Three communities, two corporations, one forest: forest resource use and conflict, Mabira forest, Uganda

The Mabira Forest Reserve in southern Uganda is subject to multiple sources of stress. It is flanked, particularly on the southern and eastern sides, by tea and sugar plantations and factories, and its boundaries are peppered with small communities. In addition to these external sources of pressure, Mabira also includes several enclave communities within the reserve’s boundaries (see Map 1). The tea and sugar plantations around Mabira continuously consume forest products such as timber and fuelwood, both for their own operations and for the sustenance of their workers. Several of these estates engage in at least some measure of forestry on their own lands, but it is clear that some of the products they and their workers use are extracted from Mabira. Many residents of the villages surrounding Mabira rely on the tea and sugar estates for employment, yet they often resent the presence and heavy hand of industry in the region. Villagers rely on forest products, such as fuelwood, fruit, water, and timber for their daily activities, but they often find it difficult to procure these items. Felling of trees for timber or fuelwood is illegal, but forest guards, either due to lack of familiarity with forest law or corruption, often also stop the collection of water, fruit, and deadwood, all of which are legal pursuits. The interactions between the corporations, communities, and the forest are often quite complex. The aim of this study is to untangle these relations and to gain a clearer picture of the dynamics involved. The research team worked with community members, forest department personnel, and company managers to understand their various needs, concerns, wishes, and future plans. These efforts resulted in an at tempt to identify options available to all the stakeholders in order to facilitate more collaborative interactions

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5716/WP04349.PDF

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