Kampala — A new report reveals that there is more money in forests than widely believed. The report, released on Tuesday, estimates contribution of Uganda's forests to the local people's livelihoods at Shs332.3 billion and contribution to stabilising environment such as providing more nutrients at Shs222.2 billion.

"So the total value from forests comes to about Shs594 billion," said Dr Andrew Plumptre, the director of the Albertine Rift Programme, Wildlife Conservation Society as he presented the report at Hotel Africana on Tuesday.

This value is up from Shs464 billion in 1998 and is about 5.2% of Uganda's annual production. The World Bank estimates Uganda's GDP this year at $5.8 billion.

The report, "The Value of Uganda's Forests: a livelihoods and Ecosystem approach' is the work of The National Forest Authority and Wildlife Conservation Society.

"Average annual incomes from forestry ranged between 8-35 percent of the total annual incomes to the households. The total annual contribution of forests to local peoples' livelihoods at the national level was calculated to be Shs332.3 billion," says the report.

The study estimates formal forest sector such as pit sawing, fire wood and charcoal at Shs181.7 billion. Informal forest sector such as using poles amounts to Shs190.02 billion. The non marketable values like soil conversation have been estimated at Shs222.22 billion.

The study involved 696 households and 48 villages in Rwenzori, Bugoma, Budongo, and Kasagala. "Initially, there were no studies. And finance kept pestering us for studies," said Mr Eliphaz Bazira, commissioner, ministry of Water, Lands and Environment. He said putting a value to Uganda's forests will make government think twice about their destruction.

"Forests are good for Uganda," said Mr Olav Bjella, NFA executive director. "But you are losing it because of poor management." Dr Yakobo Moyini, a consultant said: "For the rich and powerful, natural resource is not that sexy. If you live in Kololo, you wouldn't care much about deforestation. You are planning a trip to London and so on."

He said for politicians, with a five year term limit, benefits from forests are invisible because they are long term - beyond the terms of office of the politicians.