Initially the park was using machines to manage invasive species. But they realized the need to create avenues for the community to earn and appreciate the presence of the park, as many do poaching due to lack of money to buy food.
Queen Elizabeth National park has taken to hiring community labour
and is offering job opportunities to communities surrounding the
park.This is also intended to tackle poaching.
The work offered to the community includes removing of invasive species from
the park.
Initially the park was using machines such as bulldozers
to manage invasive species. But now the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area Chief Warden,
Pontious Ezuma says they realized the need to create avenues where the community
can earn and appreciate the presence of the park. He explains that many people are engaging in poaching due
to lack of money to buy food.
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Ezuma notes that recently they had over 30 groups of
people spread through the park to remove the invasive species.
He observes that the issue of livelihood remains critical
in the areas surrounding conservation areas across the country and such a population is a threat to wildlife.
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Meanwhile the chief warden said than more than 60KM of
electric fencing has been put up in Kasese as a measure of containing the
human-wildlife conflict in hotspot areas.
He adds they have also started the fencing along Kyenzaza-Nyamisingiri
in Rubirizi District. Peace Burungi, a resident of Nyakatozi, said that in a group of 20 women in her area, they have have been able to earn and meet some of the basic family needs.
