Pilot Tourism Revenue-Sharing Programme in Western Uganda 2: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Case Study C0081
[edit]
| Date | 1998 |
| Agency | Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | Uganda |
| Locality | Western Uganda |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/landscape |
| Development focus | Local communities |
| Conservation goals | Restrict access to forest resources within the park boundaries in order to conserve its biodiversity |
| Poverty reduction goals | Compensate the three parishes living adjoining the park though tourism revenue-sharing, sustainable use of non-timber forest products(NTFPs), and the provision of other basic goods and services |
Summary
Pilot tourism revenue-sharing (TRS) schemes were launched under the 1994 mandate in three Ugandan National Parks: Bwindi Impenetrable (see case study n°80), Mgahinga Gorilla, and Kibale National Parks (see case study n°82). Bwindi, Mgahinga and Kibale all protect mid-high elevation rain forest. Bwindi and Mgahinga are particularly rich in endemic species, and all three parks shelter endangered wildlife, particularly primates. All three sites were designated forest reserves by colonial authorities in 1931–1932, and were eventually surrounded by intensive agriculture, due partly to official resettlement schemes and refugees fleeing war in neighbouring countries. Settlement within the boundaries of the three reserves accelerated during the 1970s after President Idi Amin announced that Ugandans were free to settle on any unoccupied public land. As peace returned to the country in the late 1980s, the government began to enforce existing regulations regarding natural resource use. Then, in the early 1990s, under pressure from national and international conservationists, the Ugandan government ‘upgraded’ these three forest reserves to national parks. Along with this upgrade came stricter enforcement of existing regulations, implementation of new regulations, and increased conflict between local residents and protected areas.
Local residents near Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, historically used the parks' forests extensively for bamboo, timber, firewood, grazing, and water during the dry season. When Mgahinga was designated a Park in 1991, access to forest resources was restricted, although local residents were allowed to continue collecting water from inside the Park. In 1993, 2,420 farmers were evicted from land within the Park boundaries, compensated, and resettled elsewhere. These resource use prohibitions, and resettlement generated considerable local hostility. Cattle grazing inside the Park, as well as snaring of forest wildlife, are the primary threats to Mgahinga. UWA has implemented a suite of programmes in Mgahinga similar to those at Bwindi in order to decrease conflicts between the park and its neighbouring communities.
Gorilla tracking in Mgahinga began in 1994, and tourists now pay US$ 175 to visit the one group of gorillas, which is habituated to tourists. Tourists also pay to climb the three volcanic peaks in the Park. The system for distributing TRS funds in Mgahinga is identical to the system in Bwindi, and to date has funded one project in each of the three parishes directly bordering the Park. Each parish received approximately US$ 4000 and chose to build a primary school. Other community outreach activities at Mgahinga include the construction of a stone wall along the Park border to prevent crop-raiding by buffalo, beekeeping in two of the three parishes, and a pilot programme promoting the sustainable use of forest products including bamboo rhizomes, spear grass and medicinal plants. In addition, a gravity water scheme provides neighbouring communities access to water from the Park during the dry season.
Conservation impact
TRS has played a major role in improving the attitudes of local residents towards the park, therefore reducing poaching and illegal harvesting.
Poverty reduction impact
Each one of the three parishes directly bordering the park received approximately US$ 4000 and chose to build a primary school. Other community outreach activities at Mgahinga include the construction of a stone wall along the Park border to prevent crop-raiding by buffalo, beekeeping in two of the three parishes, and a pilot programme promoting the sustainable use of forest products including bamboo rhizomes, spear grass and medicinal plants. In addition, a gravity water scheme provides neighbouring communities access to water from the Park during the dry season.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Revenue sharing
Provision of basic goods/services
Reference 1
Archabald, K. and Naughton-Treves, L., 2001, 'Tourism Revenue-Sharing Around National Parks in Western Uganda: Early Efforts to Identify and Reward Local Communities', Environmental Conservation 28(2):135-49
More information
http://www.uwa.or.ug/mgahinga.html
Related records above this one:
- Uganda Wildlife Authority (Organisation O0086)