Overview of the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT)

Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust

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BMCT Status

BMCT established in 1994 under Uganda Trust Law

Trust Deed (1994) Reviewed 2010 registered in 2011

Located in south western Uganda, bordering DRC and Rwanda.

Within three Administrative Districts: Kabale, Kanungu & Kisoro

BMCT working area


Vision

The biodiversity and ecosystem health of MGNP and BINP conserved in harmony with development needs of the surrounding communities


Mission

To foster conservation of biodiversity in MGNP and BINP through investment in community development projects, grants for research and ecological monitoring, funding park management and protection, and programmes that create greater conservation awareness


OBJECTIVES

– Information about BINP and MGNP and environs made available for conservation and management decisions.

– Well being of the peoples (including Batwa) around BINP and MGNP improved.

– Ecological condition and integrity of the protected Areas improved.



BMCT Management

Trust Management Board (11 members)– (Finance, Programme, HR sub committees)

Fund Consulting Manager/firm Local Communities Steering Committee Technical Advisory Committee Trust Administration Unit -secretariat.

Local Community Steering Committee (LCSC)

Elected at sub county level/women at zone level Approves community projects up to US $ 2000

ensuring equity and gender sensitivity Keeps community informed about BMCT activities Local governments reps inform own constituencies Three reps at the Board as trustees (elected) Three Batwa representatives


Technical Advisory Committee

Made up of different professional fields such as ecology, economics, sociology, microfinance, agriculture or law

Advises on technical matters to TMB especially on research and other scientific projects


BMCT programme components

Community development projects Support to Batwa Conservation awareness Research and Ecological Monitoring Support to park management


BMCT funded community projects

community projects are funded to improve the livelihood of the people living adjacent to the protected area.

Communities get alternative means of livelihood that substitutes what they originally harvested from the PAs before gazzettment .

Promote good neighborliness between PAs management and adjacent communities (conflict management


Common Good projects

Science laboratory

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Increase rural safe water coverage


Safe piped water at school


Safe water to the community


Water tank


Sanitation facility at schools


Support to sanitation facilities-Five stance for girls


Girls dormitory.


Increase of rural Safe water coverage


Safe piped water at school


Provision of safe drinking water ( boiler )


Provision of safe water to schools


Promotion of computer literacy in rural schools


Livelihood improvement projects

these contrite to food security and income at the household level.


Sheep rearing


Beekeeping ( local hives)


Handicraft making


Mushroom grow room


passion fruit growing


Heifer project beneficiary


Village Savings and Loan Associations

VSLA is a mobilization and sustainability tool.It helps communities adopt a saving cultureHelps in instiling good neigbourliness


About VSLA cont…

Members meet weekly to pool their money into a fund which they can borrow and invest in Income Generating Activities (IGA)


VSLA for economic empowerment


Batwa support

The Batwa community was the traditional indigenous forest dwellers in BINP & MGNP before the two were declared protected areas

BMCT gives affirmative action to address Batwa needs by:– Buying land and resetting the Batwa– Funding Livelihoods projects – Buying uniforms & scholastic materials for Batwa in

primary schools in BMCT working area02/02/15 Conserving for development

Batwa support

BMCT purchase 405 acres and resettled 375 Batwa households since 1996.


Batwa Support Batwa Empowerment


Batwa land & settlements


Mboye ‘s old & new home


M

Batwa homes


Prossy at Nyabaremura


Promotion of food security for Batwa


Batwa Goat & sheep income generating activities


Handicraft making


Batwa in VSLA session


Uniform & scholastic for Batwa learners


Scola S.6 at Sentah College


Increase of tree cover in BMCA

BMCT contributes to the increase of tree cover in the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation area by:– Training and funding nursery farmers who raise

seedlings for sale.– Support tree growers through VSLA groups – Give technical back stopping


Tree seedlings raising


Seedlings in the nursery


Trainee grafting an avocado seedling


Energy Saving stoves

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Support adaptation & use of energy saving stove


Awareness raising for behavioral change


•Through Music Dance and Drama•Radio talk shows •Talking compounds •Study visits

Use of child appealing interventions

– School sanitation Competitions – Music Dance and drama

– Exchange/ study visits


Awareness raising in communities through Drama


Learners and parents cleaning water sources


Talking compounds


Enabling creativity

Use of simple technologies like tippy taps– Locally available materials– Easy to use

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Change after awareness


Hand washing


Research

Done with ITFC– Funded about 20 masters students– MUZ resource harvesting monitoring tool– Cultural values –


Park management support

Dome with BMCA– park management plans, demarcation and

maintenance of park boundaries, problem animal management) and community conservation activities including conservation awareness-raising.


Mauritius live hedge & tea plantation


Challenges

Dense population posing numerous conservation threats

survival Vs conservation



Thank you

Overview of the Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust (BMCT)

Environment