National Forestry and Tree Planting Regulations, 2016.

The Regulations provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable forest management in Uganda and apply to all forests, forest owners, producers, and users of forest products, and emphasize conservation, biodiversity protection, watershed management, and equitable sharing of benefits. The regulations cover forest management planning, collaborative forest management, conservation of reserved and protected species, fire management, licensing, and the control of invasive or exotic species. They also establish clear obligations for private and community forests, including registration, management planning, and replanting duties after harvesting.Additionally, the regulations extend to trade in forest products and carbon sequestration credits, certification of tree seeds and forest produce, and revenue collection from forest resources. They introduce measures for monitoring timber quality, setting minimum tree girths for felling, and ensuring value-added tax compliance. To enhance accountability, the framework mandates transparent licensing, market-oriented pricing, and equitable distribution of benefits. They also promote community participation in forest management and recreation, foster private sector involvement in tree seed supply, and encourage certification schemes to promote sustainable forestry practices. The text consists of 116 Articles and 21 Schedules.