Wood Harvesting Practices, Technologies and Safety Considerations in Small-Scale Private Forests in Uganda

Appropriate harvesting operations are critical in improving wood production from small-scale forests. In many developing countries, however, progression towards optimal harvesting has been slow. This has been especially due to limited investment in research to enhance the understanding of the technology and practices in small-scale harvesting operations. The current study contributes to local and international efforts geared towards optimizing small-scale harvesting operations by generating information on harvesting practices and technologies adopted in Mubende and Kassanda Districts, Uganda. Data were collected through participant interviews with 28 harvesters, focus group discussions, case-studies and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics were generated for the quantitative data and thematic content analysis was adopted for qualitative data. The study revealed that harvesting operations are dominated by men with limited formal training in efficient harvesting practices and technologies. Harvesting was predominantly motor manual using petrol-engine chainsaws and characterized by poor felling techniques. Seasonality greatly affected activities with peak outputs realized in the dry months of the year. Very little attention was paid to occupational health and safety although all the harvesters demonstrated fair knowledge of equipment maintenance. The major challenges faced included limited knowledge and skills in tree felling, harsh enforcement of the regulations on the use of chainsaw, and low awareness and compliance to occupational health and safety guidelines during the harvesting process. Generally, this study attributes the challenges experienced by the harvesters to the gap in formal training and best practices. The poor financial status of the harvesters also predisposed them to overlook safety especially regarding personal protective gear. Thus, building the capacity of small-scale forest harvesters in the areas of appropriate techniques and work safety is a potential entry point for any interventions tailored towards improving the small-scale forest value chain in the country.