Assessment of the effects of local community activities on forest resources on Echuya Central forest reserve in Muko Subcounty Rubanda District, Uganda

Abstract

The study examined the effects of local community activities on forest resources of Echuya Central Forest Reserve in Muko Sub county Rubanda District. It was based on three objectives that is; to identify the forest resources obtained by the local communities from Echuya Central xii Forest Reserve; to examine the local community activities being carried out in areas around the forest reserve and to assess the policy and legal framework for conserving the forest resources in the country . Results showed that; for objective one, respondents from all parishes indicated that bamboo was the most extracted forest resource because of its high demand by granary and harvesting baskets weavers who buy it in large quantities. For objective two; residents practiced crop farming mainly in Kagaano parish (30%) and Ncundura parish (15%) of Muko Sub County because of the availability of land for cultivation in these parishes. For objective three, the study found out that the most effective framework for forest resource extraction from Echuya central forest reserve at the time of data collection was the use of monitoring resource harvesting. Adhering to resource use guidelines and conducting forest patrols. Harvesting permits were issued by National Forestry Authority supervisor in all the three parishes of Karengyere, Kagaano and Ncundura. A number of methods were used to collect data during field work and they included; interview method whereby several interviews were conducted with the local communities, observation and photography method whereby a number of community activities were observed and photographs were taken. The study findings concluded that increasing forest resource extraction was a great socioeconomic and environmental challenge in Rubanda district. Basing on field observations and interviews, the increasing forest resource extraction could be as a result of increased population. Furthermore, areas with high population and much forest resources extraction could be harnessed through setting up strong local community institutional framework to regulate and control resource access activities by the local communities. The study therefore recommended that Government needs to engage resource users in formulating effective resource assess guidelines and procedures as well as strengthening local community institutional frameworks including training of resource users committees.