Conservation Education, Alternative Livelihood and Habitat Restoration: The Best Strategies for Conservation of Magombera Forest Reserve

Abstract

The Magombera forest is a home of endemic and endangered biological species such as Udzungwa red colobus monkey (Procolobus gordonorum) and the Magombera chameleon (Kinyongia magomberae). However, the forest is facing high threat of disappearing through resources extraction pressure from adjacent local communities. The project aimed at improving conservation of Magombera forest by involving the adjacent communities through provision of conservation education, restoration initiatives and bee keeping as alternative livelihoods. The study revealed that the concept of forest conservation is well supported. Nevertheless, people are extracting resources from the forest for their subsistence. The dependence of the people on the forest is due to lack of alternatives to the forest resources, inability of the people to produce alternatives source of income and little conservation education. The project resulted in a community Mahulu et al.; AJEE, 9(4): 1-9, 2019; Article no.AJEE.50158 2 having a positive attitude change towards conservation. The improved bee keeping was introduced to the community and successfully adopted. About 89% of indigenous trees planted for restoring the degraded area of the forest survived, only 11% of trees planted could not survive. There is a need to expand the scale of the project by involving many participants particularly youths that showed strong interest in the project. Original Research Article

Wetland Restoration Dilemma in Uganda: Investigation of Alternative Livelihood Options for Restoring Limoto Wetland in Eastern Uganda

“…According to Roe et al (2015), this strategy of offering alternative livelihood options or sources of income should involve significant sensitization to avoid being misunderstood by the target community for compensation and possibly being deemed insufficient or poorly managed. This study agrees with the findings of Mahulu et al, (2019) that, in order to mitigate humanbiodiversity loss, a sustainable use method that benefits local communities while conserving natural resources is required. The study also supports the findings of Kakuba and Kanyamurwa, (2021); and Meng et al, (2020) that involving the public (Community-based biodiversity conservation approach) in wetlands management may be the best option because people will have a sense of ownership and will be willing to protect biodiversity and provide information about encroachers and other threats to biodiversity.…”

“…These strategies could take three forms, first, offering an alternative resource to the one being exploited, like in the case of encouraging locals to raise cane rats for food instead of going on a bush meat hunt (Vliet, 2011). Secondly, concentrating on initiatives that could offer an alternate job or source of income, such as beekeeping and craftmaking as alternatives to growing subsistence agriculture surrounding protected areas (Mahulu et al, 2019).Thirdly, promoting a less harmful alternative to the original technique of resource use, lessen the demand for firewood, one example of such initiatives could be the promotion of fuelefficient stoves. The three methods clearly demonstrate that initiatives to promote alternative livelihoods may occasionally succeed as stand-alone initiatives or as a part of a larger, more comprehensive integrated conservation and development program.…”

Communities' awareness of afforestation and its contribution to the conservation of lizards in Dodoma, Tanzania

“…Training has been reported to increase local community awareness and participation in afforestation and conservation efforts 26 . Furthermore, a study from Tanzania's Magombera forest reserve found that alternative livelihood and conservation education motivated local communities to participate in forest restoration and conservation 10 . Other Tanzanian studies have found similar effects of conservation education and awareness on biodiversity conservation 9 , 27 .…”