Piloting participatory forest management using a landscape approach

Dr. Sara Namirembe, Landscape Coordinator, PEMA-NatureUganda

WithNasta Babirye (Consultant, CFM)

Karen Faarbaek (Intern, CSO strengthening)Bruno Hugel (Consultant, GIS & Livelihoods),

Leo Turyahebwa (PEMA Field Officer)

Governance Trends in Uganda (1990-2005)

Democratisation- Participatory planning and accountability- Decentralised power and benefit sharing

PrivatizationNational Slogan: Gifted by Nature

Impact on Forest GovernanceNational Forest Policy (2001) Statement 5. community participationDe-gazetting of forest reservesDecentralisation of forest management

Forest Estate Distribution (ha) and Institutional Framework

Type Central/local forest reserves (NFA/LG)

National parks and (UWA)

Private/

customary land (NAADS)

Total

Tropical high forest

306,000 267,000 251,000 924,000

Woodland 411,000 462,000 3,102,000 3,975,000

Plantations 20,000 2,000 11,000 33,000

Total Estate (2001)

737,000 731,000 3,464,000 4,932,000

Source: Ministry of Water Lands and Environment Report (2001)

Total Forest Estate in 2005: 3,627,000 ha

Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest status (2003)

Albertine Rift, Western Uganda

High biodiversity

Low timber value: ~1% Class I species of > 10 cm diameter

Low timber volume

~18.5 m2/ha basal area

Degraded Game corridors

People’s relation to natural resources

Regulated access to non-timber forest products & wetlands

Illegal access & encroachment

Conflicts - evictions and restrictions

V. Low policy awareness

PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT PILOTED BY PEMA

i. Landscape: Collaborative action planningii. Grass-root: Collaborative forest management & Livelihood

support

KASYOHA-KITOMI FOREST LANDSCAPE

Collaborative Landscape Action Plan

Landscape coordination

committee

Institutions & community

in

natural resource management

Vision-based

collaborative plan for

forest management

in landscape

Role sharingIncorporating actions

In

local government plans

CHALLENGE: coordination & funding

Local empowerment and Capacity Building

• Networking and Partnerships: – Coalition of 14 local organisations - Buzenga

Environment Conservation Association (BUECA)– Linkage to EMPAFORM, Kamusiime & LCC

• Policy Awareness: village meetings, radio, drama

• Exposure visit

• Training: community and NFA

Collaborative Forest Management

• Negotiation of collaborative forest management plan and agreement

• Power relations– NFA vs community– Within the

community

PROVISIONS FOR BENEFIT SHARING

THE BETTER OFF• Leasing bare forest

patches• Licensing for

commercial logging • Sawlog scheme

THE POOR• Regulated access to

non-timber forest products

• Support for livelihoods (agroforestry, apiary)

Conclusion & Way forward1. PFM in forest reserves

Strengthen Capacity - Government & CommunityIncrease community stake Diversify: Livelihoods, Payment for ecosystem services e.g. Ecotourism

HOWEVER – low potential per capita benefit

2. PFM in landscape: Coordinate CAP implementation

3. Research

Thank You