Community-centred interventions are essential in promoting a wildlife conservation ethic and fostering human-wildlife coexistence. People need to appreciate and value wildlife as opposed to living in animosity, which often bleeds wildlife crimes such as retaliatory killings. WCS with support from the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported the following community interventions.
The Elephant Beehive Fence
A colonized beehive fence is designed to deter elephants from crossing into community spaces. Elephants fear bee stings and will thus be repulsed back into the forest, and hence reduce associated elephant community conflicts. The activity supported the establishment of a 2-kilometre beehive fence. Benefits of the elephant beehive:
- The apiaries provide livelihood through honey harvest.
- Colonized fences prevent elephant crop raiding which leads to food security, and increased crop harvest.
- The market value of land near elephant fences has appreciated.
- Communities see the value of protecting elephants which has brought about the elephant beehive. As wildlife custodians, a section of community members report wildlife crime incidents to wildlife authorities.
Business Enterprises and Value Additions.
The activity has supported communities attending training in Baiting and Colonization, Value addition to bee products, management of small enterprises, savings, group dynamics, conflict resolution and management etc. Through these trainings, we sensitize communities not to be caught on the wrong side of the law, as well as embracing conservation initiatives.
Publicizing of Wildlife Laws & Regulations
As part of the strategy to create more public appreciation, the activity has supported the Uganda Wildlife Authority to popularize the Uganda Wildlife Act 2019 and associated regulations so that communities are not caught on the wrong side of the law. Several awareness materials, community conservation manuals, and simplified versions of the laws among others have been produced and distributed in communities that live close to protected areas.
Inspiring Conservation Action Among Youth
The Activity has broken barriers of Non-Government organisations working in silos and duplication of efforts. In partnership with Wildlife Clubs of Uganda, the former Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC), WildAid and the Local Governments. We have supported the rejuvenation and formation of over 40 wildlife clubs in schools neighbouring MFCA.
School-going children act as our ambassadors back in the communities where they come from. We expose them to the dangers of participating in wildlife crime and, the values of conservation, and they, quickly internalize and discuss key conservation actions which are shared with their parents.
Elephant Trenches
A 15-kilomter trench has been supported stretching from Karuma Town to Kololo village in Kiryandongo District. This intervention is helping deter elephants from crossing into communities that live near Karuma Wildlife Reserve.
Elephant Movement Monitoring
To determine the effectiveness of interventions, the Activity supports regular monitoring of elephant movements and collects behavioral data. This provides viable information on elephant response to the beehive fence, time, and elephant herd dynamics among other information.
Training Wildlife Scouts & Stewards
WCS is helping to empower communities to manage their resources. Energetic community members have been trained to disperse wildlife and disrupt their crop-raiding practices. The scouts are provided with mobile phones to report stray wildlife to the UWA rapid response team, vuvuzelas to scare them away and basic behaviour so that the communities know when to retreat for their safety.
Field Studies & Excursions
Supporting community members and leaders to visit and learn about the values of wildlife and tourism enables the Activity to build responsible stewardship. Our findings revealed that many people have never visited the protected area legally, despite living close to it. Communities think that tourism is for Europeans or wealthy people. The Activity is helping to shape this narrative by supporting communities to visit tourist attractions and learn how to contribute to national development.