Development Impacts of Deforestation in LMICs

Summary

Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, spanning approximately 41,144 hectares, is one of Uganda’s most ecologically significant forests, serving as a vital biodiversity hotspot and a key wildlife corridor between major conservation areas. Despite its protected status since 1932, Bugoma faces increasing threats from agricultural expansion, particularly sugarcane cultivation, which was legally sanctioned despite public opposition. Urbanization, infrastructure development and resource extraction have further increased human pressure on the forest, disrupting the traditional coexistence between local communities and the ecosystem. Efforts by civil society organizations to halt deforestation through legal action have been unsuccessful, largely due to a lack of quality scientific evidence, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the forest and the exclusion of local voices in land-use decisions.

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