Overview of the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT)
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Transcript of Overview of the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT)
02/02/15 Conserving for development
BMCT Status
BMCT established in 1994 under Uganda Trust Law
Trust Deed (1994) Reviewed 2010 registered in 2011
Located in south western Uganda, bordering DRC and Rwanda.
Within three Administrative Districts: Kabale, Kanungu & Kisoro
Vision
The biodiversity and ecosystem health of MGNP and BINP conserved in harmony with development needs of the surrounding communities
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Mission
To foster conservation of biodiversity in MGNP and BINP through investment in community development projects, grants for research and ecological monitoring, funding park management and protection, and programmes that create greater conservation awareness
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OBJECTIVES
– Information about BINP and MGNP and environs made available for conservation and management decisions.
– Well being of the peoples (including Batwa) around BINP and MGNP improved.
– Ecological condition and integrity of the protected Areas improved.
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BMCT Management
Trust Management Board (11 members)– (Finance, Programme, HR sub committees)
Fund Consulting Manager/firm Local Communities Steering Committee Technical Advisory Committee Trust Administration Unit -secretariat.
Local Community Steering Committee (LCSC)
Elected at sub county level/women at zone level Approves community projects up to US $ 2000
ensuring equity and gender sensitivity Keeps community informed about BMCT activities Local governments reps inform own constituencies Three reps at the Board as trustees (elected) Three Batwa representatives
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Technical Advisory Committee
Made up of different professional fields such as ecology, economics, sociology, microfinance, agriculture or law
Advises on technical matters to TMB especially on research and other scientific projects
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BMCT programme components
Community development projects Support to Batwa Conservation awareness Research and Ecological Monitoring Support to park management
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BMCT funded community projects
community projects are funded to improve the livelihood of the people living adjacent to the protected area.
Communities get alternative means of livelihood that substitutes what they originally harvested from the PAs before gazzettment .
Promote good neighborliness between PAs management and adjacent communities (conflict management
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Livelihood improvement projects
these contrite to food security and income at the household level.
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Village Savings and Loan Associations
VSLA is a mobilization and sustainability tool.It helps communities adopt a saving cultureHelps in instiling good neigbourliness
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About VSLA cont…
Members meet weekly to pool their money into a fund which they can borrow and invest in Income Generating Activities (IGA)
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Batwa support
The Batwa community was the traditional indigenous forest dwellers in BINP & MGNP before the two were declared protected areas
BMCT gives affirmative action to address Batwa needs by:– Buying land and resetting the Batwa– Funding Livelihoods projects – Buying uniforms & scholastic materials for Batwa in
primary schools in BMCT working area02/02/15 Conserving for development
Batwa support
BMCT purchase 405 acres and resettled 375 Batwa households since 1996.
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Increase of tree cover in BMCA
BMCT contributes to the increase of tree cover in the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation area by:– Training and funding nursery farmers who raise
seedlings for sale.– Support tree growers through VSLA groups – Give technical back stopping
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Awareness raising for behavioral change
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•Through Music Dance and Drama•Radio talk shows •Talking compounds •Study visits
Use of child appealing interventions
– School sanitation Competitions – Music Dance and drama
– Exchange/ study visits
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Enabling creativity
Use of simple technologies like tippy taps– Locally available materials– Easy to use
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Research
Done with ITFC– Funded about 20 masters students– MUZ resource harvesting monitoring tool– Cultural values –
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Park management support
Dome with BMCA– park management plans, demarcation and
maintenance of park boundaries, problem animal management) and community conservation activities including conservation awareness-raising.
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Challenges
Dense population posing numerous conservation threats
survival Vs conservation
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