Community participation in the management of natural forests on private land: a case of Kwonga clan forest in Kabwoya, Kikuube district Uganda.

Abstract

The study was about community participation in the management of natural forests on private land, a case of Kwonga clan forest in Kabwoya, Kikuube District in Uganda. The study was based on three objectives of: identifying community management practices that enhance the protection and associated wildlife resources, identifying the perception of the community in management of Kwonga Clan Forest and determining the relationship between community participation and the protection of Kwonga Clan Forest. The study adopted a descriptive research design whereby data collection was done by use of both primary and secondary data collection instruments of self-administered questionnaires, interview observation and documentary review checklists. A total of 181 Respondents took part in the study accounting for a 79% response rate, correlation and regression analysis were used to generate statistical significance of the variables by use of SPSS. The findings showed that sustainable livelihoods (M=4.1, SD=1.43), conservation awareness (M=4.1, SD=1.01), sustainable resource use practices (M=3.8, SD=1.2), and the dissemination of traditional knowledge (M=3.81, SD=1.34) were among the community forest management practices used, while capacity building, monitoring and surveillance (M=3.2, SD=1.4), long-term planning and adaptation (M=3.2, SD=1.41) were found to be less frequently practiced. On the perception of community regarding participation in forest management, it was established that practices were successful in terms of knowledge and skill development (M=3.6, SD=1.0), case reporting (M=3.4,SD=1.3) information sharing (M=3.4, SD=1.1), sustainability and continuity of activities (M=3.8, SD=1.1) as well as social and economic benefits (M=4.1, SD=1.0), but that decision-making (M=2.8, SD=1.4) and the perception of forest patrols (M=2.5, SD=1.3) in managing the KCF is low. Regarding the relationship between community participation and protection, the conservation techniques (M=3.61, SD=1.19), monitoring and surveillance (M=3.8, SD=1.27), sustainable resource use (M=3.3, SD=1.26), forest governance and management (M=4.14, SD=1.0) and empowerment and stewardship (M=3.5, SD=1.42) promoted conservation of the clan forest. Therefore, it is recommended that: The Bakwonga Clan should deliberately involve non-clan members in its sustainable management of the forest as much as they have successfully managed through a cultural system. The clan should collaborate with the Kikuube District Forest department to develop a conservation education strategy, support equitable benefit sharing, and explore tourism development potential. The government and development partners should also collaborate to benefit from the PES for KCF management.