This presentation was prepared and delivered during a workshop that involved Members of Parliament on the Natural Resources and Climate Change Committee of Parliament. The workshop was organized by the Ecological Christian Organization. The objective of the workshop was to create awareness among the Honorable members of Parliament about the ongoing review of the National Forestry Policy, (a process coordinated by the Forest Sector Support Department in the Ministry of Water and Environment). Furthermore, to get their general feedback and specific inputs into the review process with due consideration of the various emerging issues in the Forestry sector over the last 18 years since the forestry policy and legal framework came into force in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Thus, the presentation raised various emerging issues in this respect for consideration during the review process and also suggested recommendation on how the Honorable Members of Parliament should proactively engage in the process to ensure that resultant policy framework adequately addresses the emerging issues and also stands the taste of time.

1. National Forestry Policy Review; key emerging issues for
Reflection and consideration.
Presented during a Consultative Meeting with the Members of Parliament at Hotel Africana,
Kampala.
25th November 2021.
By:
Dr. Joshua Zake (Ph.D.), Executive Director, Environmental Alert
P.O. Box11259 Kampala, Uganda, Tel: 0414510215; Website:
http://www.envalert.org Email: ed@envalert.org or joszake@gmail.com
Personal website: http://ug.linkedin.com/pub/joshua-zake/23/45/181
Corresponding author: ed@envalert.org or joszake@gmail.com

2. Outline of the presentation
A) Introduction
B) Architecture of the forestry policy review process
C) Some of the key emerging Issues and concerns for consideration
in forest policy and review process
D) Conclusion/Take away message
E) About the Uganda Forest Working
F) About Environmental Alert

3. B) Architecture of the forestry policy review
process
• The National Forestry policy, (2002) and the forestry and tree
planting act, (2003) have matured (thus, have been in existence for
19 & 18 years without review) and due for review to respond to
several emerging issues in the forestry sector in Uganda.
• The forestry policy and legislative review is spearheaded and
coordinated by the Forestry Sector Support Department, Ministry
of Water and Environment
• To-date, the draft regulatory impact assessment report (2020)
generated. This process is highly consultative involving a problem
analyses of the key issues in the sector and associated causes.
• Consultants/Facilitators commissioned
• Roadmap for the policy review process developed
• National Technical Committee to support the policy review process
established
• Initial consultations have started
• Inception meeting is underway
Forestry Policy (2002) Goal:
‘An integrated Forestry Sector
that achieves sustainable
increases in economic, social
and environmental benefits
from forests and trees by all
people of Uganda especially
the poor and vulnerable.’

4. B) Architecture of the forestry policy review
process
Key considerations in the review process
*Forestry is multi-stakeholder, therefore review process must be highly participatory and
consultative to address the various stakeholder’s concerns and interests.
*The issues, positions i.e. policy statements there-in should be based on research
facts/evidence.
*The policy and plan must be responsive to address the underlying and emerging
challenges and issues in the forestry sector so that it stands the taste of time.
*Policy principles, commitments and statements (in the current policy), which protect and
maintain the permanent forest estate should be kept or maintained in the revised policy – given
the value & importance of forestry
*The methods and procedures used in the policy review should inculcate empowerment and
ownership of the revised policy by the citizens, stakeholders
*The review process requires adequate resources to cover the costs for
Consultants/Facilitators, Consultations and issue based studies.

5. C) Some of the key emerging and concerns for
consideration in forest policy and review
process
1) Loss of forest cover, biodiversity – impacts on climate, livelihood, economic development
Uganda's current forest cover stands at 12.3% reducing from 24% as it was in 1999 (Sector
performance report by the MWE 2018). Annual forest loss is 250,000 Ha (MWE, 2016).
*Most of the forest loss is happening on private and communal land!
2) Over dependence and sustainable use of biomass energy, thus about 94% of the population still
depending on biomass (using rudimentary technology) for their energy needs.
3) Balancing environmental management and development
--Several Urban forests at risk of conversion due to pressure from industrialization and urbanization;
-- High encroachment and conversion of wetlands in different parts of the country e.g. Lwela wetlands
converted for rice production
--Oil exploration and development in the Albertine rift;
--Proposed degazzattement of part of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve for sugarcane production;
4) Limited financing for investment in Environment and Natural Resources sector. This is a major
challenge which compromises service delivery in the sub-sector. Furthermore, it results in weak ENR
policy implementation and law enforcement at all levels.
 Water and environment-shs.668.5 billion(1.4%) –FY 2020/21
5) Consolidate Integration of gender in forest management. Thus, productive involvement of the
various gender categories (women, men, youth – boys & girls) in forest management.

