Uganda's Habitats for Endangered Species Under Threat From Encroachers
Posted on: Thursday, 19 January 2006, 09:00 CST
Uganda's habitats for endangered species under threat from encroachers
KAMPALA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's habitats for endangered species are facing a threat of being destroyed by the over 180,000 encroachers, local press reported on Wednesday.
The state-owned New Vision reported that 180,000 encroachers are staying in government forest reserves destroying the catchment areas for water and habitants for endangered species.
Muzizi River, that runs across a chain of forests in western Uganda and provides habitats for chimpanzees and gorillas, is one of the heavily encroached areas. Uganda holds half of the global population of gorillas, estimated at 750.
Other areas that have been heavily encroached on are south Busoga forest reserve in eastern Uganda and forests in Masaka in central Uganda.
Previous evictions drives had secured forest reserves such as Mabira, Kibaale, Mountain Elgon and Bwindi Impenetrable Forests, which is home to about 750 gorillas.
However some of the encroachers have gone back to some of the forest reserves with the help of politicians.
Gaster Kiyingi, the spokesperson of the National Forestry Authority, was quoted by local press as saying that eviction of encroachers had been suspended and that the forestry authority is now creating awareness so that the encroachers appreciate that they have to vacate the reserves.
"It is a difficult situation in the political arena because no one wants to rise against encroachment," Kiyingi said, adding that they had left political leaders out of the awareness campaigns.
Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS
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