Listing Forests as an Agent: Data Buyers Need
Updated 3 November 2026 · Land & Property editorial team
To list a forest for a client, choose the Forest category and enter the acreage planted, price per acre, estimated number of trees, price per tree, tree age and species. Say clearly that the listing sells the trees only, the land is not included, and the harvesting deadline is negotiable with the seller. Get the landowner's consent, state how you counted the trees and add dated photos.
- What a forest listing sells
- The standing trees only. The land is not included
- Harvesting deadline
- Negotiable with the seller
- Required fields
- Acres planted, price per acre, estimated trees, price per tree, tree age
- Forest listings live, 3 Nov 2026
- None yet; the type has just launched
How do I list a forest for a client?
Treat a forest listing as a sale of trees, not a sale of land. That is the idea buyers must understand in the first five seconds. Steps for an agent:
- Get consent first. Obtain the landowner's written consent, and the tree seller's written authority if they are different people. See the section below on consent.
- Choose the Forest category when you create the listing. The type covers standing pine, eucalyptus or mixed plantations.
- Fill every field in the table below. Do not leave the tree count or age blank.
- State the trees-only terms in the first lines of the description.
- Add photos and a location pin so a buyer can find the site.
- Submit for review. We check seller identity, consent and photos before the listing goes live.
You need to be verified first. Read how to apply to become a verified agent. Owners listing for themselves should read list forest for sale. To see how forest listings appear to buyers, browse forest and tree listings. As of 3 November 2026 there are none yet, because the type has only just launched, so the first agents to list will be the first buyers see.
What information do tree buyers want?
Buyers of standing trees cannot judge a plantation from a single photo. They price it from numbers. These are the fields we use.
| Field | What to enter | Why buyers need it |
|---|---|---|
| Acreage planted | Acres actually under trees, not the whole plot | Base for the price per acre |
| Price per acre | In UGX, for the trees only | Lets buyers compare listings |
| Estimated number of trees | Your count, and how you counted | Base for the price per tree |
| Price per tree | In UGX | Compares sale prices fairly across sites |
| Tree age (years) | Years since planting, with the planting year if known | Tells the buyer when trees can be harvested |
| Species | Pine, eucalyptus or mixed, with the main species | Different uses and different harvest times |
| Location | District, sub-county, village and a map pin | Haulage and access decide value |
| Harvesting deadline | "Negotiable with the seller", or a date if the seller sets one | Shows the time the buyer has to cut and remove |
Check that the numbers agree. If a listing says 20 acres at UGX 5,000,000 an acre, the total is UGX 100,000,000. If it also says 8,000 trees at UGX 12,500 a tree, the total is again UGX 100,000,000. If your two totals differ widely, find out why before you publish, because buyers will do the same sum.
These example numbers show the arithmetic only. They are not prices, and we have no verified market price for standing trees to quote as of November 2026.
What are the trees-only terms I must explain?
Every forest listing here uses the same three statements:
- Trees only. The buyer is buying the standing trees. The land is not included.
- Harvesting deadline. The deadline for cutting and removing the trees is negotiable with the seller. Record what you and the seller have agreed.
- Land stays with the owner. A buyer who wants the land must buy it separately, under its own title and agreement.
The wording matters because some public tree adverts offer trees "separately or with the land" in one line. A buyer who reads only the price may not know which is meant. We keep to one meaning on our platform. We saw one public agent advert for 820 acres of pine in Nakaseke that gave acreage and a price per acre (7 million shillings for the trees only, 13 million with the land), and offered the trees separately or with the land. It called the trees "mature" but did not show tree age, a species beyond pine, tenure or harvest terms. Do better than that: put every term on the page.
How should I count the trees?
Give an estimate and say how you made it. A buyer who sees "about 11,000 trees" with no method will assume the worst.
- Planting spacing as a starting point. An acre is about 4,047 square metres. At a spacing of 3 metres by 3 metres, each tree has 9 square metres, which is about 450 trees an acre on paper. This is our own arithmetic. Real stands have gaps, deaths and thinning, so the true count is usually lower.
