SUSTAINABLE UTILISATION AND CULTIVATION OF Prunus africana AROUND KALINZU-MARAMAGAMBO FOREST WESTERN UGANDA

Transcription

1 SUSTAINABLE UTILISATION AND CULTIVATION OF Prunus africana AROUND KALINZU-MARAMAGAMBO FOREST WESTERN UGANDA Final Report BY KICONCO SHEILA SEPTEMBER 2009

2 Table of Contents 1.1 Back ground Project approach Summary of project objectives and achievements What was not achieved Networking Way forward...8

3 1.1 Back ground Prunus africana is an endangered tree species listed under CITES II. Conservation and cultivation of Prunus africana around Kalinzumaramagambo forest is fundamental given that the species is over exploited and therefore threatening its survival. This species is on high demand because of its various uses. The bark is mainly used for medicinal purposes locally and is also exported specifically for treating Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). The tree is debarked and in the long run it dries up. Prunus africana is also used for fuel wood and timber by the local communities surrounding Kalinzu-maramagambo forest. In Uganda, the biggest species of Prunus africana are known to grow in Kalinzumaramagambo forest (Katende et al 1995) 1. However, the population density of the community neighbouring this forest is high with 328 people per Km 2 (Uganda population census 1991). Kalinzu- Maramagambo supports unique species of flora and fauna, which represents more than 1% of the country s protected area total that is not known from any other protected area in Uganda. The forest has been categorised under ORE conservation forests (MWLE, 2002) 2. Being such a protected area with population pressure from the surrounding communities control of illegal harvesting of Prunus africana and winning support and participation of the communities to plant the species on-farm amidst land scarcity is both a challenge as well as an agent need. 2.0 Project approach The project mobilised two communities to embark on activities that could lead to conservation of Prunus africana species by reducing it s over exploitation. The two community groups are registered community based organisations (CBOs) these are Bitereko women group in Bitereko Sub County (with 150 members) and Katanda II in Katerera Sub County (with 200 members). These communities were involved in activities of nursery bed establishment, awareness creation and forest based enterprises such as bee keeping, passion fruit growing and craft making. The project addressed key issues using a popular participatory approach. The trainings involved community members and relevant stakeholders with writing, discussions, speech, presentations, group work and side events of demonstrations and illustrations. The trainings helped the community 1 Katende A.B, Ann Birnie and Tengrias B.O 1995 Useful Trees and Shrubs for Uganda, Regional Soil conservation Unit (RSCU) Nairobi Kenya. 2 Ministry of Water Lands and Environment Uganda

4 members to effectively manage the tree species in the wild as well as domesticating it on their farm lands thus conserving the species. 2.1 Summary of project objectives and achievements 2.2 To contribute to conservation of Prunus africana in Kalinzumaramagambo forest. This was achieved through training communities in forest based enterprises. The community groups were trained in beekeeping, craft making and passion fruit growing Passion fruit growing Two trainings were conducted in each community. The trainings were about the importance of passion fruits growing, requirements for establishing passion fruit garden, planting and integrating passion fruits with trees, recommended varieties for the specific areas, propagation and land preparation and planting, field maintenance and harvesting. Demonstrations provided planting materials to entire group members where they would get the planting materials Capacity of the communities to propagate and establish passion fruit gardens was enhanced Figure 1. Passion fruit planted by Bitereko community in one of the demonstration sites Beekeeping and apiary establishment Community members were able to learn about importance of beekeeping, apiary with forestry, apiary management, beekeepers calendar, harvesting, beepest control and bee products marketing. Reduced dependence on forest products as a source of income Community members were linked to honey markets and markets for other bee products. Capacity of the community groups to do beekeeping was built Skills of apiary establishment enhanced Figure 2. One of the demonstration apiaries in Katerera

