JGI UGANDA FIELD PROGRAMMES

Sustainable Livelihoods Project:

Subsistence and economic dependence on unsustainable resource use is resulting in environmental degradation of critical habitat for human and wildlife survival. This trend is evident in Kiziranfumbi sub county in Hoima district (Uganda) which has seen rampant loss of forest (riparian and terrestrial) over the last decade. These local practices and resource use have resulted in the degradation of riparian Forests which act as a source of water and food for surrounding communities and also act as a corridor for wildlife migration between Wambabya and Bugoma central forest reserves. With support from the Canadian International Development Agency, JGI is implementing a project whose goals are: 1) To improve livelihoods and security for families based on more sustainable use of local natural resources, and 2) to improve the capacity of area residents to develop new sustainable sources of income, and to engage collaboratively with local and national government agencies. The key activities under this project include:

• Conservation Education: Increase understanding among the target population of the negative impact of unsustainable resource use on their livelihoods, and opportunities for improved livelihoods and environmental security.
• Improved Land Use and Management: Development of voluntary land use agreements with river and forest-adjacent households and village land use plans, to ensure sustainable access to needed resources. This will be coupled with restoration and protection of highly degraded riparian forest patches
• Collaborative Forest Management: Improve forest management and regulation by engaging area residents in resource governance and building bridges between them and national forest authorities.
• Agricultural Training and Demonstration: Diversify agricultural activities, provide an additional and alternative source of animal protein, improve crop yields, enrich the soil through agroforestry, and prevent soil erosion.
• Alternative Livelihoods and Enterprise Development: Provide substantive training in forest-friendly enterprise development (such as non-timber forest products, apiary development, handcrafts, woodlots), process training in small enterprise, and support in developing micro-enterprise livelihood activities.
• Establish Clean, Accessible Water Systems: Meet urgent needs for accessible, potable water and decrease pressure on the river system by construction of alternative water sources such as protected springs and boreholes.