¶ ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
¶ 3.1 BIODIVERSITY STATUS
All CFRs in Mpanga Sector are part of the former Mpigi Group of CFRs which includes those found in the current Wakiso District before it was carved from Mpigi. According to the Forestry Nature Conservation Master Plan (Vol 1), Mpigi CFRs ranked 18th in the overall importance with a score of 13.4.
They were ranked 7th in terms of species diversity but 40th in terms of species rarity, presumably because many of the species are shared with other Lakeshore tropical forests along L. Victoria basin. However, this status has changed due to the extent and magnitude of encroachment and general degradation that has been inflicted on most of these CFRs. Nevertheless, the few remaining TMFs, those that were restored and Mpanga CFR may still be maintaining the status quo.
The forests support two species unique to the area which include Brucea antidysenterica and Psychotria succulenta, and one species Rhytigynia benensis which are endemic to the Albertine Rift. Mpanga forest alone ranks 4th in terms of species diversity but 40th in terms of species rarity Crotalaria rectal and Ficus wildemaniana are the only species unique to the CFR. Table 19 and Table 20 gives a summary of biodiversity values for Mpigi Group of Forests then.
Table 19: Summary of Biodiversity Values for Mpigi Group of Forests
Source: Forestry Nature Conservation Master Plan (Volume 1)
Table 20: Summary of Biodiversity Values for Mpanga Forest Reserve
Over all biodiversity score = 13.5
Source: Forestry Nature Conservation Master Plan (Volume 1)
¶ 3.2 ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
¶ 3.2.1 Watershed protection
The CFRs in this MPA are found within the shores of L. Victoria and are therefore major watershed forests; hence they play a big role as water catchments. They are important in stopping soil erosion from the steep slopes. If the forest cover is reduced, there will be increased water runoff from these slopes into the water bodies in the vicinity of the forests, leading to increased sediment loading into and pollution of the rivers, streams and Lake Victoria. Lukolo and Luwafu are within the islands and therefore play important water catchment roles.
The forests play a very important role in maintaining the dry season flow which is attributed to the greater wetness of the soils in, and the higher water table under the forest. Apart from the maintenance of even stream flow, the water is also made cleaner due to the forest soils being highly permeable, allowing the seepage of water through the sub soil and the underlying rock during which process particulate matters in the water is removed.
This group of forests is an important environmental asset to the neighbouring communities, districts and nation as a whole in mitigating climatic conditions. The forest is vital in soil stabilization, and rivers flowing through form a network as part of the hydrological system in drainage and agricultural production.
In Navugulu CFR for example, there is Mpondwe hill, which stands above the general landscape in the valley. Such areas when preserved would stop soil erosion. Such areas should not be considered for timber production.
The forests also provide other ecological services such as;
• Maintenance of soil quality and provision of organic materials through leaf and branch fall
• Nutrient cycling and soil formation
• Control of erosion and protection of soil from the direct impact of rainfall
• Modulating climate
• Provide habitat for many plants and animals
Mpigi forests are also a home of 158 species of birds, 12 species of mammals, 16 species of butterflies and 26 species of months. There are about 305 tree species and shrubs as given in table 16 above.
¶ 3.2.2 Carbon sequestration
Forests and other natural vegetation in Mpanga MPA absorb carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gaseous emissions such as nitrogen oxide mainly generated by industries (including cottage industries and vehicles) located in Kampala, Mpigi, Wakiso, and other urban centres especially along the Kampala – Masaka Highway. However, the continuous degradation of the natural forests has reduced the areas for carbon sequestration.
A total of 143 tons of carbon (tC/ha) is stored in a fully stocked tropical high forest, 50tC/ha for tropical high forest low stocked, 25tC/ha of carbon by woodlands and 71 tC/ha by plantations (FREL, MWE, 2018).
This therefore gives an estimated current stock of about 364,078 tons of carbon for the fully stocked tropical high forests, 26,500 tons for tropical high forest low stocked, 67,900 tons for the woodlands and 348,397 tons for plantation based on the current standing areas of the CFRs in the MPA.
However, plantation crops are subject to clear felling harvesting followed by re-planting. But, given responsible forest management and restoration of the degraded areas of the remaining natural forests, the total potential for carbon sequestration can rise.
¶ 3.3 WETLANDS, RIVER / STREAM BANKS
¶ 3.3.1 Wetlands
Wetlands exist in most of the CFRs such as Nawandigi, Navugulu, Kabuye, Lufuka, and Kyansozi and represent the wetlands ecosystem of the forests.
A number of the CFRs also border with wetlands. These include Gangu, Nakalere, Lukolo, Wamasega and Kagongo. Most of the wetlands have papyrus spp as the dominant species and are permanently wet. Most of these wetlands drain into Lake Victoria. However, encroachers, charcoal burners and brick makers are causing deforestation resulting into soil erosion and this causes siltation into L. Victoria.
¶ 3.3.2 Rivers/Stream Banks
The CFRs in this MPA are endowed with streams and rivers. Some of the streams are seasonal while others are permanent. The following Table 21 shows some of the rivers found in various CFRs.
Table 21: Permanent and Seasonal Rivers in Mpanga Sector
¶ 3.4 VULNERABLE / ECOLOGICALLY FRAGILE AREAS
Mpondwe hill found in Navugulu CFR has been identified as one of the steep slopes that need protection from both legal and illegal harvesting. It stands above the general landscape in the valley. Its destruction therefore could destabilize the ecology of the lower parts of the same forest.
