The status of anthropogenic threat at the people-park interface of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Abstract

Effective management of anthropogenic threats is key to sustaining biological diversity in protected areas. Types and distribution of threats to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda were investigated to assess the Park's status 12 years after it was upgraded from a forest reserve to a national park. Bwindi, like many tropical forested parks, is surrounded by dense human populations. Threats were quantified in 104 1-km edge-interior transects set around the Park. The distribution of threats was patchy and was most common within 300-350 m of the edge. The commonest threat was harvesting of wood and poles. Other threats included occurrence of exotic species, degradation of adjacent habitat fragments and high impact of problem animals on some of the neighbouring communities. The fact that threats were primarily associated with the edges of the Park, when previously they were widespread throughout the Park, suggests that illegal resource harvesting has been reduced since the forest was upgraded to a national park. Park legislation, enforcement and related conservation efforts have been effective, and there should be increased effort to manage the peoplepark interface. Edge-based assessments appear to be useful for quantifying threats to protected areas and identifying areas in which they are concentrated.

Spatial patterns of illegal resource extraction in Kibale National Park, Uganda

“…Although human disturbance studies inside forested national parks are rare (Robbinset al 2006), in East Africa, extraction of woody biomass is consistently identified as the most widespread disturbance (Bleher et al 2006;Baranga 2007;Olupot et al 2009). The most pervasive need for wood is for fuel (Dovie et al 2004;Naughton-Treves et al 2007), followed by poles for construction and hardwoods to make charcoal (Baranga 2007).…”

“…Studies to measure human disturbance in tropical protected forests in India, Kenya and Uganda (Barve et al 2005;Bleher et al 2006;Baranga 2007;Olupot et al 2009), recommended measuring trees cut for any purpose (all sites), signs of poaching (two sites), evidence of burning (two sites), in-park cultivation (three sites), pits to saw timber (one site), livestock grazing (four sites), charcoal-making (two sites) and extraction of a wide range of non-timber forest products (three sites).…”

“…Studies have measured human disturbance inside PAs (Barve et al 2005;Bleher et al 2006;Baranga 2007;Olupot et al 2009); however, most focused on ecological conservation by monitoring extraction without linking the drivers of disturbance to the productive practices of local communities. Alternatively, most social studies on conservation management rely on attitudes of local people towards PAs without linking these attitudes to measured illegal resource extraction (Infield 1988;Gillingham & Lee 1999;Mugisha 2002;Gadd 2005;Mbile et al 2005;Kideghesho et al 2007;Hartter & Goldman 2011).…”

Tangible benefits or token gestures: does Bwindi impenetrable National Park's long established multiple use programme benefit the poor?

“…This indicates that while the MUP idea was innovative two decades ago, park management in Bwindi remains conservative with regards to NTFPs harvest. Despite these restrictions, local people continue to illegally harvest the resources disregarding the risks of arrests, imprisonments, and fines (Namara 2006;Olupot et al 2009;Shova & Hubacek 2011;Twinamatsiko et al 2014). The unauthorized NTFPs may contribute a significant amount of income to households in Bwindi , which may be the reason local people risk their harvests.…”

Impact of human activities on Cross River gorilla Gorilla gorilla diehli habitats in the Mawambi Hills, southwest Cameroon

“…Wildlife species found in unprotected forests face the direct pressure of human disturbance as well as indirect pressures resulting from human modification of their habitats (Olupot et al 2009). The 3 village communities living at MH (43 km 2 ) have a combined human population of ~400 inhabitants.…”