NFA deploys digital tool to combat illegal activities in forests

MASINDI, July 24, 2024  –  To strengthen protected forest management in the country, the National Forestry Authority [NFA] has decided to use Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool [SMART] to capture and record real-time data on illegal activities taking place in the forests.

According to James Mununa, NFA’s Coordinator of Law enforcement and Governance, when SMART captures data on illegal activities in the forest, say Bundongo forest, it sends it to the NFA server, and deployment of responsible officers to apprehend the culprits is done immediately.

Mununa was speaking on Tuesday at NFA offices in Masindi district as Wildlife Conservation Society Uganda [WCS] was handing over assorted equipment intended to support law enforcement operations in Budongo forest.

The equipment that cost about Shs 80 million included 10 sleeping bags, two laptops, one desktop computer, four internet routers, one motorcycle, 35 rechargeable torches,  30 waist bags, protective gears, hard drives, and two solar panel systems among other items.

“These equipment are going to help us to be everywhere and help us in the effective management of the forests,” he said.

Handing over the equipment, Isaac Kiirya, Projects Manager WCS noted that the donation was made possible with support from TotalEnergies under Tilenga Project, adding that the company has an obligation to leave Budongo Forest Reserve, and Murchison Falls National Park the way they found it after the oil activities.

“We are going to train NFA staff on data analysis, data collection among others. These equipment are going to help curb illegal activities. Illegal activities are going to be portrayed as per the data collected. They will be able to understand which part of the forest needs more patrols,” Kiirya noted.

Boaz Basigirenda, the Budongo Range System  Manager said the equipment is going to help them get real-time data.

“The tents are going to help us camp in the forest reserves. There’s now no excuse for my staff not to work,” he added.

He added that with the support of WCS they have also been able to restore parts of Budongo forest, adding that they have restored 50 hectares in Rwensama, planted 40ha of pine at Nyabyeya Forestry College, restored 11.5ha of Budongo forest, restored 131ha of Bugoma forest among others.

According to Global Forest Watch, in 2010, Uganda had 6.92 Mha of natural forest, extending over 29% of its land area. In 2023, it lost 68.7 kha of natural forest, equivalent to 36.3 Mt of CO₂ emissions.

https://thecooperator.news/nfa-updates-budongo-forest-management-plan/

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