NFA:Timber traders encroaching Mabira forest.

In Summary
  • Timber traders have been implicated in the rampant encroachment on forest reserves.
  • National Forestry Authority is calling on the public  to join efforts in restoring the depleted forest cover.
Executive Director National Forestry Authority Tom Obong Okello speaking to environmentalists during the re planting exercise at Mabiira forest .
Executive Director National Forestry Authority Tom Obong Okello speaking to environmentalists during the re planting exercise at Mabiira forest .
Image: Moses kidandi--Capital FM

The National Forestry Authority has  named  traders involved in lucrative timber businesses as culprits involved in forest encroachment on Mabira.

National forestry Authority has carried out operations in Mabira and has so far recovered over 500,000 Hectares of land from encroachers who had illegally occupied  forest land.

This year as Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Day for Biodiversity, Government through the National  Environment management authority, National  forestry Authority are rallying the entire Nation towards tree plating.

This was announced during a restoration exercise in Mabira Forest where over one million trees were planted in a bid to have full restoration of some sections of the forest that have been depleted through encroachment and human activity.

Image: Moses kidandi--Capital FM

The Executive Director National Environment management Authority Dr Barirega Akankwasa says following the renewed exercise of re planting trees its time for all Ugandans to  unite and put nature on a path to recovery by 2030 for the benefit of the people and the planet by restoring nature, using nature wisely, valuing nature and conserving nature.

in a bid to restore the forest cover the Executive director National forestry Authority Tom Obong Okello says the initiative Will see the increase in forest cover,increase in environmental services like protection of  water catchment and Air purification.

The Executive director National forestry Authority says how ever that timber traders have infiltrated enclaves with in the Natural forests and involving them into illegal activities like logging and encroachment.He how ever says much as there have been cases of encroachment, the bigger part of Mabira Forest is still intact.