A century of forest management research in Uganda: 1898-1998

The early people of Uganda derived their livelihood from natural forests by collecting wild fruits for food, fuelwood for domestic heating and metal working, wood for building and making canoes for fishing and warfare, herbs and other plant parts for medicine, and many other social and cultural uses. Subsequently forestry management developed into economic activities to supply both fuelwood and timber for domestic and industrial uses, for export. Forests were also cleared for establishment of plantation crops such as coffee, sugar cane and tea. Early investigations explored the stocking of rubber trees and l'ines in the natural forests and ecological, studies which culminated in the publication of the book " Indigenous Trees of Uganda" in 1951. This was followed by the development of silvicultural research involving underplanting of residual forest after logging; and the development of polycyclic selection method and a monocyclic shelterwood silvicultural system. Plantation forestry research in Uganda was in itiated to iden tify suitable species for increased aìd reliable production of timber and ott1er forest products. This was mainly because the natural forests were incapable of supplying the quantities and types of timber demanded by the market. Suitable species and provenances for plantation forestry have been identified including the techniques for raising and managing them. This paper gives information on fo rest management research in Uganda from 1898-1998. It also gives highlights on future research in both natural and plantation forests.Key words: Forest management research. natural. plantation, silvicultur