linking ape tourism and poverty in uganda · 2013. 9. 24. · uganda ranks among the top ten most...
TRANSCRIPT
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Linking Ape Tourism and Poverty in Uganda Opportunities, Limitations and Lessons
International workshop on Linking Great Ape Conservation with Poverty Alleviation Bogor, Indonesia, 12th January 2012
Akankwasah Barirega BSc, MSc, Dip.Law, PhD (Cand.)
Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Republic of Uganda
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About Uganda
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236,040 sq km; Land-84.6% & Water-15.4%
10% gazetted as wildlife conservation areas inform of10 National Parks, 12 Wildlife Reserves, 10 wildlife sanctuaries, 5 community wildlife areas
24% is gazetted as forest reserves inform of 506 Central Forest Reserves and 191 Local Forest Reserves.
13% is gazetted as wetlands
Surface area and protection status
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Uganda ranks among the top ten most bio diverse
countries globally with 18,783 so far recorded
species of fauna and flora
53.9% of the World’s remaining population of
Mountain gorillas
11% (1063 species) of the world’s recorded species
of birds (50% of Africa’s bird species richness)
7.8% (345 species) of the Global Mammal Diversity
(39% of Africa’s Mammal Richness)
Biological diversity
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19% (86 species) of Africa’s amphibian species
richness
14%(142 species) of Africa’s reptile species richness
1,249 recorded species of butterflies
600 species of fish
5,406 species of plants 30 of which are endemic to
Uganda
Biological diversity …..
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Great Apes of Uganda
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Apes: Old World anthropoid mammals, belonging
to the biological superfamily Hominoidae (Gorillas
and Chimpanzees)
Tourism: Activities, Services and Industries that
deliver a travel experience.
Poverty: Inability to acquire the basic goods and
services necessary for survival with dignity.
Context
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Ecological services (Rainfall, Pollination, Climate, Medicine..)
Opportunities
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Direct Income to Government
Gorilla Tracking US$ 500/Day
Chimpanzee Tracking US$ 150
Chimp habituation experience US$ 220/Day
Gorilla Permits alone generate US$ 4,347,826 annually
100% of direct revenue is appropriated to conservation
agencies to fund conservation activities
Opportunities………
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Indirect Income to Government
Foreign exchange earnings-US$662million in 2010
Taxes on goods and services in the tourism sector
Tourism contribution to GDP was~US$1 Billion
(9.2%) as of 2010
Opportunities….
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Employment Household incomes Over 268,000 enterprises are engaged in tourism related
businesses, with 200 companies registered as Tour and Travel
Operators, each employing 12 persons on average
UWA alone employs 1300 permanent staff
Over 80,000 people in Ape related Tourism Value Chain
Opportunities……
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Market for locally produced goods and
services
Opportunities……
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Revenue sharing programme-
US$350,980 has been so far released to communities
neighboring Bwindi, Mgahinga and Kibale National
Parks, 2002-2010
Opportunities……
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Integrated Conservation & Development
Community livelihoods Projects
Opportunities……
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Empowerment of the Marginalized Groups
Opportunities……
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Enhanced Safety & Security
SWIFT Force
Tourism Police
Opportunities……
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Infrastructural growth eg Hotels, Roads, Power etc
Inter/National Linkages with the local people
Student Sponsorships/Exchange Community empowerment Projects Knowledge and technology transfer Community awareness & involvement
Social Capital formation
Opportunities……
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Un even distribution of opportunities
Crop raiding, conflicts
High community revenue expectations
Poaching and untargeted killing of Apes
Potential negative impacts from tourism activities eg
diseases, stress, behavior change, change in home
range, etc
High cost of living for the locals etc
High human population, poverty in Ape areas-Loss
of unprotected habitats
Limitations
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Revenue/Benefit sharing is an effective tool for
positive conservation attitude
Collaborative Management of Protected Areas a
highly cost effective approach but law enforcement
should always be blended
Well moderated Eco-Tourism can be an effective
conservation tool and a poverty reduction
approach
Lessons Learnt
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