Status of forests in Uganda

摘要

AbstractTrees, forests and woodlands cover about 14% of Uganda's land surface. Over the last 30-40 years, growth in human population and corresponding increase in demand for forest products for domestic and industrial use, expansion of agricultural land, illegal settlements and weak forest management capacity have adversely affected the status of natural forests in Uganda, particularly the biodiversity. Until recently, little attention had been paid to development of commercial forests which should have provided alternative forest products and services to relieve the pressure on natural forests and conserve biodiversity. As a result, Uganda's forests have been degraded, and in some cases, the biodiversity has been eroded. There is a need for regular data collection and monitoring of the status of the forests in terms of areal extent, distribution, plantation species introductions and biodiversity. ResumeArbres, bois et forets couvrent environ 14% de la superficie terrestre de l'Ouganda. Au cours des 30 a 40 dernieres annees, la croissance de la population humaine et la demande correspondante de produits forestiers a usages domestique et industriel, l'expansion des terres agricoles, les installations illegales et de mediocres capacites de gestion forestiere ont eu des effets nefastes sur l'etat des forets ougandaises, et specialement sur leur biodiversite. Jusqu'il y a peu, l'on avait accorde que peu d'attention au developpement de forets commerciales qui auraient du fournir des produits et des services forestiers alternatifs, afin de soulager la pression exercee sur les forets naturelles et de preserver la biodiversite. Par consequent, les forets ougandaises sont degradees et, dans certains cas, la biodiversite est touchee. Il faut collecter des donnees regulieres et suivre le statut des forets en termes d'etendue, de distribution, d'introduction d'especes plantees et de biodiversite.