Endangered Tree Species under Threat in Nwoya

The Nwoya District Forestry Department has raised a red flag over the current high rate of destruction of endangered and preserved tree species such as shear nut butter and mahogany  for charcoal and timber production.

Given the medicinal, cosmetic and nutritional values, it is on high demand internationally as shea butter is increasingly popular as an ingredient in cosmetics and soaps.

Local herbalists in Acholi sub region also use the bark of shear nut tree to cure skin ailments in children and treat minor scratches and cuts.

Researches indicate that shear nut has medicinal properties which are used in treatment of ailments ranging from diarrhoea and dysentery to gastric problems and even leprosy has been treated with bark infusions.

Currently, villages in Nwoya are experiencing massive forest exploitation by illegal charcoal dealers, majority from central Uganda although the damage is yet to be assessed.

Mr Simon Opiyo Labista, a resident of Lii junction in Koch Goma Sub County attributed the current problem to laziness among the resettling population.

Labista explained that families are no longer interested in cultivation and have instead preferred to sell part of their land to charcoal business operators for quick economic gains.

He noted that this has led to destruction of natural forests.

Since 2011, at least 200 acres of forest vegetation in Lii junction have been cut and turned into either charcoal or timber.

The District Forestry Officer (DFO), Mr Emmanuel Omara on Thursday that the most affected area is the banks of River Aswa and the River Nile where trees are being indiscriminately being cut down.

Omara says, “Over the recent years, illegal loggers and charcoal dealers have increased their activities on the forest vegetation covers.”

According to Omara, other areas facing a similar problem are Lii in Koch Goma Sub County and the areas of Alero, all in Nwoya district.

He noted that the traders are taking advantage of lack of man power in the district to carry out their illegal activities in the forests.

Mr Exaviuos Sekanabo, a senior police officer working with Environmental Police Protection Unit (EPPU) and attached to National Forestry Authority (NFA) headquarters in Kampala noted that some of the trees that are being cut down can take 300 years to mature.

Sekenabo says, “At the current rate, Nwoya is likely to experience long drought as well as flooding as a result of loss of vegetation cover.”

The Deputy Commandant Environmental Police Protection Unit (EPPU), Mr Simon Peter Okoshi says plans are underway to deploy more police officers in the regions that are highly affected by illegal charcoal dealers and loggers.

Okoshi noted that Oyam, Alebtong, Abim, Nwoya and Nakasongola are most affected districts.

In September last year, the Water and Environment Minister Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, said the government will turn to Japan for transfer of technology in order to exploit the renewable energy source.

The Minister said Uganda has not exploited energy such as biogas amid the growing demand for energy especially for domestic use such as cooking.

Speaking in Gulu town, Minister Kamuntu said, “To save the forests from destruction; the country needs to embark on solar energy in order to limit the level of damage on resources such as forest.”

“Since there is no alternative to charcoal, forests have been paying the high price,” He added.

The growing demand for charcoal especially in urban areas has seen a sharp rise in indiscriminate cutting down of trees in Gulu, Amuru and Nwoya district.

With low access to electricity, business oriented individuals have turned to harvesting forests to meet the growing demand.

It is estimated that Uganda will be prone to desertification in 40 years since she loses 92,000 hectares of forest cover yearly.