The Ministry of Water and Environment has banned the issuing of all documents facilitating the commercial production, trade and movement of charcoal and other forest products from Gulu district.
Atim Beatrice Anywar, the State Minister of Water and Environment issued the directive which stemmed from the growing issue of illegal charcoal production and timber logging which has led to environmental degradation in the Acholi sub-region.
According to Anywar, it’s estimated that a total of 38,700 (6.2%) hectares of forest cover between 2010 and 2021 have been lost and the district no longer has sufficient biomass resources to commercially produce charcoal.
“It is against this background that all issues of forest produce movement documentation for charcoal or timber from Gulu district, regardless of the source is forthwith suspended except the harvests meant for local consumption within the district,” she said.
Anywar has also recalled all forest produce permit books issued to the district by the Ministry of Water and Environment with immediate effect.
Gulu district has been the epicenter of environmental degradation in the sub-region owing to its central location along major transit routes.