Integration of the Batwa cultural values to save world mountain gorillas at Bwindi using GAPA
Summary
World mountain gorillas are threatened due to subsistence and commercial sources of livelihoods by the community. Before the gazettement of Bwindi in 1991, Batwa depended on Bwindi resources as their home which they lost after gazettement. As a result, they pose a threat to the most desired resources - medicinal plants and bush meat. Through a systematic assessment on governance and identification of priority actions, protected area managers have recognised the underlying governance complexities and identified a cultural values approach to achieve sustainable livelihoods of Batwa community and conservation of Bwindi. Because of the assessment, we have organised the Batwa plant indigenous trees in the community, based on their traditional values and indigenous knowledge to meet their subsistence needs and generate income through ecotourism and research. This is hoped to create a social fence against poaching and reduce pressure on Bwindi protected resources.
Classifications
Region
Scale of implementation
Ecosystem
Theme
Species Conservation and One Health Interventions
One Health
Challenges
Sustainable development goals
Aichi targets
Challenges
Environmental challenges
Protected area managers had not understood the governance complexities at Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area (BMCA) which have led to poaching incidents resulting in biodiversity loss. One of the outstanding complexities has been failure to recognise the Batwa cultural values as a pathway to promote sustainable livelihoods and conservation.
Social and economic challenges
There has been limited attendance of park meetings and activities by Batwa and local communities. This is due to resentment by local communities caused by crop and livestock losses by wild animals. Furthermore, the Batwa indigenous people have limited options to livelihood sources due to the underprivileged position they have in society and the prejudice by other non-Batwa communities. This discrimination limits prioritisation of their forest linked livelihoods options.
Beneficiaries
Batwa indigenous people- These are traditionally known as forest people who used to live in tropical forests
Non-Batwa local people- These include Bakiga and Bafumbira communities
Management and staff of Uganda Wildlife Authority
Building blocks
How do the building blocks interact?
The governance assessment exercise (block 1) created a basis for the integrated action planning (block 2). The governance assessment used a multi stakeholder engagement process from the preparation stage to the action planning stage/taking action. The selection of actors was purposive as earlier identified in planning and preparation of the assessment. The action planning was participatory in nature and various stakeholders identified priority action areas and took responsibility for their shares in terms of implementation of the action areas. The integrated action planning involved grouping of actions as local actions and policy related actions. It is evident that the governance assessment results created a basis for priority actions. If action areas are implemented, the governance situation of Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area will improve and the governance assessment will therefore be meaningful.
Interaction Gallery
Impacts
There has been a great appreciation from stakeholders of the linkage between culture, nature and livelihoods. The assessment brought to light governance complexities which then also created accountability for all stakeholders. A new project focusing on planting indigenous trees was developed and funded by the International Tree Foundation where a community pocket forest buffer to Bwindi has been established. Linking the Batwa’s culture to nature conservation and livelihoods is reconnecting them to nature and reigniting their conservation values. Batwa are hoped to be anti-poaching scouts by providing a social fence to poaching incidents and this reduces pressure on Bwindi resources. Poaching has reduced from 60% to 30% and no Mutwa has been found poaching in the last 12 months. The Batwa have started making money through leading tourists and researchers on identification of indigenous trees, especially herbal medicine.
Story
My name is Jovanisi Nyiragasigwa a Mutwa female elder. I am the Chairperson of the tree planting and resource committee. I lead other 12 Batwa that have consistently collected wildlings from the park and planted trees on community land. As the Batwa, we were neglected but thanks to Dr. Medard Twinamatsiko who led a governance assessment that resulted into the recognition of the cultural values and indigenous knowledge that we have as Batwa people who used to live in the forest. Medard has become like our father. The assessment brought key stakeholders together especially those that we earlier feared to engage as Batwa. The assessment brought hope that was lost and we can now see the benefits of conservation using our culture. The assessment meetings and workshops I attended have equipped me with new ways of thinking and working together, and I gained other interpersonal skills. After the recognition of our cultural values, Uganda Wildlife Authority has allowed us to collect wildlings and seedlings from the protected area to plant them on community land. Every time I go to Bwindi I reconnect with nature and appreciate the value of conservation. I always feel connected to my ancestors and our traditional elders. This helps me to reconnect with my natural world. I pass through our cultural sites such as places of worship, big trees and caves when collecting wildlings. This refreshes me to love conservation more and support UWA to conserve Bwindi. I believe that when our trees grow, we will get medicine and wild food which will be good for our health. All this would not have been possible if it was not the governance assessment exercise that we participated in.
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