6. C) Some of the key emerging and concerns for
consideration in forest policy and review
process
6) Inadequate institutional capacity to deliver forest services at different levels
*National Forest Authority managing 506 central forest reserves across the country
*District Forest Services across 135 Local Governments
7) Over dependency on forestry resources for livelihood – especially for the forest adjacent
communities;
8) Limited investment in forestry research, innovation & development – to impact on forest
management, livelihoods, economic development;
9) Promote/support forest certification as a market based mechanism for responsible forest
management
*Weak enforcement of standards for forest products and services;
10) Low value attached/appreciation of forest resources, products and services
*Lack of information/facts on forest valuation and contribution to national growth and development;
11) Extensive production of agro-commodities (e.g. oil palm, tea, cocoa, sugarcane,…) that
encroaches/converts forest landuse in gazzatted forests & on private land in the forest landscapes
12) Regulation of forest professionals to conduct and provide services with the minimum ethical &
acceptable standards
13) Consistence for coherence with other policies & laws e.g. Environment policy and act, climate
change Act

7. C) Some of the key emerging and concerns for
consideration in forest policy and review
process
14) Climate variability and change impacts – often push communities into forest resources,
compromise the quality and services of the forest resources. Forests have a huge potential to advance
adaptation and mitigation.
15) Management of trans-boundary forestry and allied resource – especially in case of inconsistent
policies and legal framework from one country to another.
16) High Influx and hosting of refugees impacts on the forest and environment resources
17) Low investments for development of forest sector value-chains and industry. This can be a
missed opportunity for transformation ---employment, generation of revenue, economic development
18) Weak coordination among development players during implementation of various development
initiatives within the forest landscapes. *Results in duplication, Contradictions,..
19) Alignment for implementation of national commitments as stipulated in the National
Development Plan III and Vision 2040.
20) Alignment for implementation of national commitments as derived from sub-regional and global
policies and legislation on environment, climate change, biodiversity – within the United Nations
Framework

8. H) Conclusion/Take away message
• The National Forest policy and plan review is long overdue, thus process should be
fast-tracked but without compromising the quality and overall output/outcomes through
this review process.
• The revised Forest policy and plan must be responsive to the underlying emerging
issues in the forestry sector so that it provides the required overarching guiding framework
to deliver forest services, products in a sustainable manner.
• The Members of Parliament (through the relevant Parliamentary Committees –
Natural Resources; Climate Change) in light of their roles, responsibilities and mandate
(*Oversight role, *Resource appropriation/approval of budgets; *Legislation,..) equally
have a keen interest to intervene (by providing inputs, guidance & decisions) in the
forest policy and plan review process

9. J) About the Uganda Forest Working
• Uganda Forest Working Group (UFWG) is a network of forestry stakeholders composed of
multidisciplinary membership that cuts across several sectors of development.
• Current members include: National NGOs, Community Based Organizations, Community Based
Organizations, Forest Resource User Associations, Academia and research institutions as well as
individual members engaged in the development and sustainability of the forestry sector in
Uganda.
• UFWG was formed in 2001 to provide a platform where the various stakeholders in forestry sector
met and deliberated on and influenced developments in the sector as well as independently
monitor implementation of the National Forestry Policy and National Forest Plan (NFP).
• The UFWG Secretariat is hosted by Environmental Alert.
• Vision: The Vision of UFWG is, ‘sustainably managed forestry sector contributing to improved
livelihoods, national economy and ecological integrity. ‘
• Mission: The Mission of UFWG is, ‘to promote the development of the forestry sector and
stimulate all forestry stakeholders to respond appropriately to changes and challenges within the
sector.’

10. L) About Environmental Alert
Environmental Alert was founded in 1988 and is officially
registered Non Government Organization with board. Thus, in
2018 – EA made 30 years of contribution to food security and
sustainable environment and natural resources management in
Uganda.
Environmental Alert is a 1st prize winner of the Energy globe
award for environmental sustainability- 2005 under the
category, earth.
Environmental Alert is a member of the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a Member of The IUCN
National Committee for Uganda.
Environmental Alert envisions, ‘Resilient and dignified
communities, managing their environment and natural
resources sustainably.’
Environmental Alert’s mission is to, ‘Contribute to improved
livelihoods of vulnerable communities by Enhancing
agricultural productivity and sustainable natural resources
management.
Further information about Environmental Alert is available at:
http://envalert.org/
Thank you for listening. For God and my County.
Environmental Alert hosts Secretariat for
following networks:
a) The Network for Civil Society
Organizations in Environment &
Natural Resources Sector (ENR-CSO
Network) http://enr-cso.org/ ;
b) Uganda Forestry Working Group
http://ufwg.envalert.org/;
c) The Standards Development Group;
and
d) Promoting Local Innovation in
ecologically oriented agriculture and
natural resources management
(PROLINNOVA-Uganda Network)
http://www.prolinnova.net/uganda.
e) National CSO network on
Renewable Energy.