Mutagamba says by the end of this September, as the dealers apply for permits, they will show plans to plant trees, and have to be in position to plant at the start of the first year of registration.

This comes at a time when timber resource on private, community and public lands have more or less been wiped out.

She says as a result of the illegal timber harvesters, who have also invaded some of the Central Forest Reserves, Uganda is losing over 92,000 hectares per year and the current reforestation and afforestation efforts do not commensurate with this decline.

The government says while issuing permits to charcoal dealers, priority will be given to those who are already planting; and that they should be able to plant on their own land or on the bare hills.

She adds that the firewood and charcoal dealers shall declare sources of wood to the District Forestry Services (DFS) who will in turn ensure that records of species and volumes are taken, monitored and immediately shared with the Regulatory Unit.

Mutagamba warns that failure “to adhere to this shall lead to penalties including cancellation of permits, non renewal or denial of permits followed by prosecution and publicity of the culprit.”

Government’s concern for the protection of the forestry resource of this country led to the Reform of the Forestry Sector from 1998 – 2003. This led to the formulation of the National Forest Policy of 2001, the National Forest Plan 2002, the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003.

The reform also divested the management of the forestry resources to the National Forestry Authority (NFA), the District Forestry Services (DFS), the Private Sector and local communities with the Central Government Retaining the oversight and regulatory functions.

In March this year, the minister suspended timber harvesting throughout the country for three months, in accordance the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003 and set up a task force to operationalize the directive.

This aimed at reducing illegal timber harvesting in the country.

In this regard, the ministry of water and environment is going to establish a Regulatory Unit in the Forestry Sector Support Department by 30th September 2012.

This unit, she says, the unit will take charge of all aspects of Forest Produce licensing and trade; and also strengthen the regulatory function and monitoring compliance to the regulations.

Mutagamba adds that the ministry will also issue “new forge proof licenses/permits will be issued with effect from next month.