CARE Development through Conservation Project: Review of the multiple use (resource sharing) programme in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

KEYWORD: Community-based Natural Forest Management, Africa. Africa, Uganda, income generation, sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, buffer zone, conservation, protected areas, co-management, institutional strengthening, community participation, evaluation, lessons learned. SUMMARY: The purpose of this detailed evaluation was to review all aspects of the young Multiple Use (MU) program at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) in order to advise the planning of the next phase. The objectives include coordinating with the Government of Uganda, implementation of natural resource conservation, changing conservation attitudes among communities, and helping to increase sustainable production of goods and services from forests and farmland. Discussions, community meetings and document review accomplished the evaluation. Although this evaluation focuses on the methodology of the pilot program, many accomplishments were highlighted, including: Rapid resource assessments have been completed; Potential MU zones have been mapped; Local institutions have been established and include local communities; Park-community relations have improved; and Pilot communities have gained sense of ownership of the forest. It is too early to determine the effects MU will have on long-term conservation. Monitoring, further definition of MU zones, land purchases and development of community organization are needed. As needs are addressed, MU should be expanded to more parishes. Expansion should be undertaken carefully, only in areas with enough wardens and with thorough consideration of its impacts, despite the pressures to expand rapidly coming from communities that are anxious to use the forest, conservationists and project financial controllers. Expansion should include purchases of land to widen MU buffer zones. It is recommended that financial, managerial, socio-economic and ecological factors be considered as this program expands. Specific problems may need to be addressed from one location to another and may require new approaches in certain parks. MU should be part of an integrated community program, tailored to each community while also encouraging inter-parish cooperation. Organizational infrastructure, such as parish committees, will help address park matters and tailor the MU zones to their needs.