- Sample plots. Mark out several small plots in different parts of the stand, count the live trees in each, and scale up by the planted area. State how many plots and their size.
- Be honest about uncertainty. Write "estimated" and give the date of the count. The buyer will do their own count before paying.
Photograph the plots with the markers in view. These notes also help our review, which checks the sample count basis before a forest listing goes live.
Whose consent do I need, and what about permits?
Trees stand on land that somebody owns. Before you list, confirm who that is and what rights the seller has over the trees.
- Landowner consent. Get written consent from the registered owner for the sale of the trees and for the buyer to enter, cut and haul. Run the title search described in Title Checks for Agents: A Working Method, and match the seller's ID to the owner.
- Licensed plantation land. The National Forestry Authority (NFA) says land allocated for tree planting under a licence cannot be transferred, but planted trees can pass to another party if that party accepts the same licence conditions. Ask whether the plantation is licensed.
- Harvest and transport. The NFA's FAQ says it is advisable to inform the nearest forestry office before cutting, that harvesting should follow a management plan, and that a permit fee applies to harvesting on private land, with no fee for timber used personally. The page does not set out a transport permit process, so confirm what is needed with the NFA or the District Forest Officer before you quote a harvest date.
The NFA's FAQ is guidance, not the Act. We do not give legal advice on forestry law. Buyers should check permits and conditions with the NFA, and use an advocate for the sale agreement.
What photos and proof should I add?
Photos are how buyers decide whether to travel. Take them yourself, date them and keep the originals.
- A wide shot of the stand from the access road.
- An inside view along a planting line, to show spacing and tree health.
- A close-up of the trunk with a tape or a person for scale, if possible.
- The access road and where a truck would load.
- A map pin or GPS location, and a short note on the distance to the nearest tarmac.
Do not use photos from other sites or other plantations. Reused photos are one of the things our listing review looks for, as described in How We Check Listings and Titles. Add a short video if you can. A video of the walk-through helps diaspora buyers who cannot travel.
What does it cost and how do I stand out?
Agents list free at launch. Later, agents will pay to list, and verified-agent plans will be offered. See Verified Agent Plans and Pricing for the plans when they are published. Registry title checks are paid. Because there are no forest listings yet, a complete, honest first listing is easy to notice. Browse who is already verified in the Verified Agents Directory. The full programme is explained on our agents hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do I list a forest for a client?
Get the landowner's written consent, choose the Forest category, fill in acreage planted, price per acre, estimated trees, price per tree, tree age and species, state that the listing sells trees only with the land not included, add photos and a map pin, and submit for review. You must be a verified agent first.
What information do tree buyers want?
Buyers want the acres planted, price per acre, estimated number of trees and how you counted them, price per tree, tree age, species, exact location, access for trucks, and what harvesting deadline the seller will accept. Clear photos and proof of the seller's right to sell the trees also help.
Is the land included in a forest listing?
No. A forest listing on Land & Property sells the standing trees only, and the land is not included. The harvesting deadline is negotiable with the seller. A buyer who wants the land must buy it separately under its own title and sale agreement.
Do I need a permit to harvest and move trees?
The National Forestry Authority says to inform the nearest forestry office before cutting, to harvest under a management plan, and that a permit fee applies on private land, with none for personal-use timber. Confirm the current permit and transport rules with the NFA or the District Forest Officer.
How many trees are in an acre?
At a planting spacing of 3 metres by 3 metres, an acre of about 4,047 square metres holds roughly 450 trees on paper. That is arithmetic, not a count. Real stands have gaps and thinning, so give an estimate from sample plots and say how you counted.
Sources
- National Forestry Authority: frequently asked questions, National Forestry Authority (accessed 2026-11)
- 820 acres of pine trees for sale in Nakaseke at 7m per acre (agent listing), ugandapropertyagents.com (accessed 2026-11)