the economic valuation of the proposed ... - Nature Uganda

The pro-conservation groups who are are opposed to
the degazettement of part of Mabira CFR on the other
hand argue that:
1. Mabira Central Forest Reserve has unique bird,
2
plant, primate, butterfly and tree species;
2. Mabira Central Forest Reserve is located in a
heavily settled agricultural area close to large
urban centres including Kampala, Lugazi,
Mukono and Jinja. This makes it a very important
refugium and eco-tourist destination;
3. Whereas the forest suffered considerable
destruction through illegal removal of forest
produce and agricultural encroachment which
activities threatened the integrity of the forest,
these have now been controlled and the forest
has regained its original integrity;
4. The bird species list for Mabira Forest now stands
at 287 species of which 109 were recorded during
the 1992-1994 Forest Department Biodiversity
Inventory (Davenport et al, 1996). These include
three species listed as threatened by the Red Data
Books (Collar et al, 1994) i.e. the blue swallow
(Hirundo atrocaerulea), the papyrus Gonolek
(Laniarius mufumbiri) and Nahan’s Francolin
(Francolinus nahani);
5. The present value of timber benefit streams
obtained from long-run sustainable yield in
Mabira CFR and timber values foregone in the
plantations of Kifu and Namyoya ; the present
value of other annual benefit streams from forest
products, biodiversity, domestic water, carbon
storage and ecotourism; and the present value
of annual ground rent payments would have to
be foregone if the land use for Mabira CFR was
changed;
6. The Mabira CFR in its entirerity is an important
water catchment forest. The CFR is a source of
two main rivers – Musamya and Sezibwa – which
flow into Lake Kyoga;
7. Because of its strategic location close to the River
Nile the Mabira CFR is a critical component of
the local and regional hydrological cycle. There is
therefore a likelihood of reduced water retention
of water flow to the lakes and rivers;
8. A large population living in and around Mabira
CFR relies on the extraction of forest products to
sustain their livelihoods;
9. Uganda is a signatory to a number of key
Conventions that protect forests including the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and
the Kyoto Protocol among others;
10. Change of land use in part of the forest will make
it difficult to control futher encroachment.
11. Any degradation of Mabira represents loss of a
unique ecosystem and unique biodiversity and
loss of known and unknown plants and animals
of medicinal value;
12. Mabira contributes to temperature regulation in
the central part of the country, and any reduction
is likely to lead to changes in temperature;
13. The publicity resulting from converting part
of the CFR will result in tourism becoming less
attractive;
14. A number of individuals, NGOs and corporations
currently licensed to carry out activities in line
with sustainable forest management will have
their investment and planned activities affected;
15. Investors in industrial plantations elsewhere in
the country may face hostility from local people
who may themselves desire to acquire forest
land, which they see as being allocated to foreign
investors;
16. There are no indications that the public
opposition to the degazzettement of the CFR will
diminish;
17. There could be insecurity to the investor over
Mabira allocation;
18. The proposed degazettement is likely to impact
negatively on the image of the country
As indicated above, both sides of the contention
have strong arguments for their case. The arguments
have however, not been translated into a common
denominator to allow for impartial comparison of the
benefits and costs of degazetting part of the forest.
The Economic Valuation of the Proposed Degazettement of Mabira CFR | 2011