Community willingness to contribute to nature-based solutions around Budongo Central Forest, Uganda

Abstract

Abstract1. Communities are important stakeholders in implementing nature-based solutions(NbS). Therefore, understanding their practices and contributions is essential forthe implementation of NbS.2. This study applied both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collectdata from 156 respondents in a household survey using a semi-structuredquestionnaire with open- and close-ended questions. Data were analysed usingdescriptive statistics, correlations and regressions.3. Majority of the respondents applied cover cropping, forest/streamside buffering,tree planting (to reduce dependence on neighbouring Budongo Central ForestReserve (CFR) for fuelwood), wetland restoration, minimum tillage and agroforestryon their lands. NbS were more practiced on customary land compared to otherland tenures in the area. Results reveal an attitude-behavioural gap in willingnessto expand/have NbS and implementation of NbS on household land. Householdswho were willing to contribute to the management of NbS were likely to havea lesser proportion of land maintained as NbS zones. As such, willingness toexpand/have NbS does not necessarily translate into implementation of the NbS.This community attitude-behavioural gap could be caused by competing land usepractices, such as commercial sugarcane agriculture, that require big chunks ofhomogenous land and the incomes accrued therefrom. This suggests that NbSought to directly benefit host communities; else, they risk being outcompeted byother economically viable land uses.4. Practical implication. Therefore, future policy should be designed to facilitatewin–win scenarios for NbS and other community land use practices. FacilitatingNbS at a national scale using the bottom-up approach would offer opportunitiesfor community buy-in and sustainability of such NbS. National Land Use Policyshould consider local landscape zoning to include NbS and/or the aspect of‘nature’ as a key zone amidst the other land uses. This could be brought off byraising awareness on the benefits NbS could yield for conservation and humanity.This would encourage more households to strike a balance between competingland uses, such as commercial sugarcane growing, that require big chunks of homogenous land, and the implementation of NbS to degraded landscapes around the Budongo Central Forest Reserve, Uganda.