Conservation of Biodiversity in the Albertine Rift Forests of Uganda
Background
The project area extends from Budongo Forest Reserve (FR) to forests in Toro Game Reserve at the foot of Rwenzori Mountain National Park, and in Masindi, Hoima, Kibaale and Kyenjojo Districts. This project will focus on the 12 protected Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) (165,000 ha) as well as on private forests (89,000 ha).
These areas have important conservation values not just for their species content but due to the fact that they provide linkages or corridors between forests. This allows connectivity which is important for species dispersal and gene flow between larger forests. The forests have been under threat from increasing commercial demands and from rural communities whose high levels of poverty make them dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods.
These pressures on the forest resources, coupled with weak conservation agencies at decentralized levels and as yet untried collaborative management strategies with local people, have led to considerable loss of forest cover on private and public land. This calls for putting in place a mechanism to reverse this trend.
Development objectives
The objective of this project is to conserve and manage rich biodiversity forests in the Albertine Rift of Uganda, allowing sustainable development for all stakeholders.
Key activities & expected results
The project will develop an overall conservation and management strategy for the forests that calls for sustainable management while strengthening linkages between forest conservation and sustainable improved livelihoods. This will include - but is not limited to - securing forest boundaries, restoring forest landscape and promoting incentives for sustainable use of forest resources by the communities and districts.
Implementation phase
The project is conducting a recruitment exercise for unit managers to be headquartered in the field.
