Transcript

Gorillas and tourism

DR. GLADYS KALEMA-ZIKUSOKA

The gorillas are very important. And mountain gorillas are one of our closest living relatives. We share 98.4% genetic material. And when you go out to see them, it's very therapeutic. They look into the eye. And you feel like you're connecting with a close relative. There's only over 700 gorillas left in the world.

NARRATOR

Mountain gorillas are one of the world's most endangered species, teetering on the edge of extinction for decades. Today, they survive only in the forests of Central Africa, where they have endured years of civil war, habitat loss, and poaching for bush meat.

TUGUMISIRIZE YESE

We used to see the gorillas. There were very few, but those few, people never feared killing them. They are vermin like other vermin. They were killed. They were poached. There was no problem

NARRATOR

Half of the world's remaining population of mountain gorillas is found here, in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. But as the park lies in the heart of one of the most densely populated parts of Africa, it's continually under threat from people eager to use the forest's rich resources.

CHARITY BWIZA

The population pressure is increasing. And the population in southwestern Uganda is the highest in Uganda. And it is also said it is the highest in Africa. But the land is not increasing.

NARRATOR

To deal with this threat, the Fortress Conservation approach was adopted in Bwindi. This aimed for the total exclusion of people and their activities from the forest, enforced by armed rangers.

JAMES BYAMUKAMA

Originally the communities were allowed to access a number of resources. They would access firewood. They would get mushrooms. They would get wild meat. They would get bamboo shoots - bamboo and many hand craft products. And when it was made a national park, then these rights were removed. The removal of any of the forest's products was stopped. And this implied that the communities lost all what they would get as contribution to their livelihood. And therefore, the communities came out in rage.

CHARITY BWIZA

Communities used to set fire intentionally to the protected area. Then communities used to fight with the law enforcement. So the communities were really, really very hostile.

NARRATOR

As conservation by force wasn't working, a new approach was needed. This conflict had to be resolved. For gorillas to have a sustainable future, local people needed to be involved in their conservation rather than excluded from the forest.

JAMES BYAMUKAMA

A question had come - conserving for who? Therefore, we had to make a shift from that fortress approach to an integrated conservation and development approach and put the people into conservation.

NARRATOR

The integrated conservation and development approach works by linking wildlife conservation with the welfare of the people around the park.

MOSES MAPESA

We had to review and rethink the strategy to look into to how to make these conservation areas more relevant to the people who live close to them or who even have ancestral claims to the land. And that is how the whole notion of integrated conservation and development programmes started.

ALASTAIR MCNEILAGE

One initiative designed to reduce the conflict was also what we call the multiple use programme. The idea was to take account of the fact that, actually, some of the things that people want from the forest - small amounts of medicinal plants, weaving materials - could actually be harvested without having a major impact on the forest itself. The quantities they need may be quite small. The resources may be plants which grow quite quickly and are easily renewed. And allowing the communities to access those resources could be used as a strategy to give them something back

MAN

Wild yams help us live longer and remain resistant to diseases. That’s the main reason we like them.

WOMAN

I gather enough material to weave three baskets, and I keep one to use in the home and sell two.

MAN

When the forest was closed there were problems, but since, we’ve been able to access things we need. We’ve collaborated with the park officials and there have been no problems.

TUGUMISIRIZE YESE

Some non-government organisations, even the government, have tried to improve the nature of the people neighbouring that gorilla so that they shouldn't at any time point a finger at the gorilla.

NARRATOR

Communities were helped to develop a new livelihood activities to replace those lost from their restricted access to the park.

CHARITY BWIZA

We are finding different variances of community projects, like bee keeping and like mushroom growing. People used to go into the park to harvest wild mushroom, so we started funding individuals and groups to grow mushrooms.

TUGUMISIRIZE YESE

They give me the materials - the sterilising drums, the drier. After helping me with such, then they give me knowledge, enough knowledge to grow mushrooms.

NARRATOR

Now, conservation was actually benefiting the local communities, and their view of gorillas and the forest began to change.

TUGUMISIRIZE YESE

Do I need to go to the park to look for mushrooms to supply the hotels? The mushrooms are here.