When the COVID-19 pandemic impacted global economies in early 2020, Uganda's forests and national parks faced increased pressure from illegal extraction as nearby communities struggled to sustain their livelihoods. The tourism sector, which had been growing, came to a halt, reducing funds for conservation activities.
In response to these challenges, the Securing Uganda’s Natural Resource Base in Protected Areas Project was approved in May 2021. Implemented by Uganda’s National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the project aims to improve sustainable management of forests and protected areas while increasing benefits for surrounding communities. It is supported by the World Bank’s Uganda Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) with contributions from Sweden and Ireland.
“By supporting this project, we tried to contribute to achieving mainly two different things,” said Adam Kahsai-Rudebeck, Sweden’s Head of Development Cooperation in Uganda, “to contribute to the reduction of poverty in Uganda and to also support Uganda’s contribution to addressing climate change.”
“The World Bank has been investing globally in supporting the climate resilience of people and economies,” stated R. Mukami Kariuki, Country Manager for Uganda at the World Bank. “This project speaks directly to all three elements of the World Bank mission: ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and ensuring a livable planet.”
Uganda's economy heavily relies on its forests, woodlands, wetlands, and tourism sector. However, it faces one of the highest rates of forest loss globally. Forest cover declined by an average of 1.61% annually between 2010-2020 due to wood extraction and small-scale agricultural expansion on private land. This deforestation negatively impacts wildlife habitats—including those of gorillas—tourism revenue, and long-term GDP.
“Most communities neighboring [Uganda’s] protected areas are poor and disadvantaged in terms of market [and] products they have,” noted Sam Mwandha, Executive Director of UWA. To address this issue, the project has built capacity among community groups around protected areas for resource management and income-generating activities through conservation awareness programs, sustainable forest management investments, training sessions on fuel-efficient stoves construction, tree nursery establishment support, ecotourism skills training for local groups targeting women and youth.
“We also helped others develop [the] ability to repair and run kiosks for mobile phones,” added Mwandha. “We trained another group in repair and management of motorcycles so that these groups can be a nucleus for development in their own communities.”
Emmanuel Rukundo benefited from metal fabrication training supported by UWA along with receiving a welding machine: “Right now I [am] able to make a door... At least I am able to get something [income] with this [equipment].”
The project has created employment opportunities close to Central Forest Reserves (CFR) through forest restoration activities led by contractors like Bonnyconcil Kyomuhangi who supports her family with income earned from strip slashing planting spot weeding tasks usually assigned men urging others plant trees home compounds available spaces start conservation efforts there
Support extended towards beekeeping initiatives provided economic benefits while deterring elephants crossing into gardens thus preventing human-wildlife conflict Chris Kaseka Lake Katwe Sub County United Bee Keepers Association highlighted invaluable branding packaging honey training received "You can see LAKASUBA honey Ikirongo Queen Elizabeth National Park," Kaseka said showing labeled branded product adding assurance customers increased client base
Tourists returning levels expected rebound pre-COVID-19 end 2024 Protecting natural resources empowering local communities significant financial impact especially given strategy grow tourism sector 25-fold during implementation fourth National Development Plan NDP IV - 2026-2030
As Securing Uganda’s Natural Resource Base Protected Areas Project concludes beneficial impacts livelihoods conservation evident work being expanded upon larger Investing Forests Protected Areas Climate-Smart Development IFPA-CD Project Peter Michael Oumo Economic Adviser Ireland Embassy remarked beneficiaries gained understanding appreciated importance preserving natural resources future generations rather than exploiting destroying them absence such projects
“Our friends have been cutting trees out ignorance” Peter Rwomushana supported briquette-making training equipment UWA commented "But we are trying educate them make briquettes domestic inputs food waste without going parks cut trees ensuring community flourishes"