EduConserve-4-generations
The Problem
Human Wildlife Conflict is the most alarming challenge that the wildlife is facing in its habitats which have been claimed by humans due to various reasons. Habitat loss by human nature activities through deforestation has called for urgent habitat restoration to conserve the wildlife and sustain nature. Human beings have not only endangered wildlife but also the plant diversity has been greatly impacted on with severe loss of tree species that are categorically historical and with mult functions. Such continuous activities of deforestation coupled with illegal hunting for bush meat and animal parts trading in the illegal wildlife market demands has immensely impacted on the environment leaving it bare and degraded, leading to forced wild animal migration, depleting the indigenous trees that are source of fodder, medicine, food, shelter of animals and human beings by cutting them for charcoal and farming for their house hold. It’s against this back ground that there is greater need to educate, train and sensitize the communities around the protected areas and or communities near the catchment zones like the parks, to protect the wildlife like the elephants, giraffes, Chimpanzees and other animals. Through the ecosystem based adaptation measures like mult-purpose tree planting like cashew nut trees which cannot be eaten by wildlife but can provide shelter to wildlife, Ginger, tamarind, and other agro-forestry trees that can inhabit wildlife would be a good fit
Our Proposal
Efforts need to be put in education and training with practical ecosystem based adaptation measures in place, this particularly should be applicable to areas prone to human wildlife conflicts like in Nwoya, Apac, Pakwatch and Kiryandongo districts in Uganda where elephants and other animals tend to move out of the national park to the community land areas in the neighborhood. Training of leaders locally, teachers in schools around and the youths to take charge of the responsibility wild animal protection, against illegal hunting and poaching due to high demands of bush meat and animal parts like elephant tusks should be priority to reduce threatening and endangering of the species of animals in the habitats. Growing of mult purpose crop trees like Cashew nut trees, Cocoa, Vanilla on Jetropha and Ficus, all these are economically viable high value crops on international market demands. Women and the you should plant more of Cashew nut trees as they cannot be eaten by wildlife animals but they play many roles provide shade for animals and besides this ever green tree is good for climate change mitigation hence maintaining and sustaining the habitat for wildlife and performing miracles to the communities in food supplement, income generation, medicine, wine making, fertilizers etc. . Camera traps should be given priority to locate areas of animal footage and migration directions which helps in understanding close to the actual population of wildlife in the given habitat.
We Assume that...
1. Trained community The major area to give hand in the community is giving right information to people in the catchment areas to understand the importance of wildlife and co-existence in an area.
2. Greened environment After the project implementation, all degraded and deforested areas will be filled with trees all over making a green environment conducive for wildlife and humans.
3. Increased number of wildlife There shall be increase in total number of wild animals, birds and plants after the efforts being put for the wildlife to thrive in same locality with people.
4. Climate change mitigation and adaptation Women and youth are compelled to continuous tree planting as it increases on the trees for fuel wood and the more the cashew nut trees the more the harvest.
5. Poverty eradication From the products other than animal body parts, but poles, timber, cashew nuts , cashew apple, cashew wine, medicine among others makes life thrive.
6. Food security Supplementary high value food crop like cashew nuts, vanilla, and cocoa, can bring about zero hunger in place and fight malnutrition in families
7. Controlled illegal wildlife trading The dissemination of the information through training and education in schools about the dangers of illegal wildlife trading shall be realized.
8. Behavioral change The actual attitudes towards wildlife by the community people will drastically change from bush meat eating to pamacultural gardening in their respective homes.
Constraints to Overcome
Human Wildlife conflict through behavioral change is the victim constraint that is to be addressed. This has not been given priority by other actors like government authorities, conservation organizations due to limited funding and areas of interest. Besides, the technical human resource is another challenge that may have brought to this reluctance and endangering of the wildlife in these places, like the conservation scientists are few and are engaged in various organizations, camera trap technicians are extremely few, making this place more vulnerable . The policy systems in place are not vividly able to apply due to under estimated human resource, under payments to the few conservationists, and exploitation of the minority on their duties. The general understanding of the wildlife habitat as a center for firewood for fuel in households, charcoal for generating income calling for illegal hunting for bush red meat. Cash crop growing with high value will be a solution.
Current Work
Final assessment on wildlife conservation project -Mobilization for resources - Direct seeding with communities - Transplanting tree seedlings in the fields. -Investigate farmer problems of implementing wildife conservation -Analyse agroecological environments within which the project is located -Produce plans for wildlife conservation project sites which include full conservation and the introduction of conservation education and tree planting culture with integrated crop tree growth. -Contact between interested parties, namely MOA, CARDI, STAFCO-OP, Forestry Extension, the Co-operative Department and the farmers in the catchment zones. -Selection and propagation of suitable tree species. -General education and support programmes about wildlife conservation including bees in forestry/agroforestry in conjunction with habitat restoration through tree planting.
Current Needs
-Gadgets like Cameras, flip charts, Rolls of white clothes -Seeds and seedlings for farmers - Experts in camera trap setting and experts in wildlife conservation - Facilitation for the conservation educators - Facilitation for staff in transportation and feeding while in field -Communication and awareness like Radio channels locally and community drives - Air time and data for coordination and follow up - Fuel in cars within the field. - Soft ware for data protection and management