**2.4.7 Collaboration in the utilization of timber off-cuts**

Uganda's Forest Policy is committed to promoting peoples' participation in resource management and a more equitable sharing of benefits from forest resources. One of the strategies of the policy is the promotion of public awareness programs as a positive community building action, to generate raw materials and income while improving the quality of the environment. Sawn timber is conveyed to the big towns and no conscious effort is made to sell lumber to the local people. Besides, huge quantities of off-cuts and sometimes logs are left behind in the forest as "waste". The communities believe that they could profitably utilize the wood and have entered into discussions with the lead forest agencies (NFA and DFS) to collect and use the wood. Their only wish is to have access to such timber to convert into merchantable and profitable products. This is likely to encourage the establishment of forest-based enterprises and generate employment. Ultimately, this will help improve upon the standard of living of forest fringe communities.
