KCSON undertakes interventions aimed at Civil Society Capacity Strengthening for conservation of forest ecosystems

With support from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Uganda Country Office, Kitara Civil Society Organizations Network (KCSON) is undertaking interventions aimed at Civil Society Capacity Strengthening for the conservation of high-value forests ecosystems to benefit people and nature in the Albertine region. Under a project code-named Forest Biodiversity. Primary beneficiaries are communities adjacent protected areas, particularly Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.

Activities’ focus is livelihood improvement, practicing better conservation practices and mitigation of illegal activities on the resources such as pressure from both adjacent communities and external encroachers for commercial purposes, like charcoal production for heat energy, rampant felling of trees for firewood, agriculture and timber trading.

In the current phase of funding, KCSON is supporting groups to boost their nature-based enterprises as a measure to enhance livelihood options. Supported enterprises are commercial tree planting, Nursery bed management, and apiary management. One of the groups that have received substantial support is Mpanga Conservation Development Association with apiary materials among others are 200 KTB beehives, catcher boxes, beehive suite, and forage.

Finally, the project also promotes innovative natural resource management models that integrate governance, gender, and human rights enhancement through targeted school and community-based initiatives.