Browsing by Author "Twinamatsiko, Medard"

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    Assessment of the Efficiency of Problematic Animal Interventions in Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Uganda: A Case Study of Lake Mburo National Park
    (East African Nature and Science Organization, 2024-09-07) Kembabazi, Immaculate; Ssenfuma, Robert; Twinamatsiko, Medard; Muchunguzi, Charles; Tinkasimire, Rogers; Nuwagira, Upton
    Human-wildlife conflict is a significant challenge in Uganda, particularly in areas where human populations and wildlife habitats overlap. This study examines the efficiency of various interventions aimed at mitigating human wildlife conflicts in and around Lake Mburo National Park, a region renowned for its rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystems. Lake Mburo National Park is surrounded by agricultural and pastoralist communities that frequently experience crop raiding, livestock predation, and threats to human safety from wildlife. Various interventions, including physical barriers, deterrents, translocation of problematic animals, and community engagement initiatives, have been implemented to address these conflicts. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, including field observations, community surveys, and analysis of intervention outcomes. A total of 125 households were interviewed across several parishes of Rurambira, Rwamuhuku, Rwabarata, Kizimbi, Kashojwa and Rwetango in Kiruhura and Isingiro districts. The findings indicate that the majority of respondents have lived in the area for over 20 years, providing them with extensive knowledge of local wildlife interactions. The results highlight that hippos (76%) are the most problematic animals, primarily causing crop damage, which significantly impacts local livelihoods. The study reveals that guarding property (98%), though stressful and time-consuming, is the most effective and commonly used intervention. Other measures, such as strong shelters, trapping, translocation, and various deterrents, show varying degrees of effectiveness depending on the species involved. The study concludes that understanding the species-specific and context-specific effectiveness of these interventions is crucial for developing sustainable strategies to mitigate HWC. The insights gained from this research can inform future conflict mitigation strategies and contribute to the broader discourse on human-wildlife coexistence in Uganda and similar settings worldwide
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    Collaboration or Contravention? Ramifications For Effective Participatory Decision-Making in Collaborative Forest Management at Echuya Central Forest Reserve, South Western Uganda
    (East African Nature and Science Organization, 2024-05-03) Twinamatsiko, Medard; Bugabo, Stephen Gumisiriza
    Participatory decision-making has been extensively adopted worldwide as an essential mechanism and a good governance principle to reach a consensus in natural resource management. However, in most communities, local people who depend on forests are not involved in the decision-making process regarding conserving protected areas. This research assesses the ramifications of collaboration or contravention on effective participatory decision-making in collaborative forest management in Echuya Central Forest Reserve. It provides insights into how community consultations and participation of forest-adjacent communities in planning meetings influence the conservation of protected areas. We collected data from a total of 639 respondents, including Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) group members and non-CFM community members, government institutions, conservation organizations, and local community leaders, using semi-structured questionnaires, interview guides, and Focus Group Discussion guides. Results indicate that community consultations allow CFM stakeholders, particularly community members, to give ideas on how such projects can be implemented without destroying forest resources, promoting the goal of conserving the forest reserve. Community members’ participation in planning meetings allows them to contribute ideas about relevant and appropriate forest conservation approaches. However, the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and other non-community actor groups dominate the decision-making process mainly because the NFA has the legal mandate to manage the forest reserve on behalf of the Government. We concluded that the connivance of government forestry officials with unauthorized forest resource users undermines the spirit of participatory decision-making. Dishonesty and lack of accountability hampered effective participatory decision-making, and low attendance at meetings undermines effective participation in decision-making. Thus, community members’ consistent attendance of meetings is paramount for positive outcomes of participatory decision-making for the conservation of forests
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    Greed or Grievance? Linking Revenue Sharing Implementation to Unauthorised Resource Use and Conservation Support at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
    (East African Nature and Science Organization, 2024-08-06) Twinamatsiko, Medard; Gumisiriza , Bugabo, Stephen; Kagoro-Rugunda, Grace
    Revenue sharing is considered a major incentive to promote Community Based Approaches to conservation of protected areas. The sharing of revenue from Protected Area resources is supported by conservationists to promote strong partnerships between protected area management and local communities to address unauthorised resource use for better conservation outcomes. This is premised on the ability of the shared revenue to translate into people’s livelihood improvement and minimize their dependency on resources from protected areas. However, empirical realities indicate that the practice of the Revenue Sharing policy barely addresses the initial objectives of human livelihood improvement to gain support for conservation. This study examined the Revenue Sharing Implementation, Data was collected from 715 respondents who included Local community members (including the unauthorised resource users), staff from conservation organisations in Bwindi and local council leaders. Data was collected using household survey questionnaires, key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Results showed that most beneficiaries of the Revenue Sharing policy were random community households not the unauthorized resource users. The revenue sharing projects allocated to community members were majorly livelihood projects compared to common good projects. Projects included; livestock, passion fruit growing, poultry, provision of land and water projects. Unauthorised resource use was largely motivated by the need for bush meat, minor timber forest products especially firewood, collection of basketry materials and medicinal plants. Protected area managers ought to consider greater involvement of poachers in Revenue Sharing activities. Reducing unauthorized resource use requires systematic but also a combination of factors to mitigate the most driving forces that compel community members to engage in unauthorized forest resource use
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    Is Fair Benefit Sharing a Reality or A Fallacy? Implications for Effective Collaborative Forest Management at Echuya Central Forest Reserve, S. W. Uganda
    (East African Nature and Science Organization, 2023-02-10) Bugabo, Stephen Gumisiriza; Bitariho, Robert; Twinamatsiko, Medard
    It is generally accepted that equitable benefits sharing from protected areas (PAs) is a probable technique for both sustainable management and PA conservation. Evidence however, suggests that this might not be entirely true since such benefits might not be equitably shared among local communities as they would have wished. This research compares benefits received by Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) community members with those of non-CFM community members adjacent to Echuya Central Forest Reserve (ECFR). The study further assesses the most preferred benefits by local community members around ECFR and the perceived barriers to equitable benefit sharing. It provides insight into how benefit sharing under CFM influences the conservation of protected areas. We conducted 458 household interviews, 26 key informant interviews and 4 focus group discussions to obtain data from CFM and non-CFM community members, government institutions, conservation organisations and local community leaders around ECFR. Benefits received by community members include access to firewood, grass, medicinal plants, materials to make ropes, honey and bamboo rhizomes, livelihood project support, cash benefits and training. The preferred benefits in their descending order include agricultural support, financial support, ecotourism, and livestock farming. The failure to monitor the implementation of CFM activities and corruption hinder equitable benefit sharing and promote overexploitation of forest resources. This study recommends that the National Forestry Authority (NFA) should include forest-adjacent communities in budget frameworks in order to provide financial support for CFM activities. The NFA and conservation organisations working around ECFR need to enhance the monitoring of CFM activities to ensure transparency and equitable sharing of forest resources