In the face of longstanding conflicts between local communities around the Mount Elgon National Park, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the authority is implementing an innovative strategy to foster coexistence while simultaneously preserving the protected areas.
At the heart of this approach lies the Taungya Program, designed not only to conserve and restore the park (protected areas) but also to enhance the livelihoods of communities residing along its borders through sustainable crop production.
Taungya operates as a system granting communities or forest plantation workers the right to cultivate crops during the initial stages of forest plantation establishment.
Cultivation is permitted until tree canopies provide shade, marking the closure of the canopy. Samuel Amanya, the Chief Warden of Mount Elgon Conservation Area, emphasized that the program is targeted at heavily degraded areas requiring urgent restoration.
According to Amanya, UWA collaborates with community leaders to identify suitable plots for tree planting, vet community members, and allocate successful candidates to the identified plots for crop cultivation.
Communities actively participate in the program, and after three to five years, they vacate the plots, allowing the trees to mature. Amanya highlighted that during this period, community members earn income, enabling them to explore alternative livelihood opportunities.
Softwood cultivation emerges as a key conservation strategy, and negotiations for additional lands involve community representation. Soita James, the Assistant Warden of Softwood Plantation in Kapkwata, projected that revenues from cultivated soft trees could reach over Shs 7 billion, providing a sustainable source of income.
This revenue-sharing model aligns with UWA’s commitment to supporting local communities, akin to successful initiatives in Kibale National Park.
In addition to financial benefits, the program contributes to carbon absorption and the preservation of indigenous trees, mitigating the need to cut them down. David Tata, a district councillor in Kapkwata sub-county, Kween district, commended the program for fostering improved relations between communities and UWA, turning former adversaries into partners.
Chesang Samuel a farmer and Parish council Kapkwata sub-county, Kween district, said as a community they embraced the program in 2020, although it had earlier existed during the times of the forestry department.
He expressed his appreciation to UWA for allowing them to earn a living through crop growing in the protected areas.
“As a community, we are very happy and we appreciate what you have done to the community. we benefit from UWA Taungya farming, our children can go to school, and we have eliminated hunger from the communities. The program has improved our livelihoods,” he said.
“We are grateful that you have come, us as leaders, and the community We have benefited a lot of things from this program. Our children can now go to school. They are getting quality education; however, the trees have grown and are almost chasing us away. So, our request is giving us new plots so we can continue with the farming,” Chepkwurui Topista, a farmer and councillor for Kwai and Kapkwata said.
Challenges in conservation persist, with limited resources leading to conflicts and endangering park rangers. Amanya acknowledged the sacrifices made by rangers, with 15 killed and 35 injured since 2002.
Despite these challenges, Amanya expressed optimism that programs like Taungya are reducing conflicts and redirecting both parties towards collaboration.
Mount Elgon National Park, located 140 kilometres northeast of Lake Victoria, covers an area of 1,279 square kilometres, straddling the border between Kenya and Uganda.
MENP covers Mbale, Namisindwa, Kapchorwa, Kween, Sironko, Bukwo, and Bududa districts.
Initially designated as a Forest Reserve in 1929, it officially became a national park in 1994, with ongoing efforts to balance conservation, community engagement, and sustainable resource use.
As UWA continues its efforts, Mount Elgon National Park stands as a testament to the positive impact of collaborative conservation programs on both protected areas and the communities that coexist with them. Photos by Saad Shots.