Mugalu forest is a private forest that is owned by the Mugalu family. It is 150 hectares, and roughly 500 years old. Main tree dominants include Bosquiea phoberos and Pseudospondias macrocarpa (Table 5a., Appendix II). A total of 50 different tree species were encountered in the sampled area of this forest, with an average dbh of 25.51 cm and mean height of 10.33 meters. Tree density is about 99 trees per hectare. Although not all dominant trees are not dominant as saplings, they are still well-represented among the sapling community indicating fairly decent recruitment. The only exception is Prunus africana, a rare and valuable hardwood species, which is completely absent among the sapling population. This species is however well known for its poor regeneration capacity.
The main forest-related activities include commercial fuelwood harvesting, charcoal burning and pitsawing. About 53 people live within 5Km of the forest. Tree density and species diversity are low; the forests’ commercial value is low, but its subsistence value is high. Tree densities within the forest are decreasing due to clearing for cultivation, pitsawing, charcoal burning and commercial fuelwood harvesting. The forest area has also decreased in size. Users feel that forest condition is poor and that the level of forest protection and regulation is too low. Generally the forest is under enormous threat from clearing for cultivation and through intensified harvesting for commercial fuelwood.