On 18th July 2023, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) supported the National Forestry Authority (NFA) in training senior management team in use of Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART).
The tool is intended to support the agency’s operational responsibilities such as law enforcement, data collection, analysis and reporting on any biodiversity and management activities in central forests reserves under NFA custody.
The training was attended by 24 REDD+ Project Development team from; Itwara, Muhangi, and Kibego under the Itwara Sector of the Muzizi River Range, Budongo, Nyabyeya, and Rwensama under the Budongo Sector of Budongo Range, and Wambabya under Kisindi Sector of Budongo Systems Range, Bunyoro sub region of Uganda.
REDD+ is an acronym for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation. The Plus sign (+) stands for the role of Conservation, Sustainable Forest Management and Enhancement of Carbon Socks (REDD+)
The REDD+ strategy and Action Plan is supported by several frameworks which include:
i) Feedback Grievance and Redress Mechanism (FGRM);
ii) Benefit Sharing Arrangements (BSA);
iii) Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) and the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF);
iv) National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS);
v) Safeguard Information System;
vii) Indigenous People Planning Framework and;
viii) Resettlement Policy Framework for REDD+.
Uganda is committed to complying with the above frameworks and the application of Safeguards and Information System for Uganda REDD+ as an integral component of the UN-REDD+ strategy.
The training was delivered by WCS staff; Isaac Kirya and Peter Nsubuga Bisimbeko at Kontiki Hotel, Hoima City Uganda.