Counting  the Rwenzori Mountains Project Wins  and Gains

GSTDTAP > 资源环境科学

	Counting the Rwenzori Mountains Project Wins and Gains
	admin
	2018-09-20
发布年	2018
语种	英语
国家	国际
领域	资源环境
正文(英文)	Last week, the implementing partners for the Sustainable Financing of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park Project gathered to discuss the successes, challenges, lessons learned and way forward as the project draws towards closure. The event mainly showcased three major components of the project; Private sector engagement, Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Tourism Development. FIELD VISIT The participants started off the day by visiting Mr. Charles Walina, a PES farmer who was recruited under the project for river bank management. Led by WWF’s Country Director David Duli, partners learnt that after Charles had been trained, he was given bamboo and grevillea seedlings to plant on his land, which is located on the banks of river Mubuku. “Before this training, living near the river was like a curse instead of a blessing. whenever it rained, my gardens would flood and I would incur great losses” he testified, adding that after the training by WWF, he created a buffer zone between his garden and the river and planted the recommended species to reduce effects of erosion and flooding. “My bamboo and grevillea are doing well and am certain that I will not experience more flooding in my gardens”, he boasted. The team later visited a 40 year old rehabilitated coffee garden. The garden owner, Basabasa Newton testified that after only one and a half years of adopting the recommended farming practices, his coffee harvest had increased from 14kgs of red coffee cherries to 23kgs per tree and still rising. Newton has also embraced other sustainable land management practices such as mulching, trenches, grass trips and agro forestry, all of which have contributed to the improved yield. COFFEE EXPERIENCE The field visit would not have been complete without the Rwenzori Coffee Experience, a product that was developed by WWF with support from partners as part of the product diversification strategy. This product involves experiencing the entire coffee chain from the garden to the cup, using traditional means. In the almost completed coffee house, partners were treated to freshly ground and brewed coffee which was well appreciated as many of the partakers vowed to return for the same. As part of the coffee experience and to increase quality coffee production in the region, WWF alongside Busongora Joint Farmers’ Association, a community Based Organisation, developed a demonstration garden which would act as training Centre for all community members to increase the adoption level of sustainable land management practices. This as the visiting team witnessed has achieved great success and farmers have seen firsthand, how a well-managed garden can bear heavy yields in shorter time unimaginable before. UGX50M Chaque to farmers! To crown off the day, Hima Cement presented a UGX 50,000,000 dummy cheque to the farmers. This is part of the support they have given under the PES scheme. The company promised to maintain this kind of support to the farmers in order to improve livelihoods and conservation of the watershed in the catchment. David Duli, the WWF Uganda Country Office Director expressed utmost gratitude to the funders and the implementing partners for the cooperation that has made the project a success and called for continued partnership as we all strive to create an environmentally sustainable future. The project is funded by the European Union and the French Facility for Global Environment and the implementing partners include Ministry of Wildlife Tourism and Antiquities, Ministry of Water and Environment, District Local Governments, Uganda Wildlife Authority, National Environment Management Authority, Uganda Tourism Board, Private Sector and community members. Click here to watch the video
URL	查看原文
来源平台	World Wide Fund for Nature
文献类型	新闻
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/124825
专题	资源环境科学
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	admin. Counting the Rwenzori Mountains Project Wins and Gains. 2018.