectares. Between 2000 and 2005 the annual rate of forest loss was around 89,000 Hectares. Between 2005 and 2015 the annual rate of forest loss was around 174, 000 Hectares. The report said the forest cover reduced significantly 28.5 per cent between 2005 and 2010, woodlands cover declined by about 29 per cent between 1990 and 2005.

Written by David Kugonza