Zadock Amanyisa | Tayari News
Saturday, March 21, 2026, was International Day of Forests, a day that celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On this day, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organise activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.
“Forests and economies” is the theme of the 2026 International Day of Forests, celebrating the essential roles of forests in driving economic prosperity. These roles go well beyond income and jobs from forest production and the trade of renewable raw materials and foods: forests also sustain family and community agriculture, enhance agricultural productivity, and safeguard healthy watersheds.
Why do we need forests?
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Forests provide a variety of edible resources, from fruits, nuts, and seeds to wild game and mushrooms. More than five billion people depend on forests and non-timber products for food, medicine, and income.
By sustaining pollinators, improving soil fertility, and regulating water cycles, forests enhance agricultural productivity. Agroforestry—a farming method that integrates trees and crops—can boost food security while preserving ecosystems.
Forests also act as carbon sinks, absorbing billions of metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Sustainable forest management helps mitigate climate change, protecting food systems from climate-related disasters like droughts and floods.
They also host 80% of terrestrial species, supporting ecosystems that sustain healthy, resilient food systems. Protecting forests is crucial for maintaining biodiversity, preventing land degradation, and securing food sources.
Millions of people, especially the indigenous groups in rural communities, rely on forests for employment and income. Strengthening sustainable forest-based value chains—like non-timber forest products—improves economic resilience.
An estimated USD 44 trillion – more than half of the world’s gross domestic product depends on nature, including forests.
As of 2020, 9.0% of land cover in Uganda was natural forests, and 0.98% was non-natural tree cover. The Country had 8.0 Mha of land above 10% tree cover, extending over 38% of its land area, according to the Global Forest Watch.
The National Forestry Authority says Uganda has nearly 5 million hectares of forests, accounting for 24% of the land area.
Uganda’s forests are classified into natural forests and montane forests. These biodiversity-rich ecosystems are categorised into Central Forest Reserves, community forests, and protected national parks, managed for ecological stability and biodiversity.
The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) Executive Director, Dr Akankwasah Barirega says Uganda’s Forest cover had reduced from 24% in 1990 to 9% in 2015, and Uganda had almost run out of forest cover, but efforts from different players saw the cover grow to 12.7% in 2025. He says the efforts to recover what has been lost are paying off.
“We have been able to reverse the decline and halt the cover loss, and started a positive curve to recovery, and we are now moving on a positive trajectory. The journey is still long, but it has started,” says Dr Akankwasah
In Uganda, forests sustain rural communities with food, medicine, and income, while offering a practical solution to one of the country’s most urgent challenges: youth unemployment, according to Leonidas Hitimana, Forestry Programme Team Lead, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Uganda
“With nearly half (48.8%) of young people aged 18–30 seeking work, forestry offers scalable employment opportunities for rural youth, in activities such as tree nursery management, plantation management, and in value addition activities like sawmilling”
“For decades, the country’s natural forest cover has shrunk, with nearly a quarter of its forest cover lost between 1990 and 2005. In the early 2000s, the government undertook deliberate policy and institutional reforms aimed at increasing forest cover and reversing deforestation. A key element of this reform was the deliberate promotion of commercial forestry,” said Hitimana
He explains that plantations have become a growing and significant part of Uganda’s forestry-based economy, with over USD 400 million invested, making forestry one of Uganda’s most vibrant areas of private investment.
“Through initiatives like the European Union-funded Sustainable Wood-Based Value Chains project, FAO is supporting Uganda to unlock this potential, driving investment, creating jobs, and positioning the country as a competitive player in regional and global timber markets.”
Dr Akankwasah, attributes tree cover loss to rapid population growth, which demands more land for settlement and agriculture. Urbanisation, industrialisation, and increased demand for solid biomass for fuel have also led to a decrease in tree cover.
“The size of the land remains the same, but the population is moving at a very fast rate. In 1980, we were 12 million, but now we are 50 million. The regional forest cover stands at 21%, meaning that Uganda is operating below the regional level. The global level is 31%. We must work hard as a country to restore the forest cover. It is possible if we work together,” Dr Akankwasah noted
According to the Uganda National Household Survey (2019/2020), 73% and 21% of households in Uganda use firewood and charcoal for food preparation, respectively. Collectively, charcoal and firewood are the main fuel for cooking in 94 per cent of homes in Uganda.
Due to forest cover loss, Uganda is exposed to threats like soil erosion, disrupted water cycles, and increased greenhouse gas emissions, among others. This has an impact on the economy.
According to World Bank statistics on climate change, floods impact nearly 50,000 people and cause the loss of over $62 million in GDP. Records from Red Cross Uganda indicate that the floods that hit the country in late April and early May 2023 displaced at least 13,000 people and caused 18 deaths.
If protected, forests have the capacity to shield other sections of the ecosystems and humanity from danger with their natural abilities.