The central part of Nawandigi (7km2) and the central part of Navugulu 7km2) that represent the wetland ecosystem of the forests are ecologically fragile areas. They should be protected from encroachment and any other land use that may reduce the forest cover there by tampering with the drainage system.
Luwafu and Lukolo CFRs that fall within Bunjako Island in Lake Victoria had been completely degraded through timber, charcoal and firewood harvesting and crop cultivation, and sand mining. However, there have been attempts to restore the CFRs by planting mixed species of indigenous trees such as Cordia melinii, Albizia spp, Maesopsis eminii, Terminalia ivorensis, Polyscias fulva, Grevillea robusta, Markhamia lutea, Cedrella odorata and mahogany, though these efforts are being sabotaged by a recent resurgence of encroachers allegedly supported by UPDF Fisheries Protection Marine Unit. A large chunk of land near the UPDF Camp has again been cultivated with various crops such as matooke, cassava, maize and sweet potatoes among others.
¶ 3.5 SOCIO-CULTURAL SITES
With the establishment of Mpanga Eco-tourism site in 1999, both international and national tourists have used Mpanga site as a place for recreation. Forest adjacent communities around Mpanga, however, rarely visit this place. A few educated ones visit this site for relaxation.
In the past, most of the CFRs in Mpanga sector were homes of gods for some people but this culture is slowly dying away. However, in Nanfuka CFR, there is a tree that locals attach a lot of cultural importance with a man who guards it jealously as the custodian. Today, the communities are more interested in commercial gains than cultural gains.
Currently, both locals and primary schools visit the site for the purposes of exposure and conservation education.
¶ 3.6 CROSS CUTTING AND EMERGING ISSUES
¶ 3.6.1 Climate change
Forests and trees act as sinks for greenhouse gas emissions, and are the most visible frontline assets available for the MPA for mitigation of climate change effects. Therefore, tree growing and sustainable management of natural forests will not only enable the MPA to make its due contribution to the fight against climate change through CDM and REDD initiatives, but it will also bring in income to the forest owners who manage their forests according to SFM standards.
NFA’s efforts to promote forestry has a comparative advantage of mitigating climate variability and climate change while improving on food security, reducing rural unemployment and rural poverty. Despite the fact that forestry is being affected by climate variability/change impacts, it also contributes to GHG emissions. Changes in land use and clearing of forests represent 17.4% of total global GHG emissions (Reference).
Forests capture carbon through photosynthesis in terrestrial ecosystems and have very high potential for reducing emissions and enhancing carbon sinks. It is estimated that the biophysical mitigation potential of forestry is estimated to average 1.5 GtC eqv./yr (5.4 Gt CO2 eqv./yr, IPCC 2001) without the realization of a substantial part of this mitigation.
An efficient mix of mitigation and adaptation solutions through conservation of the Permanent Forest Estate (PFE) in Mpanga MPA remain priority policy concern for Sustainable Development locally and globally
FAO submission to UNFCCC in 2009 noted that ―Perhaps no sectors other than agriculture, forestry and fisheries have the potential to contribute so directly to the provisions of Article 2 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): the ultimate objective of the Convention is stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level which ensures that food production is not threatened and enables economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.
¶ 3.6.2 Implementation of SDGs
The CFRs in Mpanga MPA contribute to implementation of most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but especially those outlined in the table 19 below:
Table 22: Contribution of Forests to Implementation of SDGs
¶ 3.6.3 Impacts of HIV – AIDS and COVID 19 on Forest Management
HIV–AIDS, COVID19 and non-communicable diseases have negatively impacted the lives of entire communities living around the CFRs. The prevalence of these diseases affects the health, productivity and general wellbeing of the communities reducing their resilience to economic hardships.
This increases the dependence of the communities on forest resources for livelihoods and incomes as they seek for money for domestic needs and treatment. Forests may be converted to agricultural land or forest resources harvested unsustainably. Forests also become the main source of herbal medicines to treat the symptoms of these diseases of which some species may be over - exploited to extinction.
¶ 3.6.4 Forest Certification
Uganda has developed the National Forestry Stewardship Standard based on the FSC generic Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Forest Management. The standard aims at improving the management of all types of forests in line with the social, economic and environmental criteria.
The standard can be used for certification of both natural and plantation forests as sustainably managed providing the opportunities for forest products and services like tourism, carbon storage from certified forests to access prime markets nationally and internationally.
The Mpanga MPA CFRs which are both plantation and natural forests can be certified as sustainably managed forests for production of both timber and non- timber products but also to access the prime carbon markets that require that forest must be sustainably managed. However, plantations that are established by clearing of natural forests as at 1994 are not eligible for FSC forest certification.
The private tree farmers in Mpanga may certify plantations as individuals or as a group since many plantations are too small to make economic sense for certification. The FSC Principles and Criteria are attached as Appendix 4.
¶ 3.6.5 Gender and equity
The participation of women in forestry is generally low and limited to firewood collection, cultivation, harvesting of other non- timber forest products such herbal medicine, craft materials, mushrooms, clay etc. for subsistence use. In direct employment, in the MPA, women as normally the case is, are employed as nursery workers and office attendant. The youth however, are involved together with the men in restoration and enrichment planting.
However, under the CFM arrangement over 30% of the members are supposed to be females (FSSD CFM Guidelines)FSSP-background.