¶ HISTORY OF MANAGEMENT
¶ 4.1 PAST MANAGEMENT PLANS
¶ 4.1.1 Gazettement of the Forests and Management prior to the (1948-1961) FMP
Mpanga Sector CFRs were gazetted in 1932 as Mpigi Group of CFRs though Mpanga CFR was separate from Mpigi Group. Lukolo and Luwafu were later gazetted as CFRs in 1968 and were managed with Mpigi Group under South Mengo Forest Working Plan of 1961-1971.
The term South Mengo Forests was used to cover all CFRs gazetted under Mengo District. The first FMP was for the period between 1948 and 1957 but was not revised until 1961 hence the excess years were validated under the 1948-1961 working plan.
Under this FMP, there was much revision of the prescriptions which was necessary because there was no systematic management prior to this plan. Prior to 1948, tree enumerations had been made in some reserves and even some research had been done and some experience, therefore, gained hence the need to make the necessary prescriptions to a greater or less extent emerged.
¶ 4.1.2 Management under the 1948-1952 Plan
Exploitation
There were two concessions during this period which were given to two licensees in 1948, Messrs. Damadar Jinabhai and Messrs- E. African Saw Mills. Messrs Damadar Jinabhai was harvesting in Gangu CFR until 1952 when his license expired. By that time however, exploitation of Gangu had been completed except in the eastern end of Langu River. New licenses were later granted to new companies to continue harvesting in the forests but not Gangu (G. Webster 1961).
¶ 4.1.2.1 Yield Regulation
Under this plan the prescribed cut from the concessions was fixed at 3,398.4m3 of compulsory species per annum. With the enumeration surveys carried out between 1947 and 1951, it was however discovered that the annual allowable cut could be put at 6,343.7m3. The felling cycle was then changed from 67 years to 30 years.
¶ 4.1.2.2 Silviculture
During this working plan, it was recommended that artificial regeneration would be stopped when existing stocks of plants in the nurseries were used because research had revealed that sufficient regeneration of desirable species was generally present for successful natural regeneration to be feasible. It also recommended that future regeneration would be by natural methods.
¶ 4.1.3 Management during 1961-1971
Management Objective
This Management Plan covered a 10-year period from 1st July 1961 to June 1971. The main objective of management under this plan was to produce in perpetuity the maximum quality of high-grade timber from the forests by the most efficient methods, provided that the satisfaction of the needs of the inhabitants of Uganda must take precedence over export consideration.
There was only one working cycle, the production working cycle consisting of
(i) Nature Reserve in Mabira = 1.00 sq miles
(ii) Research Plots = 0.05 sq miles
(iii) The remainder of the working plan area = 279.60 sq miles
Under this Management Plan, it was recommended that the remaining unexploited forests be cut and refined as soon as possible.
Silvicultural Systems
It was recommended that the south Mengo forests be converted to a uniform system as described in the departmental standing orders. The aim was to favour regeneration and increment of desirable species.
Climber cutting was also recommended before exploitation in conjunction with enumeration of all timber species over 6 feet dbh.
All large trees of good form, which were not saleable and not taken by licensees, were not allowed to remain. They were supposed to be treated like any other weed trees.
It was also recommended that where natural regeneration of desirable species is insufficient, consideration will be given to planting or sowing. Entandrophragma, Maesopsis, Lovoa and Khaya were selected as suitable tree species.
¶ 4.1.4 Management during the period 2006 to 2016
Objectives
The objectives of the FMP were to:
• Restore the integrity of the forests.
• Conserve the biodiversity of the forests and their ecological conditions.
• Enhance collaborative management of the forests with communities, starting with organizations already receiving grants from NFA as entry points.
• Produce high quality forest products like timber on sustainable basis.
Working Circles and Management Zones
To achieve the three management objectives above, the management activities of the CFRs were organized in three Working Cycles of Conservation, Production, and Collaborative Forest Management.
Conservation Working Circle
The conservation WC with 4 zones of SNR, Buffer Zone (BZ), Recreation zones and Research Zone constituted an area of 8,552 ha. The zonation and constitution of the zones was as follows:
• The Strict Nature Reserve (SNR) Zone in the conservation-working circle consisted of 24.54 km2, an equivalent of 2,454 ha zoned out of the whole of Gangu CFR (1,054 ha), central parts of Nawandigi (700ha) and Navugulu (700ha) CFRs.
• The remaining part of Nawandigi and Navugulu CFRs totalling 5,080 ha formed the Buffer Zone (BZ).
• The Recreation Zone consisted of Mpanga, Lukolo and Luwafu. This totals to 1,018ha.
• The Research Zone occurred concurrently with recreation in Mpanga CFRs
Collaborative Forest Management Working Circle
The Collaborative Forest Management working circle will consist of 2,450ha forest reserves, i.e. Katabalalu, Degeya, Lufuka, Kalandazi, Wabinyomo and Nanfuka.
Production Working Circle
The production WC, constituting 4,009 ha consisted of 2 zones of Harvesting and Private Tree Growing. Below is the breakdown of the different zones.
• Private Sector Tree Planting Zone: consisting of Kavundu, Kinyo, Naludugavu, Buwa and Kagongo totalling to 1,059 ha.
• Harvesting Zone: This constituted of Jumbi, Nakaga, Nakaziba, Wamasega, Nakalere, Kabuye, Watangalala, Makokolero, Kabulego and Kyansonzi. This totals to 2,950 ha. This is where harvesting and NFA planting will take place.
¶ 4.2 HISTORY OF USE
In addition to some of the uses that the CFRs in the MPA were subjected to in the previous FMPs, Table 23 shows the history of use of some of these CFRs.
Table 23: Brief History of Some Forest Reserves in Mpanga Sector
It should be noted that in 1960s and 1970s there was licensed harvesting in most of the CFRs in Mpanga Sector. These include Degeya, Wamasega, Makokolero, Wabinyomo, Nakaziba and Kagongo. In1969, there was licensed charcoal burning in Degeya CFR.
From 1979 to 2001, management of the CFRs was inadequate due to spontaneous wars and mismanagement. This led to degradation of most CFRs in Mpanga sector until 2004 when NFA took over their management.
From 2004 to date, most of the CFRs in the MPA were planted with Eucalyptus save for Luwafu (part), Lukolo (part), Nakaga (part), Gangu, Nawandig (part), Mpanga and Navugulu(part). Restoration planting with indigenous tree species was carried out in Navugulu, Gangu, Nawndigi and Luwafu with support from different partners. The main products from these plantations are transmission and construction poles, timber and firewood. In Nsowe and Kalombi CFRs, there is charcoal burning and firewood production from the savanna woodlands being cleared for
¶ 4.3 EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
¶ 4.3.1 Buildings
The only functional buildings are in situated in Gangu and Mpanaga Eco site. There are a total of 3 main buildings in Gangu station housing the Sector Office, Sector Manager’s and Forest Supervisor’s residences. Each of the residences has a kitchen and latrine while the office also has a latrine.
While at Mpanga station there are a total of 3 houses and 4 bandas as detailed in section 2.7.3 above.