5 Best practices and approaches were translated into practical advice for farmers Training in craft making Locally available materials were used during training. Among others they were trained to make simple mats, baskets, hand bags, and wall hangings. Income generation through sale of crafts Increased knowledge and skills on the type of crafts made Linkage with markets that sale crafts Reduced dependence on the forest for livelihood 2.3 To sensitise communities on wise use of Prunus africana. This was achieved through sensitisation and awareness campigns about wise use of the Prunus africana species Sensitization and awareness creation This was achieved by use of posters and sensitization meetings on conservation and sustainable utilization Prunus africana. Reduced conflicts between National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the local communities due to reduced illegal activities of extraction of Prunus africana. Increased awareness on sustainable utilisation and cultivation of Prunus africana on farm. Increased income generating activities such as craft making, selling of tree seedlings, Figure 3. Bushenyi district local government officer emphasising a point in one of the sensitisation meetings beekeeping and passion fruit growing Increased awareness on the need to sustainably manage and conserve Kalinzu-maramagambo forest. Skills on managing forest resources enhanced.

6 2.4 To cultivate Prunus africana on-farm around Kalinzu- maramagambo forest. This was achieved through establishment of nursery beds and planting Prunus africana on farm Establishment of nursery beds and planting Prunus africana on farm This activity this was implemented through a participatory training with illustrations and demonstrations on how to establish and manage nursery beds. Each community group prepared a nursery bed. Skills were gained on wise use and harvesting of Prunus africana Two individuals from Bitereko group established nursery beds of Prunus africana and sold seedlings to other community members. Enhancement of the local communities with the knowledge to manage nursery beds. The Prunus africana was Figure 4. On-farm Prunus africana species planted in Katerera planted on-farm in each community one of the farmers in Katerera planted an acre of Prunus africana Capacity of the community groups to sustainably manage the species was built Skills of cultivating and multiplication of Prunus Africana was acquired Best practices and approaches were translated into practical advice for farmers

7 helped 2.5 Monitoring Monitoring was done right from the inception of the project. Monitoring in both communities for different activities was combined since most of them were weather dependant. Results from this activity Ensured that the nursery beds were established using best practices acquired during the trainings Monitoring helped identifying and planning with the farmers when to plant especially Prunus africana and passion fruits and this to reduce on the damage resulting from prolonged droughts. Monitoring helped to mitigate the other effects of the fire disaster and other apiaries were well protected and managed. Figure 5. One of the demonstration site for apiary was affected by fire due to prolonged drought in Bitereko 3.0 What was not achieved The project did not fully achieve smooth implementation of some activities since they were weather dependant activities were Figure 6. A healthy tree of Prunus africana delayed and were not implemented on the species that was planted on one of the farms anticipated time. There was prolonged drought season which affected planting of passion fruits and Prunus africana. 4.0 Networking This was achieved through collaboration with different stakeholders at different levels (Table 1). Table 1. Stakeholders involved in project implementation No. Stakeholder Status Areas of collaboration 1. National Forestry Government of Uganda Training farmers in tree Authority Ministry of Water and planting Environment Giving technical advise in nursery bed management 2. Environment National Non- Community mobilisation

8 Conservation Governmental Trust Organisation 3. Bushenyi District Local Government Community mobilisation Training 5.0 Way forward We are proposing the next phase of the project intending to follow up on the activities implemented including increasing Prunus africana on-farm and conserving other indigenous tree species surrounding Kalinzu-maramagambo forest because during the interaction it was realised that other indigenous trees with in and outside the forest are being unsustainably debarked, harvested for medicine, firewood and timber and eventually they dry a s presented in the figures below. Figure 7 Community members unsustainably harvesting fire wood from the forest in Katerera Figure 8 Dry Prunus africana in kalinjumaramagambo forest due to unsustainable debarking Figure 10 Indigenous tree which is also debarked for medical purposes in kalinju-maramagambo Figure 9. Lumbering is one of the activity forest Fagaropsis angolensis Mutatembwa done by most community members in Bitereko