For the thousands of people who live scattered around its fringes, Echuya Forest in south west Uganda is a place rich in vital resources. The bamboo that grows within its 35 square kilometres supplies the raw material for basket-weaving, one of the major local trades, while its other natural assets furnish locals with fuel, building materials and foodstuffs. The forest is a great provider that, as the numbers of trees and shrubs outside its boundaries have dwindled in recent years, has become more precious than ever.