Uganda to replace forest reserve with sugar plantation

dpa German Press Agency Published: Wednesday March 21, 2007

Kampala-The Ugandan government has approved a controversial
plan to cut down over 7000 acres of the country's largest forest and
ecological reserve to pave way for a sugar plantation, officials
confirmed Wednesday.
Environmentalists are saying that the move to cut down Mabira
Forest Reserve in central Uganda will have devastating effects on the
rainfall pattern and the water level of Lake Victoria which has
already gone down over the years due to environment degradation.

Environmental groups are opposed to turning the richly endowed
32,000 acre forest into a sugarcane plantation, arguing that it is
not only a potential tourism hub but also host to a variety of
animals including endangered monkey species as well as 300 bird
species.

According to a government-controlled newspaper, The New Vision,
cabinet has approved the cutting down of part of the forest. Prime
Minister Apollo Nsibambi has directed the environment minister to
table the motion to parliament.

Environment groups and donor organisations including the European
Union issued strong protests last year soon after President Yoweri
Museveni proposed the cutting down of the forest to pave way for the
expansion of an Asian-owned sugar plantation.

Museveni's spokesman, Tamale Mirundi told Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Wednesday that, "We can grow trees anywhere but we cannot establish a
factory anywhere. We cannot relocate a factory but we can relocate a
forest by planting trees elsewhere."

"The question is the utilization of resources. The issue is
whether we leave Mabira as it is or look into what we get by
expanding a sugar plantation and getting more sugar. The president
knows the importance of the environment. We will plant trees
elsewhere without affecting the environment," Tamale said by
telephone.

Museveni's government has constantly collided with
environmentalists following its aggressive move to satisfy the needs
of local and foreign investors who are developing unoccupied chunks
of land most of which harbour forest reserves and swamps.

According to the head of the country's most powerful privately-run
environment group, the National Association of Professional
Environmentalists, NAPE, the cutting down of Mabira forest is likely
to affect the rainfall pattern and reduce the water volume of the
rivers flowing from it into Lake Victoria.

"It is not the best decision. They should have carried out an
environment assessment plan. It is going to have a big negative
impact on the environment. The rivers flowing from the lake will dry
up and the level of Lake Victoria which is already going down, will
reduce further," NAPE's executive director, Frank Muramuzi told dpa.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

Comment Here