Effects of Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) on household livelihood and forest protection in Hoima District: A case study of four group’s activities around Bugoma Central Forest Reserve

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out the Effects of Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) on Household Livelihood and consequently improved Forest Protection in Hoima District: A Case Study Of Four Group’s Activities around Bugoma Central Forest Reserve. The study was guided by the following study objectives; To assess forms of participation of CFM group members in the management of Bugoma CFR; To assess the contribution of CFM towards the livelihood of group members; and To determine the challenges facing CFM efforts towards conservation of Bugoma CFR. The study adopted descriptive research design. A sample of 100 respondents particpated in the study. The respondents were members chosen from four Collaborative forest management Groups, key informants from Bugoma CFR area and National Forestry Authority (NFA) staff were selected using simple random sampling and purposive sampling respectively. Questionnaires and Key Informant interviews were used to collect data from the respondents. Data was analyzed using frequency percentage tables and charts.

Findings of the study indicated that the communities around Bugoma CFR had formed groups for promoting CFM actvities. The CFM group members particiapted in Actvities such as action plan development, tree planting (Agroforestry), bee keeping, forest patroling and boundary marking as well as protecting the forest from enchraochers and fire accidents. The CFM members derived a number of benefits from this particpation, for example employment, acquistion of assets and access to loans from lending instituitions. However, a number of challenges still hamper the effectiveness of the CFM group actvities. For example,they lack technical knowledge, gender disparities (fewer women than men in participation) as well as limited funding from the project partners.

It was concluded that group members appreciated the fact that they were actively, interactively and functionally participating in the decision making process relating to CFM activities. CFM has postively contributed to livelihood of particpating group members and improved forest conservation. Challenges being faced included gender disparities and limited funding from partner organisation thus affecting activity implemenation

The researcher recommended the need for training the members to enable them acquire technical expertise, NFA needs to fullfill its mandate of projects' funding among others and that more women are involved in the more CFM activities and participate in decision making activities.