Summary:
- In light of this alarming situation, Prof. Kamusiimeh highlighted the profound damage inflicted upon Uganda’s ecosystem, including diminished biodiversity, rampant soil erosion, and decreased water retention capacity.
KABALE: The Vice Chairperson of the Southwestern Regional Development Forum, Assoc Prof. Mesharch Walto Katusiimeh, has warned that unless decisive action is taken to hold accountable those responsible for the relentless cutting down of trees, the nation faces an imminent surge in natural disasters.
Delivering his message at Mwisi Primary School in Kabale district during the inauguration of a tree-planting initiative, a collaborative effort between the Rotary Club Kabale, the Southwestern Regional Development Forum, and Green Environment Promotion on Wednesday Evening, Assoc Prof. Katusiimeh, also the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Kabale University, underscored the persistent challenge of deforestation in Uganda. He attributed this trend primarily to illicit logging, expansion of agricultural land, and rapid urbanization, noting a drastic reduction in the country’s forest cover over recent decades, with the rate of loss accelerating in recent years.
Citing data from the Uganda National Forestry Authority, Prof. Katusiimeh revealed that Uganda’s forest cover has plummeted to a mere 8%, down from 24% in the 1990s. This decline, he emphasized, is largely a result of human encroachment for various activities such as charcoal and timber production, as well as agricultural endeavors.
In light of this alarming situation, Prof. Katusiimeh highlighted the profound damage inflicted upon Uganda’s ecosystem, including diminished biodiversity, rampant soil erosion, and decreased water retention capacity. Urgency, he stressed, is paramount, calling upon the government and pertinent stakeholders to implement robust measures to combat the crisis. Specifically, he advocated for stringent enforcement of anti-logging laws, the promotion of sustainable forestry practices, and extensive community education on the critical importance of forest conservation.
CUE IN PROF. KAMUSIIME……ON DEFORESTATION…….RR/ENG//
