Local capacity to manage forest resources under a decentralized system of governance: the case study of Uganda

Dissertation presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy(Community Forestry) at the University of Stellenbosch.

The study aims at examining technical and institutional capacity in local organizations to manage decentralized forests resources in Uganda. Specially the study assessed the roles, responsibilities, powers and legal instruments, incentives, facilities and human fiscal structured and key informant interviews were conducted in local organizations and legal and policy documents reviewed to ascertain strategies for implementing decentralized forestry-an inventory of selected forests was conducted to access effect of decentralization policy on the condition of forests in Uganda. Chi-square tests were used to show the factors that motivate local organizations to participate in the decentralized forest governance. Tree species diversity and richness, density, diameter at breast height and basal area and sings of human disturbance were used to compare the conditions of forests under local government and those under private and central government ownership. Similarity between the forests was assessed using a two way indicator species analysis, while the differences in the composition and structural characteristics of trees among the forest ownership categories were compared by one way analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to show the influence of house hold pressure, forest size, the distance of forest from roads and forest administrative office, and the market demand for forest products on capacity of forest agencies to regulate timber harvesting. The finding reveals that local organizations supported devolved forest management functions such as forest monitoring, tree planting, environmental education, networking, collaborative and integrated planning, resources mobilizing and formulation of byelaws. The role of forestry in live hoods of people, the desire to control forest degradation and access to forest revenue donor and central government fiscal support were the most important incentives in the decentralized forests management. However the limited capacity in terms of the qualified staff, funds facilities and equipment and inadequate decision making powers over fiscal resources from forestry, inequitable distribution of forest revenue and unclear forest and tree tenure hindered decentralized forest management. The diversity and richness indices, density , diameter at breast height and the basal area of trees were significantly higher in central forest reserves, intermediate in private and lower in local forest reserves. The frequency of human disturbance was significantly higher in local forests reserves than in private and central forest reserves. The variation in composition and structure of local forest reserves is partially attribute to human disturbances. The capacity of the forest agencies to regulate forest resources use in Mpigi was significantly affected by the size of the forest, and its location in relation to the well-maintained roads, forests administrative office and the number of households in close proximity and the market demand for forest produce. Large forests in close proximity to densely populated areas and far away from roads and forest administrative office were more affected by timber harvesting. The results demonstrate that local governments are not yet efficient in monitoring and regulating forest use and maintaining the condition of forests in Uganda. Local organizations need to play an increased role in the implementing of forest policy, The National Forestry and Tree Planting and the Local Government Acts for successful decentralization of forest management and to recruit more technical staff, strengthen internal sources of revenue and develop integrated forestry work plans. There is also a need of central government to integrate and coordinate local and central interests, and facilitate a working relationship with local governments, civil society and the private sector involved in forestry. Forest owners and managers in Mpigi forests and Uganda’s tropical forests in general need to manage human impacts so as to balance utilization and conservation forest resources. There is need for long term study to fully understand the real significance of ownership on the composition and structure of the Mpigi forests and forests in other districts of Uganda.