Batwa Forest Experience

The project has registered great outputs in the context of project components and deliverables. The project achieved most set targets under its main components. These include; component one (capacity building and skill development), component two (strengthening the Batwa Forest Experience) and component three (negotiated and improved resource use rights for the Batwa). Precisely, between January and February, we conducted skill development trainings in socio-cultural values, enterprise development and Financial management skills. Functional Adult Literacy training was also undertaken.  In February, we also conducted resource access negotiation meetings in order to facilitate access to major resources that the Batwa needed from Bwindi forest.

The meetings and requests submitted to Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on resource user rights have resulted into official permission given by UWA to MUST BBC project and Bwindi Batwa Community Development Association (BBCDA) to collect the wildlings and seedlings from the park and plant them in the community.

Approval was made by Rubuguri Town Council on allocation of land for nursery bed and a community pocket forest where resources will be transplanted.  This approach was intended to reduce pressure exerted on the protected forest as a result of unauthorized resource use that was previously registered.  In April, the Bwindi Batwa Forest Experience (BBFE) was officially launched. The launch marked the operationalization of the trail. This is aimed at building the alternative livelihood sources for the Batwa in order to address the unauthorized resource use practices at Bwindi.

As part of cross site visit and knowledge acquisition, the Batwa visited Kenya in May and interacted with the Maasai people. This helped to strengthen their technical approaches to tourism, conservation and leadership abilities. We also embarked on systematic marketing strategies that included; developing a documentary, conducting Radio and Television talk shows as well as development of marketing materials such as flyers and brochures. We have also started the development of communications materials aimed at intergenerational cultural transfer.

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