How We Check Forest Listings and Tree Counts
Updated 3 November 2026 · Land & Property editorial team
Before a forest listing goes live on Land & Property we review the seller's identity, the land owner's consent, the basis for the tree count, and photos with a GPS pin. We also confirm the listing says trees only, land not included. These checks reduce risk but do not guarantee the number, quality or price of the trees, so you should still visit before you pay. As of November 2026.
- What we sell
- Trees only, land not included
- Harvesting deadline
- Negotiable with the seller
- Checks before going live
- Seller ID, land owner consent, sample count basis, photos and GPS
- Forest listings live (3 Nov 2026)
- None yet; the forest type has just launched
Are forest listings on Land & Property verified?
Each forest listing is reviewed against the checks below before it is published. We say "reviewed" and not "guaranteed" on purpose. A check shows that a document, photo or count was provided and looked sensible. It does not prove the trees will be there, in the number stated, at the size stated, on the day you arrive with a crew.
An honest status report: as of 3 November 2026 our snapshot shows 93 published listings and none is a forest listing, because the forest type has only just launched. This page describes the process every forest listing will go through. It is not a claim that any particular forest has already passed. When listings appear you can browse forest and tree listings and read each one with this page beside you.
Our general approach to land, houses and agents is explained on how we check listings and titles. The points here are the extra ones that only apply to standing trees.
How do you check who is selling?
We ask the person who lists a forest to complete our identity check: a National ID number and a live selfie. For agents, passing this check earns the "Verified" badge, which is our standard for every agent on the platform. Identity checking tells you the seller is a real, identifiable person. It does not tell you the person owns the trees.
That second question is a separate check. The National Forestry and Tree Planting Act (Cap. 160), section 22(2), provides that forest produce in a registered private plantation belongs to the owner of the plantation, and section 23 lets a person contract with the owner for the right to harvest, buy or sell it. So we ask the seller to say in what capacity they sell: as owner of the trees, as holder of a harvesting contract, or as an agent for someone else. Ask the same question yourself and write the answer into your contract. The Act text we cite is the version published by ULII as at 8 August 2003; as of November 2026 we have not checked later amendments.
Why do you ask for the land owner's consent?
Because the land is not included in a forest listing, the person who owns the land is often a different person from the person selling the trees. The buyer will need to enter the land, fell the trees and bring trucks out. Without the land owner's agreement, a legal sale of the trees can still become a blocked harvest.
So before a forest goes live we ask for the land owner's consent to the sale and to the buyer's entry for harvesting, in writing. Where the land owner is also the seller, that is a short statement. Where they are different people, we ask that both are named. If the trees stand on land allocated by the National Forestry Authority under a licence, the NFA says transferring land allocated for tree planting is not allowed, though a licence holder may cancel the licence and transfer planted trees to a party that accepts the same conditions (NFA FAQ, November 2026). We would expect such a seller to show how that transfer would be done.
Our guide to preparing your forest for sale lists the documents sellers should have ready.
How do you check the number of trees?
We do not count every tree. We ask how the number was reached. A forest listing shows an estimated number of trees, and an estimate can come from three places: the seller's own guess, a calculation from spacing and survival, or a count in sample plots. We prefer the last.
A sample count measures small plots spread across the planted block, then scales the result up to the whole block. A Brazilian study of an 8-year-old eucalyptus stand tested circular and rectangular plots of 200, 300, 400 and 500 square metres and found that simple random sampling with 300 square metre circular plots gave the best balance of error, cost and measuring time in that stand (Pesquisa Florestal Brasileira). Conditions differ in Uganda, so treat that as an example of how plot size is chosen, not a rule. What we look for is several plots spread across the block and a written record of the counts. We do not publish an error margin unless a count supports one.
You can run the same test on any forest. Our step-by-step guide to verify the number of trees in a plantation shows the plot layout and the arithmetic with a worked example. Land price and tree price are different things too; see land price vs tree price.
