Calls to turn Echuya forest into park gets mixed reaction
Degraded. The executive director of Nature Uganda, Mr Achilles Byaruhanga, at the degraded part of Echuya Forest Reserve in Kisoro District on Saturday. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA
What you need to know:
- Activists say residents will instead lose livelihood.
The resolution by Kisoro and Rubanda districts councils to turn Echuya Forest Reserve into a National Park have generated mixed reactions among the stakeholders.
Kisoro District council passed the resolution on May 31 while Rubanda did so on September 11.
The forest shared by the two districts covers 3,400 hectares.
The leaders argue that the neighbouring communities will benefit more under National Park arrangement, and that the forest will be better protected.
“Illegal activities in the forest reserve have increased and they threaten its existence,” Mr Gerald Akambasa, the Rubanda District speaker, said on Saturday.
He added: “We have been getting about Shs250 million per year from Uganda Wildlife Authority as revenue sharing from Bwindi National Park. I hope when Echuya Forest Reserve is turned into a national park, Rubanda District local government will earn extra Shs300 million.”
About the forest
The forest is habitat for about 10 monkey and baboon species and more than 300 bird species, including the world’s highly endangered bird, the Grauers Rush Warbler.
It has unique natural bamboo and neighbours Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks.
The Kisoro LC5 chairman, Mr Abel Bizimana, said: “Once the proposal is implemented, all endangered plant and animal species shall be protected and all illegal activities shall stop.”
Kisoro District speaker Amos Hakizimana revealed that they have submitted their proposal to the ministry of Tourism.
However, the executive director of Nature Uganda, a local non-governmental organisation, involved in environmental conservation, Mr Achilles Byaruhanga, said residents will instead lose livelihood.
“The local communities in the districts depend on the forest for firewood, water, trapping bees for their apiary projects, weaving materials and other non-forest timber products. Once the forest is turned into a national park, it will be heavily guarded and entry will be restricted,” Mr Byaruhanga said on Saturday.
He said while the government gets a lot of money from tourism industry, some forest resources should remain accessible to local communities. “The district councils should provide alternative source of livelihood to the communities around Echuya Forest Reserve before recommending it to become a national park. The government should also conduct research on the importance of all the forest reserves in the country before endorsing district council resolutions,” he said.
Kanaba Sub-county chairperson, Joseph Nizeyi echoed him.
The executive director for National Forest Authority, Mr Tom Obong Okello, on Monday said turning Echuya Forest Reserve into a national park requires consideration of interests of the local communities and those of conservationists.
