WWF Empowers Youth to Conserve Bugoma, a Biodiversity Spot!

GSTDTAP > 资源环境科学

	WWF Empowers Youth to Conserve Bugoma, a Biodiversity Spot!
	admin
	2018-10-15
发布年	2018
语种	英语
国家	国际
领域	资源环境
正文(英文)	Until 2016, the youth in Rugashari believed that the only stable source of income was from the sale of charcoal; a belief that led to the encroachment of Bugoma Central Forest Reserve. As the young men looked out for wood to make charcoal, they ended up depleting a fair amount of the natural forest. This not only threatened the existence of the country’s biological diversity but also created a rift between the community and the forest law enforcers. This prompted WWF in partnership with a local CSO- Kitara Civil Society Organizations’ Network (KCSON) to come up with interventions to save the forest. The two organizations embarked on an awareness and sensitization campaign on sustainable use of natural resources. According to Kenneth Niwaha, the chairperson of Rugashari Youth Association, the campaign came just at the right time. “we did not know that our actions were harmful. Charcoal burning was our livelihood. That is what mattered. With the sensitization campaign, we understood that our survival means were not sustainable and the Forest would one day be depleted. We began to appreciate nature”, he says. WWF did not stop at sensitization. Several income generating schemes were put in place and these created alternative sources of incomes for the youth and the rest of the community. According to George Kaija, the WWF_UCO Community Conservation Manager, the community was supplied with 220 bee hives and tree seedlings. He says the tree seedlings were supplied to plant on individual land which would in the future provide firewood and income from the sale of timber. Today, only from the sale of honey, the youth have started a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA), a community based financial services provider which is making it possible for individuals to save and borrow money for bigger investments. George further explains that in such communities, awareness of the value of conservation is important, but it is not enough to ensure protection of forest habitats since communities still have needs to cater for. “ Talking conservation without providing alternative income sources especially for a community that has for generations looked at the forest as their main source of livelihood is not realistic” he further justifies the approach. As a result of these interventions, in less than two years of implementation, a significant change in the forest status has been realized. The forest that was badly degraded is regenerating very well, an indication that when community members are involved in resource protection, there is a higher success rate. Bugoma Forest Reserve (401 square kilometers) is situated southwest of Hoima and northeast of Kyenjojo towns, in western Uganda. The forest is a biodiversity hotspot with a variety of flora and fauna. It hosts over 34 species of mammals which include chimpanzees, the Grey cheeked mangabeys, the Black and white Colobus monkeys, the Blue monkeys, the Red tailed monkeys, the Vervet monkeys, Buffaloes, Elephants, Uganda Kobs, Golden Cats and Side-stripped Jackals. The Reserve also hosts 9 species of reptiles, over 257 tree and shrub species including 20 species of Amphibians , 118 species of moths, 292 species of butterflies and over 225 bird species.
URL	查看原文
来源平台	World Wide Fund for Nature
文献类型	新闻
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/124697
专题	资源环境科学
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	admin. WWF Empowers Youth to Conserve Bugoma, a Biodiversity Spot!. 2018.