From a position of pre-eminence amongst Forest Departments in Africa until the early 1970s, Uganda has slipped to the point where its depleted forest resources are under severe threat from clearance, neglect and abuse. The current situation is that a well educated and trained cadre of forestry staff have become de-motivated, increasingly isolated and unable to contribute effectively to the development of the forestry sector. There is no vision and no useful statement of policy. The Forest Act is outdated and often observed only in the breach. Considerable areas of good forest have been redefined as National Parks and thus removed from production although their service functions continue to be discharged.

None of the past activities has had significant impact on the policy and planning framework, and further development without such a framework is fraught with potential dangers of drift and poor focus on key issues. There is thus an urgent need to put in place a forestry sector planning framework which ensures the Forest Policy, Legislation and Sector Development are planned in a logical sequence and are internally consistent so that investment in the forestry sector can be properly facilitated and directed.

This project will contribute to a Government of Uganda (GoU) led, multi-donor, Forest Sector Umbrella Programme (FSUP). The purpose of the five-year programme is to create a positive, effective and sustainable policy and institutional environment for the forest sector in Uganda).

FSUP represents an innovative approach to the problems of the forest sector in Uganda. It will take a holistic, sector-wide approach - rather than being limited to the Forestry Department or to institutional and technical strengthening alone - and will be implemented as a process project with multi-donor support. It will be directed by the Consultative Group for Uganda's Forests (CGF) which will co-ordinate donor interventions with GoU priorities, ensure full stakeholder representation in consultation, and establish and maintain a sector consensus on principles of approach, management and strategy.

The programme will be implemented in two phases. The main output of the two-year Phase 1 will be a comprehensive National Forest Programme (NFP). This will be based on an in-depth sector review and will define institutional roles and responsibilities; present proposals for legislative, institutional, and policy reform; and outline the first three-year implementation plan. Pilot forest management approaches, together with a public awareness programme, will also be initiated during this phase.

Phase 2 will begin the process of implementing the NFP. Detailed activities will be decided as part of the NFP planning process, but are likely to focus on institutional development within the public, private and community sectors, as well as further development of forest management approaches. It is recognised that at least a further five-year period of donor support will be required to consolidate and sustain the process of development and change which will be initiated under Phase 1.

Sustainable increases in the economic and environmental benefits from forests and trees realised by the people of Uganda, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Positive, effective and sustainable policy and institutional environment created for the forestry sector in Uganda.

• Forest sector review and information monitoring system developed and operational.
• National Forest Programme developed, implemented and reviewed.
• Sustainable forest management approaches piloted and evaluated.
• Promotional and public education programme (P&PE) designed, implemented and evaluated.
• Legal, policy and procedural reforms related to forestry designed and proposed.
• Institutional development of leading forest sector institutions planned, commenced, and evaluated.
• Strengthened donor and sector co-ordination and monitoring, based on the CGUF.