The Economics of the Conservation of Mabira Forest Under Climate Change

Introduction

In this short commentary, we explore the economics of conserving the Mabira Forest in Central Uganda under climate change. The goal is to show that the benefits of conserving the forest outweigh whatever benefits come from cutting it down. This assessment can aid in determining the best land use solution in line with mitigating the climate change crisis.

The Mabira Forest

Value

The Mabira Forest is a rainforest covering about 300 square kilometres (30,000 hectares), some of which could be sold to a more polluting country for a given number of years as carbon credits (Bonnerot, 2023). The money generated from selling the credits could go to the development of Ugandan infrastructure, such as roads and hospitals or used to pay debts to countries like China.

The Mabira Forest is home to endangered animal species such as the Lophocebus ugandae (Grey-cheeked mangabey). It is also home to 200 plant species that are used for medicinal purposes. Medicinal plants form an integral part of many healthcare systems in Uganda. In a study by Asiimwe et al. (2021), of the 136 medicinal plants recorded, 44% were used for digestive disorders, 38% for respiratory and 36% for dermatological disorders. Hoslundia opposita Vahl (bird gooseberry) was mentioned by 71% of the study respondents for treating 22 disease conditions, and about 61% of the plants were harvested from wild habitats. As of 2019, the annual forest recreational value was 2.1 billion UGX (577,446 USD) (Tugume et al., 2022).

Being one of the most extensive forests in East Africa, it absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide and heat. It is also a rain catchment for areas supplying the Ssezibwa and Nile Rivers through convectional rainfall. Central Uganda, where the forest is located, is at a low risk of wildfires, making it ideal to be used for carbon offset projects due to its persistence and longevity.

Problems

The Mabira Forest still faces the problem of malicious fires set by hostile communities in retaliation for a refusal to allow them access rights and land conflicts between communities and agro-commodity companies (Opige et al., 2023). There is also the issue of the government giving away large portions of the forest for planting sugarcane fields (East African Jungle Safaris, n.d.). The problem of irreversibility, as it is difficult to plant trees in areas they have never been before, is the process known as afforestation (Piazza & Roy, 2019). Favourable areas for afforestation are often found amidst dense population centres. At the same time, the remaining land typically consists of barren expanses or regions at heightened risk of wildfires, landslides, and other natural disasters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, safeguarding the Mabira Forest remains paramount for the Ugandan government due to its multifaceted significance to the nation and the global community.

Media Attributions

Figure 1: “Mabira has natural habitat of 312 species of trees” by National Forestry Authority (n.d.) (Uganda) [website] is used with permission.

Figure 2: “Mabira forest in Ugandaa” by Ndahiro derrick (2020), via Wikimedia Commons, is used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

References

Asiimwe, S., Namukobe, J., Byamukama, R., & Imalingat, B. (2021). Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant species used by communities around Mabira and Mpanga Central Forest Reserves, Uganda. Tropical Medicine and Health, 49, Article 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-021-00341-z.

Bonnerot, C. (2023, December 10). The United Arab Emirates’ takeover of African forests. Le Monde. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2023/12/10/the-united-arab-emirates-takeover-of-african-forests_6328426_124.html.

East African Jungle Safaris. (n.d.). Mabira forest reserve. https://eastafricanjunglesafaris.com/destinations/uganda/mabira-forest-reserve/.

Grate Make Films. (2023, October 7). Mabira forest | RainForest | HD Aerial View [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=VrkaOBkkxqg&ab_channel=GrateMakeFilms.

National Forestry Authority. (n.d.). Mabira central forest reserve. https://www.nfa.go.ug/index.php/11-eco-tourism/91-mabira-forest.

Ndahiro derrick. (2020). Mabira forest in Ugandaa [Image]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mabira_forest_in_Ugandaa.jpg

Opige, M., Ssemmanda, R., Nangendo, G., & Mutyaba, J. (2022). Supporting effective fire management in Uganda. Tropical Forest, (61), 181–185. https://doi.org/10.55515/QFIM7218.

Piazza, A., & Roy, S. (2019). Irreversibility and the economics of forest conservation. Economic Theory, 69, 667–711. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-019-01175-x.

Tugume, P., Kakudidi, E., & Nyakoojo, C. (2022). Analysis of the value, visitor expenditure patterns and employment benefits from forest recreation in Mabira central forest reserve, Uganda. Forestry Ideas, 28(1), 215–230. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362523525_ANALYSIS_OF_THE_VALUE_VISITOR_EXPENDITURE_PATTERNS_AND_EMPLOYMENT_BENEFITS_FROM_FOREST_RECREATION_IN_MABIRA_CENTRAL_FOREST_RESERVE_UGANDA.