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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. |
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