SCALE OF OPPORTUNITY VERSUS THE PLEDGE
A total of 8,079,622.1 million hectares was identified as available for restoration using different options. 31%(2,500,000 hectares) of this was translated into the Uganda pledge towards the Bonn challenge. The landscape zones, area and FLR techniques are as follows:
- Afro-montane – 691,161.1 hectares through natural regeneration and agro-forestry
- Karamoja – 1,775,156.2 hectares through woodlots
- Lake Victoria crescent – 394,491 hectares through agro-forestry
- Northern moist – 2,631,314.7 hectares through woodlots and agro-forestry
- South East Lake Kyoga flood plain – 393,639.5 hectares through agroforestry
- Western mid-altitude 1,039,519.5 hectares through agro-forestry
STATUS OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS
The ROAM process for Uganda commenced in June 2014 and unlike other processes, Uganda dedicated more time in bringing the key stakeholders on board, including setting up a multi-sectoral national FLR team. The assessment was completed and the report is undergoing review; awaiting final print and official launch which will be undertaken by the Ministry of Water and Environment on 29-30th November 2016. Below is a summary of the phases, and the implementation status:
- Preparatory phase: Seeking political buy - in, awareness creation among stakeholders, putting in place a ROAM team, capacity building for the ROAM team. COMPLETED.
- Situation analysis: Assessment of environmental challenges and national priorities, stakeholder consultations, identification of landscape restoration opportunities, Cost benefit analysis, identification of available data sets and data sources for use in assessments. COMPLETED.
- Assessment of restoration options and investment opportunities: Readiness diagnostic, restoration opportunity maps, economic and financial analysis and ground truthing. Completed.
- Final phase: Consolidation of findings into a report; launching and dissemination of the report. FINAL STAGES.
OTHER MAIN OUTCOMES
The ROAM process in Uganda led to a zonation of the country into relatively homogeneous landscapes in terms of restoration-relevant characteristics, for on-going national forest landscape restoration initiatives. This zonation is being referred to by Government under on-going national processes such as REDD+ preparedness.
The initial geo-spatial mapping provided updated information which was used to prepare the state of forests report for Uganda. The two processes went hand in hand and the Ministry has organized to launch the two publications on the same day.
A flier on the Uganda ROAM process highlighting the key findings and proposed restoration options was prepared and widely disseminated. The Uganda process offered various lessons which were shared widely including at the World Forestry Congress.
A map depicting seven classified landscapes was produced through a participatory process, including the national ROAM Core team. The production of the stratification map involved overlays of the Agro-ecological GIS layer, with specific focus on three main attributes namely: Climatic factors, Altitude, and Farming systems.

Zone, area (km2) and main characteristics
- Afro-montane landscapes cover 113,342 km2, characterised by Bimodal high rainfall (>1,200 mm/year); banana, coffee, Irish potato, and vegetables farming systems
- Karamoja covers 105,941 km2, characterised by unimodal low rainfall (400–700 mm/year); with majorly pastoral livestock system
- Lake Victoria Crescent covers 115,947.6 km2, characterised by bimodal high rainfall >1,200 mm/year; banana-coffee farming system
- North Moist Landscape covers 132,484.1 km2, characterised by majorly unimodal low to high rainfall (1000-1200mm/yr) and majorly grow cereal & tuber crops, cotton and legumes
- South East L. Kyoga Flood Plain covers 122,560 km2, characterised by bimodal high rainfall >1,200 mm/year; Finger millet, banana, maize farming system
- Southwest Rangeland covers 126,593.6 km2, characterised by bimodal low to medium rainfall (900–1,200 mm/year); banana, cereal and livestock farming system
- Western Mid-Altitude Landscape covers 150,151.5 km2, characterised by average rainfall of 1,270 mm with high variability; Western Banana-coffee system, maize, beans, Irish potato, sorgum and vegetables
KEY CONTACTS
Government
- Ms Margaret Adata, Commissioner for Forestry, Forestry Sector Support Department (FSSD), Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE). Email; adatamargaret@gmail.com
- Mr. Bob Kazungu, Senior Forestry Officer, FSSD, MoWE. Email; bob.kazungu@gmail.com
IUCN
Mrs Sophie Kutegeka Mbabazi, Head of Office, IUCN Uganda country Office. Email: Sophie.kutegeka@iucn.org