UGANDA PROTECTORATE. 295 



instituted in the eastern province, where Chlorophora excelsa, 

 growing on open grass land, has suffered considerably from fires. 



The natural regeneration of the more valuable species in the 

 natural forests is not good. A considerable area of open land 

 has lately been reserved for planting, and about 450 acres have 

 been stocked, but no details as to species, &c., are available. 



Comparatively little is done to assist private individuals, as 

 such assistance is seldom asked for. 



The Forest Authority. — The Chief Forest Officer has almost 

 complete control over the Government forests. He is assisted 

 by two Assistant Forest Officers, a Manager of the Government 

 Timber Supply, and a Native staff of foresters, guards and clerks. 

 The essential duties of the staff are the exploitation, survey and 

 demarcation of forest areas, the conservation and development 

 of their resources, the issue of permits, the collection of forest 

 revenue, &c. The superior staff' is recruited through the Colonial 

 Office. The native staff is given some training at centres where 

 work is proceeding. 



Details of revenue and expenses are not available. There is 

 nothing to record as regards forest activity of municipalities, or 

 private persons, societies and research. No data are available 

 from which the Increment, Utilization, Imports or Exports could 

 be ascertained. 



5. Summary and Outlook. 



It is believed by the local authorities that the annual cut is 

 much less than the increment of all the forests, but the increment 

 of the species at present exploited may be less than their utiliza- 

 tion, owing to their being mostly mature trees with little regenera- 

 tion. The object of the Department is, therefore, to bring, by 

 proper silvicultural methods, the forests into a more normal 

 condition, so as to provide a sustained and increasing yield. 



The most urgent measure is the systematic exploration of the 

 forests, to locate them and to estimate their areas, map them, 

 estimate their contents and yield capacity. The latter should 

 then be compared with future requirements and a scheme of 

 management determined accordingly. 



Professor Troup's forthcoming report is likely to replace this 

 meagre account. 



