2006年VOA标准英语-Environmentalists Blast Ugandan President For P

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By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
14 December 2006

Environmental groups and others are upset with the Ugandan president's plans to clear-cut some of the country's remaining forests to make room for plantations² that he says will boost the economy. Cathy Majtenyi reports from VOA's East Africa bureau in Nairobi.

 
Yoweri Museveni 
President Yoweri Museveni's plans target two forested areas: the island of Bugala on Lake Victoria; and Mabira Forest Reserve, which has been protected since 1932.

A local palm oil company, called Bidco, has been seeking a license³ to remove forests on Bugala Island to set up a plantation¹ there.

Meanwhile, the Mehta Group of companies wants to clear-cut about 7,000 hectares, almost one-third, of the Mabira Forest Reserve to expand its sugar operations.

In parliament this week, Museveni defended the clear-cutting plans. He said Uganda is, "a very backward country", and the reason for that, he said, is because Uganda is not industrialized.

The president's push for the two projects angers environmentalists, such as Arthur Bainomugisha, research director with the Advocates Coalition⁴ for Development and the Environment.

"We are shocked and alarmed that the president has consistently undermined the integrity of our environment," he said, " in spite of the pressure from both within and from without, and also empirical evidence that the forests and the natural resources have a direct relationship with what is happening on the environmental crisis that we are facing, which has to do with the declining levels of waters in Lake Victoria, River Nile and other rivers."

Many scientists maintain there is a link between deforestation and climate change.

They say forests trap moisture, keep temperatures cool and supply rainfall to the area by creating cloud cover. They also absorb excess carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses linked to global warming.

 
Water levels in Lake Victoria have dropped dramatically causing landing problems for the local fishermen, and destroying the breeding grounds for fish, 1 Nov 2006
Many scientists say cutting down forests results in less rainfall, decreased lake and river levels and warmer temperatures.

Environmentalist Bainomugisha tells VOA that forest covered 20 percent of Uganda 40 years ago, and now covers just seven percent.

He says environmental mismanagement is costly⁵ for his country.

"His [Museveni] minister of finance, this year, in June, when they were reading the budget, gave two reasons why the national development objectives could not be met last year, 2005-2006," he said.

"One, because of persistent⁶ drought; and two, because of the power shortage, or the energy crisis, all of which have an implication on the way we have managed the environment and natural resources," he continued.

When contacted by VOA, the senior presidential advisor⁷ would not comment on the issue, saying only that Ugandans have mixed opinions on the plans.

At the end of November, more than 2,000 protesters from Uganda, the United States, Israel and other places signed a petition urging President Museveni not to parcel out land from the Mabira Forest Reserve.

And, regarding Bugala Island, in early December, the executive director of the National Forestry⁸ Authority (NFA), Olav Bjella, resigned over his refusal to give Bidco a license to remove forests there.

According to the Uganda Tourism Board, eco-tourism generated some $300 million for Uganda last year.