What do photos and the GPS pin prove?
We ask for recent photos of the planted block and a GPS pin for the location. Photos show how the trees looked on a day. A GPS pin shows where the block is, which helps you plan a visit and helps a surveyor find the boundary.
| Evidence | It can show | It cannot show |
|---|---|---|
| Photos | Rough age and height, gaps, weeds, signs of fire or felling | The number of trees, who owns them, or what has happened since |
| GPS pin | Where the block is, and whether it matches the place named in the listing | The exact boundary or who owns each side |
| Sample count record | How the seller reached the estimate | That the count was done honestly or that nothing has been cut since |
| Land owner consent | That the owner knows about and agrees to the sale | That the owner will still agree in a year |
Photos and pins also help you spot copy-and-paste listings. If the same photos appear for a different place, tell us.
What do we not check?
We would rather you know our limits than assume. Our listing review does not:
- Guarantee the tree count, size or quality. Only your own measurement or a forester's inventory can support that. See what a forest inventory report should contain.
- Value the trees. Asking prices are the seller's. Reported prices in Uganda have moved sharply; for example, a 2024 report said some growers sold 10-year-old eucalyptus or pine trees for as little as UGX 20,000 after the May 2023 presidential directive banning exports of unprocessed timber (InfoNile, August 2024).
- Predict what your harvest will earn. Timber markets, export rules and pole demand change.
- Replace a lawyer. We do not give legal advice or draft your contract.
- Handle your harvest permits. Trees outside central forest reserves are regulated by the District Forest Officer, and the NFA advises telling the nearest forestry office before cutting. Ask the office what applies to your harvest.
- Protect the trees after we list them. Fire, theft and weather are real risks until the trees are cut.
If anything on a listing looks wrong, contact us and we will review it.
What should you still do before paying?
Visit, count and write it down. We offer paid, escorted site visits with verified people, which are useful if you live abroad or cannot take a day to travel. You can book an escorted forest visit and ask what the visit includes before you pay the booking fee. Then follow the sequence on our pages: visit the plantation, test the count, agree access and the harvesting deadline, and pay in stages.
If you are the seller, a clear set of documents helps your listing pass these checks quickly. Start with how to sell standing trees. Buyers can start from the main forest trees for sale in Uganda guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are forest listings verified?
Each forest listing is reviewed before it goes live. We check the seller's identity, the land owner's consent, how the tree count was reached, photos and a GPS pin, and that the listing says trees only. This reduces risk but is not a guarantee, so you should still visit and count before paying.
How do you check the number of trees?
We ask how the estimate was reached and prefer a count in several sample plots spread across the planted block. We do not count every tree and do not publish an error margin without a count behind it. Buyers can repeat the test using our tree count guide.
Do you check who owns the land?
We ask for the land owner's written consent to the sale and to the buyer's entry. Land title checks at the registry are a separate paid service, described on our listing checks page. A forest listing never includes the land.
Does verification mean the price is fair?
No. The price is the seller's asking price. We do not value the trees. Timber and pole prices in Uganda have moved sharply in recent years, so compare per-tree and per-acre prices and take a forester's advice for large sums.
What if a verified listing turns out to be wrong?
Tell us straight away with your evidence, such as your own count or photos. We review the listing. Keep your contract and payments in writing, because a listing review is not a guarantee.
Sources
- National Forestry and Tree Planting Act, 2003 (Cap. 160), text as at 8 August 2003, sections 22 to 24 and 35, ULII and Laws.Africa, via UNEP LEAP (accessed 2026-11)
- National Forestry Authority: Frequently asked questions, National Forestry Authority (NFA) (accessed 2026-11)
- Cost, time and accuracy: an optimization of the pre-harvest forest inventory in a eucalyptus stand, Pesquisa Florestal Brasileira (Embrapa) (accessed 2026-11)
- Museveni timber export ban bites (August 2024), InfoNile (accessed 2026-11)