JGI UGANDA STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

JGI Uganda's strategic focus is aligned with the recommendations of the Population and Habitat Viability Analysis (PHVA) of 1997, the Conservation Action Plan for Uganda's Chimpanzees 2003-2008 and JGI-Africa Programs Strategic Plan. JGI Uganda has taken on the task of working to ensure the above recommendations and plans are carried out or addressed. We do this by working with the authorities and other NGO's and concerned groups to formulate projects or tasks to complete these recommendations.

VISION

A stable and viable chimpanzee population in all major forest blocks in Uganda, living in peaceful co-existence with local communities.

GOAL

Strengthen the protection of chimpanzees and their habitats in the major forest blocks in Uganda.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE I

Safe Guarding Habitat

Habitat loss is the biggest threat to the chimpanzee population in Uganda. Habitat provides important ecological, cultural, and economic benefits; its protection is critical to maintaining a healthy, vibrant chimpanzee population

Key Actions:

1. Enhancing the capacity of government to effectively manage and protect great ape habitat
2. Providing incentives to private forest owners with forest adjacent to great ape habitats to effectively manage and protect

What we Hope to achieve:

• Decreased encroachment and hunting inside protected areas
• Established sustainable source of revenue to support law enforcement
• Increased buffer zones around protected areas
• Increased appreciation of conservation value of forests by private owners

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE II

Develop Education and Public Awareness Programs,

In Order To Create an Understanding and Appreciation of Chimpanzees, Other Wildlife and Their Habitats

Key Actions;

1. Developing and distributing Environmental Education Teachers Guide books to aid teachers to teach the elements of environmental education that are in the National Curriculum
2. Establish Environmental Education Centers in selected chimpanzee habitats in South Western Uganda
3. Training school teachers in the delivery of environmental education to primary school children.
4. Implementing Environmental Education Program for primary schools and establishing Roots and Shoots groups as means to inspire the youth to show care and concern for their environment communities and animals.

What we hope to achieve:

• Improved capacity to effectively deliver environmental education in schools
• Improved knowledge, skills and attitudes about/towards the environment

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE III

Reducing Threats through Community Conservation

Key Actions;

1. Partnering with government and local communities by establishing viable ecotourism ventures as sustainable tool for conservation and economic growth
2. Educating school children in forest adjacent communities to take an active role in protecting the environment and all living things.
3. Changing the attitudes of bush meat hunters by creating conservation awareness, and more importantly, by providing sustainable alternative livelihoods to hunters.

What we Hope to Achieve:

• Reduced threats to forest and woodland biological diversity
• Increased government support for collaborative management of the forest with the local communities.
• Increased knowledge, improved attitude and change in behavior of local people towards chimpanzees and other threatened species.
• Established models of co-existence of local communities and wildlife

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE IV

Increase Understanding through Research and Monitoring

Key Actions;

1. Collaborating with government and biological field stations to monitor chimpanzee populations and their habitats.
2. Collecting and preserving biological samples from wild chimpanzees.
3. Monitoring the impact of tourism on chimpanzee population; the tourists and the human populations adjacent to chimpanzee based ecotourism sites.

What we hope to achieve:

• Timely interventions and appropriate conservation strategies for chimpanzees and their habitats
• Sample bank for current and future non-invasive lab based medical research established
• Standardized set of rules and regulations for managing chimpanzee based ecotourism site established
• Potential negative effects of tourism minimized

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE V

Establish Sanctuaries for the Long-Term Care of Chimpanzees That Have Been Orphaned, Abandoned, Confiscated

Key Actions;

1. Providing technical advice for design, development and management of facilities for confiscated chimps and other primates
2. Providing technical veterinary support to sanctuaries for orphaned chimpanzees and other primates
3. Establishing locally based and sustainable financing mechanisms for sanctuaries

What we hope to achieve:

• Increased capacity to protect and care for chimpanzees in sanctuaries
• Enhanced financial viability and sustainability of sanctuaries