DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM
Until recently, 89.7% of the Mubende population was still using Fuel wood. 8.6% used charcoal for cooking. That means that 98.3% of the population was highly dependant on trees for energy. Charcoal from private and public land is estimated 360,000 bags that are estimated to be 5,400 tonnes (source: forestry office, Mubende). 
The Timber and Other Wood Products factors
As for timber production, before the split of the district, Old Mubende had 12 active licensed pit-sawyers that cut a volume that yielded 3,360cubic metres of timber. New Mubende, starting August 2005- May2006, had 6 licensed pit-sawyers who harvested 922.12 cubic metres of sawn wood exceeding the NFA permitted 900cubic metres by the end of June. In the year 2006-2007, only 4 pit-sawyers were licensed after immense lobbying by the district authorities. The axe of contention was that NFA had pronounced that Mubende had no tree resources to satisfy the economic demands of 4 pit sawyers.
Annually about 68,000 poles mainly of eucalyptus and other tree species are cleared from private and public land. Industrial poles used annually are estimated at 21,000 poles and commercial poles estimated at 36,000 poles. The domestic poles used are estimated at 17,000 poles (District Development Plan).
In Mubende, the threats of deforestation by charcoal burning, timber production, farm encroachment and fires, are so real that dire consequences have been reported.

THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES

Falling Water Tables

District mini surveys, continue to reveal more drying up water sources. Also, some Permanent wetlands are becoming seasonal wetlands. The level of awareness on this issue is almost 100% in all rural areas.

Increasing Droughts

Increased crop failures in the First season of March to June are on the increase. Farmers are starting to skip the season altogether. Increased incidences of drought especially in the cattle corridor s/counties are being experienced.

C.  Worrying revelations from Rainfall Monitoring Stations

Data received from the Department of Meteorology from Kamenyamigo and Ntusi meteorological stations, (Mubende is in the same climatic zone), reveals that there is a lot of negative departure from the Long-term Mean of rainfall amounts in the climatic zone.
D.   The Decreasing availability of Wood Products.
The prices of tree products are going up as demand exceeds supply. The scarcity of building poles has led to a culture where a single pole is split up into four. NB.77% of all Mubende district dwelling units in 2002 was temporary and 12% were semi permanent.
Livelihood suggestions based on agricultural initiates but lacking environmental considerations are unsustainable.  According to Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics (1993) direction in developing strategies that both mitigate land degradation, deforestation, and biological resource losses, helping the economic status of tropical countries through promotion of sustainable agricultural practices; is critically needed. Those Rain forests are rapidly being cleared in the humid tropics to keep pace with food demands, economic needs, and population growth. Without proper management, these forests and other natural resources will be seriously depleted within the next 50 years.

Effective management of environmental resources is a critical component of the development process. With your support, agro-forestry, tree nurseries, tree adopting, tree planting, tree growing and fuel wood saving campaigns can be done.

ACT NOW